Mar 30

The Boston Entrepreneurial Ecosystem’s Problem and What It Needs

Entrepreneurship, Update Add comments

Update:  I emphasize students in this post because there is a lot of talent in Boston’s horde of schools; students have a special significance here.  Graduation is a defining transition for many.  But this post is really about the “zero stage” community and new entrepreneurs in the area (which were likely once students).  Recent graduates that are in the entrepreneurial arena likely got entrepreneurship on their radar somehow.  See Jason Evanish’s comments below.

This picture shows a panorama of Boston (USA).
Image via Wikipedia

Back in early March, I wrote an op-ed piece for Xconomy called “An Entrepreneur’s First Co-Founder: The Community.” The article makes two key points: 1) startups are a product of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that they emerge from and 2) to do great work, you need to have a strong connection to your working community (frequent communication with your community, as well as a feeling of connectedness).

Right now, there is a lot of talk about improving the Boston entrepreneurial ecosystem.  Here’s the main problem: brain drain. (which adds to the problem of drain in the “zero stage” community in general).  The flows of talented college students are fueling Wall Street, consulting firms, large companies, and to a much smaller extent, Silicon Valley. Boston needs these flows to fuel entrepreneurship. The zero stage community is also small and consequently often isolated.

Changing this changes everything.

Why does this problem exist?

It’s largely cultural.  The major chunk of available and superb talent gets mopped up by finance, consulting, etc.  Students mainly know people working (and making good money) in these types of avenues–not in startups.  If you don’t know anyone that’s tried to start a company in Boston or working in a startup, you’re very unlikely to do it.  This situation also makes students much more risk averse: “I can make good money in a comfortable job.” Younger people are generally the most willing and able  to run through walls for a big, crazy idea.  That’s exactly what a startup ecosystem needs.

Some also blame the investor culture–not a lot of angel investors, investors are more hesitant; on the Left Coast, money is apparently  free and flows like water.  Investor culture may be problematic, but it is also an easy gripe that I think is unwarranted.  If you build real value, you’ll get what you need.   Furthermore, web, mobile, and even some hardware startups don’t require much money beyond living expenses.  And if you’re resourceful enough, you can live cheaply anywhere.

So here’s the situation for a student soon to graduate: “my friends are all getting jobs that pay, there’s a lot I don’t know about building a business, I don’t know enough people to find the right co-founders, and I don’t know how I’m going to eat if I tried to start my own company here.” These pains need to be alleviated in order for a young entrepreneur to get started.

Where does a young/new entrepreneur get started?

A very, very small minority is gritty enough to just find a cheap living situation and start figuring things out.  In Boston’s culture, doing so seems absolutely ludicrous.  Most people, and especially students, need some level of support and connection to other people doing the same thing. And it takes a long time to figure out the entrepreneurial landscape and find your place in the community.

Incubator programs are one great channel, but TechStars Boston isn’t really filling the void.  They don’t fund a whole lot of companies.  They also have a major incentive to fund more developed companies and older entrepreneurs.  They want to make the best bets possible.  And since TechStars has a lot of respect, later stage companies and more experienced entrepreneurs become interested in being involved in the program.  It’s an indicator.  Techstars is great, and they’re doing exactly what they should be doing.  But, it’s a different part of the puzzle.

Another problem rests within the nature of the “zero stage” startup community: if you nave no income, and very little resources, it seems unwise to pay for any sort of workspace.  Consequently, the zero stage community (the community students would also be a part of) is splintered apart and sprinkled across Boston, taking refuge in their apartments.  This is a major drain for the individuals–you need the energy and attention of the community in the same situation as you are.  Shared experience is powerful. Students and zero stage entrepreneurs could vastly benefit from having a home, a closer-knit community that’s there day-in and day-out.  A close-knit community is a source of ideas, energy, support, and knowledge.

Having events to go to is important, but you’re not putting your hard hat on every day with these people.

A Solution (Another Piece to the Puzzle)

GreenHornConnect and DartBoston (and others) are helping to alleviate many of these issues by really fueling the community.  And they’re doing great work.

But this is only part of the puzzle, and there are still pain points left.  In fact, students and zero stage startups still have a pounding migraine–a lot of which will be around no matter what, that’s the nature of the game–, but let’s take it down to a manageable level.

Here’s what I propose (/what I’m working on):

  • Put together rent-free workspace. The minimal feature set of the physical space: space, desks, quiet space to take a phone call, great internet, roof, refrigerator, whiteboards, security (can leave stuff there), and great accessibility. Anything beyond these things would be nice, but unnecessary.  (You also don’t want it to be too nice.)
  • Recruit in great people–phenomenal people.  The prerequisite: the strong desire and ability to do great work.  (There’s of course a lot that goes into this: grit, tenacity, etc.) Don’t necessarily need an idea.  Just desire and ability (and interpersonal skills of course.)  There’s a lot of entrepreneurial potential in Boston swimming in darkness right now.  Find them and give them a home.  Entrepreneurship is a disease, let it spread.
  • Promote two key values: community and accountability. Members must (and will) fall in love with the community.  They must also be accountable to the community.  This place must produce to survive. Members are a part of a team that’s counting on them.
  • Setup services that can remove unnecessary drag. It’s not supposed to be easy, and it won’t be.  But, there are simple things that a more formalized community is capable of doing: maintaining key external connections, utilizing communal knowledge, providing mentorship, helping the entrepreneurs pick up side jobs to help cover living expenses, and marketing the community and it’s startups (which also markets Boston).
  • Make it a for-profit venture. Ultimately, this is the only source of sustainability and making sure it produces as much value as possible.
  • Make it novel. Tell a great story. Sure it’ll have characteristics of other incubator-type spaces and funding sources.  The CCC, Beta House, WorkBar, and others are working in the space and are very important. But there’s plenty of room for something special in Boston.  Boston should and is implementing good ideas and best practices found elsewhere. But, ultimately, Boston is in the market for talented companies/people.  And in a competitive market, you need to differentiate yourself, offer something special and unique.  You can’t rely on loyalty to the region.  Entrepreneurs should do what’s best for them.

You put this together, and you’ve got magic on your hands.  Absolute magic. You’ve got the ability to produce a lot of value.  It’s also something special.

This is key to making it sustainable. You likely have many questions about financing this venture and making it sustainable. We’ll leave those issues on the side for now (but discuss if you wish).  It can be done.  One step at a time, and the first step is properly formulating the solution.

What do you think? Is this a problem that needs to be focused on?  Is this a good solution? Are the assumptions off-base? Can you help? Put down your thoughts, and pass this along to other members of the community. Let’s get the discussion started and get moving.

Leave a comment.  Tweet about it. Or shoot me an email at KVogelsang11 at gmail.com If you’re interested in these issues I’d love to meet you and talk more about it.

-Kevin
3.30.2010


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
  • billwarner2
    Kevin - I agree that we need to do a zero-cost (or even LESS than zero-cost!) space for entrepreneurs. I have some ideas also, and would love to get together on this. We need one, or more than one of these type of spaces, so let's get to work. - Bill
  • Absolutely. Thanks for the comment. I'm excited to chat about this. Let me know when you're free to talk.
  • Great post, Kevin. I am excited with the energy for entrepreneurship in Boston and have seen it grow meaningfully over the last few years (particularly on campus at Harvard, MIT, others).

    I agree with Jason's point out "be loud". I also do think the angel community is a huge gap. For those of us who know angels, we need to find ways to pull them together and make them more visible. That matchmaking is very difficult for young entrepreneurs who tend not to know the (typically older) angels through natural social circles. We started StayinMA to assist with this natural networking for students at conferences and industry cofabs, but more can be done here.

    Keep up the rabble rousing!
  • Thanks for the comment Jeff. The rabble rousing will indeed continue. And will have to--there are problems to be solved!
    Thanks for your leadership on these issues. Let's keep it up. We'll get to the necessary "critical mass" soon enough.
  • Good to hear Jason. Thanks for putting in a good word for TiE ENTER program. We are hoping to expand this and make it a strong player in the student-based entrepreneurial community. I will make sure to pass on the word to Bilal and co. that the event was a success.

    Thanks for the indepth post Kevin. Obviously there are necessary changes that need to be brought into the ecosystem in Boston's startup scene, one being an overall collaborative attack on these issues.
  • Deleted.

  • robchogo
    Great post and discussion. There's a lot of this talk going on, and I genuinely think that we are on the brink of a major revival in entrepreneurial activity in Boston. I can sense the momentum building, and I know of genuine efforts underway to address each of the shortcomings you mention. What I think matters most is getting more winners under our belts and then having those entrepreneurs give back to the community. But you see it with what David Cancel is doing with customer development lunches, Brian shin, Dave balter, and dharmesh shah deploying some angel capital, bill Warner motivating the older guard, etc. I am quite optimistic.
  • The activity going on is exciting. And I look forward to some great developments in the coming months. However, I'm still searching for solutions that solve the primary problem that I mention: a need for a persistent sense of community for zero stage entrepreneurs (which includes inciting better connections, and bringing new people into the community).
  • robchogo
    Why does POPSignal, dartboston, webinno, and momondays fail to achieve
    this?
  • These fail to solve the problems I'm highlighting, especially for *founders* of new companies.

    1) Events aren't designed for knowledge transfer. They're best for meeting new people. Sure, you'll pick up something new. You can also follow up with someone and schedule a meeting (which are costly). But there are 1000s of questions a new entrepreneur needs answered and will run into. Maybe a few things can be learned from a meeting. The real learning comes from working around people that are very close to your current situation that you can turn to and say, "how did you handle this?". In Boston, you don't bump into someone in your daily routine and talk about founder issues.

    It's easy to forget the what it's really like to be completely new to something and know *nothing*. Invaluable mentorship comes from your peers.
    Here's another side to this that comes from a comment above by bsrubin, "I am super-willing to mentor - but no one (except for a few Brown grads - my alma-mater) knows how to find me."

    2) These events aren't very helpful for getting new people into the "entrepreneurial funnel." They offer a chance for the current community to get together. If you go to these events, you start seeing the same faces. (there are some events that are much better suited for getting new people into the entrepreneurial arena).

    People are starting to realize there is real opportunity in Boston waiting to be tapped, but it's going to require investment in growing the community. What I'm proposing is a location/community that exists continually that specializes in the difficult transition process of going from a dorm room or job into the wild. Boston's problem is that entrepreneurial people often don't make it into the funnel, or can't get through those very difficult initial steps that a "zero stage" entrepreneur goes through.

    3) In the day-to-day life of a zero-stage entrepreneur, events don't supply the moral support and energy that can make a huge difference. Having a real working community can really help push things forward. YC and TechStars display this and are the closest examples to what I'm proposing, but in the Boston environment, we need something more persistent.

    Hmm, this comments has gotten longer than I'd like, so I'll stop there.

    Does this illustrate why these forms of community building fail in certain areas?
    I think it's also important to remember that founding a company and working in a startup with some momentum are also very different.
  • robchogo
    So, are you pleased to see that Dog Patch is increasing the space that
    is available?

    I agree with your uber-point though. More collaboration that is
    consistent is better. But it's often hard to fabricate this stuff,
    and each one of these initiatives do help, but don't go all the way.
  • Absolutely happy about the DogPatch expansion. But, DogPatch is a different animal--it's Polaris's Realm. There are a different set of goals and incentives involved (none of which are bad or wrong).
    However, some entrepreneurs are wary of working in DogPatch for reasons I stated above ("implicit strings"). Chris Dixon just tweeted exactly what I've been wondering myself "I would love to see VC seed programs/office space providers show % of startups they didn't fund that got funding elsewhere." It sounds like Polaris is running DogPatch in the best way possible, but this "wariness" exists by default.
    Investment in early stage startups is very much about "gut feel" and belief in team and product. Strange things affect this. (Of course, since you're an investor, you have your own opinion on these things. Although I'd like to, I won't push you to share here.)

    But let's put all this nonsense aside. I want DogPatch to prosper. It's a resource for entrepreneurs. However, what I also want is something that better caters to new entrepreneurs and those with little resources at the time: even entrepreneurs that are still drawing diagrams on whiteboards and writing down ideas on napkins or just starting to find their way around the landscape. What entrepreneurs need to do is plant a flag in the middle of Boston and say, "we're here, we're badass, and we're doing it big." People on the fringes will hear it and join in. Things still aren't loud enough, and what we need is to get to ***critical mass*** and have entrepreneurs bumping into entrepreneurs.

    And as you said, once there are some homerun hitters that invest back in the region, we'll be on our way. But, it takes a lot of failures to get it right and it takes activation energy from the ecosystem to get there.
  • jasonshah
    Hi all,

    I enjoyed reading the post and comments here. As a college student and entrepreneur, I can confirm and echo many of the reasons for the brain drain that Kevin outlined. However, reflecting on my own experience, I would put more weight on the point of mentorship if one key goal is to get and keep college students/grads in the Boston startup scene. Many of my friends, yes, go into consulting and finance; among other reasons, it is because their mentors and older friends have chosen that path and it becomes what my peers can most easily access. Providing more structured mentorship opportunities within the Boston community for college students makes the whole notion of a startup far less intimidating and begins to solve other problems (access to capital, office space, building a team, etc.).

    TiE, General Catalyst, and Goodwin Procter launched the ENTER program recently (http://boston.tie.org/chapterHome/programs/TiEENTER200908241067651967/viewInnerPagePT) and as an attendee at one of the first events at Harvard, the impact this had on making college students feel like they weren't on their own was apparent and significant. I would love to see more of these events and partnerships.

    Jason
  • Thanks for the comment, Jason. Interestingly enough, I had a meeting today with Bilal from GC talking about these issues, as well as the ENTER program. It's good to hear your take on the event.
  • Good to hear Jason. Thanks for putting in a good word for TiE ENTER program. We are hoping to expand this and make it a strong player in the student-based entrepreneurial community. I will make sure to pass on the word to Bilal and co. that the event was a success.

    Thanks for the indepth post Kevin. Obviously there are necessary changes that need to be brought into the ecosystem in Boston's startup scene, one being an overall collaborative attack on these issues.
  • Absolutely. There are several pieces to the puzzle. What I've described above is only part of the spaces that need to be filled.

    It's interesting that DogPatch just announced that they'll be expanding. However, the "market" has many niches--working communities are highly specific. Additionally, the community would benefit from a 3rd party (specifically, a zero stage entrepreneur ) heading up such an initiative.
  • Healy_Jones
    Dogpatch Labs Cambridge is expanding. They will have free co-working space. http://dogpatchlabs.com/
  • DogPatch Labs does have free co-working space. I'm glad Polaris brought it to Cambridge. However, there are some strings that come with working in DogPatch that many entrepreneurs, myself included, are uneasy with. There is also more demand than availability.
  • Dogpatch's current space is beautiful. But they don't allow dogs in to work at the dogpatch!
  • Very true, Clay...Very true
  • Healy_Jones
    There should be more space once they expand. I wasn't aware of any major strings, but I've only chatted with people from Polaris about it. That's interesting; what are the strings?
  • There are no explicit strings. Working in DogPatch is a small investment by Polaris--they're investing resources in the companies. When a DogPatch team doesn't get real dollars invested in by Polaris once the company's tenure is up, it *could* be seen as a bit of a black mark to people. "Polaris invested before, but they don't want to invest now that they know the company better?"

    This "black mark" issue was my first question to the Polaris guys, and of course, they answered that it's about fit, which is absolutely true. A company could theoretically be awesome but just not be a good fit (for instance, it's just not within the firm's focus/expertise). However, early stage investing is an art, and a lot of it has to do with a gut feel. And the black mark makes people uneasy.
  • Action! I think we would all agree that this discussion is important, but there are way too many people in this town talking and not doing a damn thing about it. There is no silver bullet, so we have to try a bunch of things and iterate.

    Kevin, you've outlined a well articulated plan/approach to a possible solution, which is more than most can say. Are you going to run point on starting rent-free work space? If so, let's get the usual suspects together and determine what small chunks of action each of us can take to help make this real.

    We choose to stay here and if we want to evoke change we need to get scrappy and take action. If you are taking the lead on this - count me in to help.
  • Absolutely. I wouldn't have bothered to write this post if I wasn't going to execute. No cheap talk here. Already made some headway (working out a novel revenue model, even have some potential real estate lined up).

    I'm looking for adventurers and doers like yourself--people that are willing to lend a hand and support of any kind.

    Shoot me an email at kvogelsang11 at gmail and let's talk.
  • VDC
    Universities need to better prepare students for the new world of startups. For many, working in a startup is a new experience. They’ve just been steered in other directions. Big firms seemed safer bets. But no longer. Two thirds of new jobs are being created by new (not small) businesses.

    A great way to prepare students for the new world of startups is to learn how startups work. This is not something they can learn in class. They have to watch a startup in action. There’s always a lot that needs to be done at a startup. And they are happy to hire a promising student as an intern. If they gradually work their way into their confidence, it might turn into an official job later, or better yet, teach the student how to start a startup of their own.

    In the least twelve months, the Venture Development Center has placed 43 students at UMass Boston in paid internships at venture-backed startups. Here's how they are doing. http://bit.ly/5PHhLz
  • Being in a startup is equivalent to being in the wilderness--much to the dismay of management consultants that enter the arena. School does a terrible job of preparing students for the wilderness.

    Placing these students is a huge success. Congrats on a job well done! Let us know if there is any way we can further what you're doing.

    Here's one thing I know: most students have ambition. I say, LET AMBITION THRIVE. Startups are best place for this.
  • bsrubin
    Some awesome thoughts in the post and comments - this is definitely a discussion worth having.
    I am a Boston entrepreneur (Zeo) - but I also spend plenty of time out on the West Coast (writing this from a coffee shop in the Bay Area). I'll reiterate what you guys are saying in a new way - it's all about critical mass. i meet entrepreneurs here all the time - they are usually hanging out with other entrepreneurs and talking about founder issues. I had a great conversation with someone out here about founding team dynamics - it was relatively novel for me - I don't have tons of these discussions. For her it was 'the typical founder dynamic discussion that we have all the time'. I think the reality is that the density of founders in SF makes it easy to hang out with other founders.

    Not so in Boston. In Boston for the most part we entrepreneurs don't hang out together. TechStars/DartBoston/Dogpatch are changing this in good ways - but a space like you describe above could accelerate things. Bijan Sabet over at Spark makes some of the same observations regarding mentors and founders:
    http://bijansabet.com/post/354459209/connecting-mentors-and-founders

    Example - I am super-willing to mentor - but no one (except for a few Brown grads - my alma-mater) knows how to find me.

    Few solutions proposed here - but I would love to be part of the solution as you guys hash things out.
  • Thanks a lot Ben. I want to see more people offering to lend a hand that fall into the early stage demographic. Definitely encourage others to do the same.

    Critical mass is key. Things are diffuse in Boston. Events are great for meeting new people, but a more *persistent concentration* is better for knowledge sharing, which is why the working communities are so important. Random run-ins where you can discuss founder issues don't happen. I was excited to have my first random run in with an entrepreneur (Raj from Localytics) a few weeks ago, even though it was very brief.

    Mentors aren't just big names like the guys involved in TechStars. Peers and people close to the situation, like yourself, are the best mentors. Again, shared experience is key.

    I will definitely keep you updated and will definitely involve you in the solution. Shoot me an email at KVogelsang11 at gmail so we can make a more personal connection.
  • jenniewhite
    Kevin,

    I am definitely intrigued. I am a little confused on the brain drain reference though, are you saying that Boston's talent is being sucked out west, thus we're left fumbling for entrepreneurs and people to work at our startups?

    I think Jason Evanish of Greenhorn Connect is getting the ball rolling when it comes to recruitment, but who's going to pay for free-workspaces and services for young entrepreneurs? We both know Boston is uptight when it comes to money, who's going to foot the bill for a bunch of entrepreneurs who have raw talent and ideas?

    There needs to be a culture shift in Boston, we have to start small, organizing little groups of beta-testers, more founder dating events, and I know I've said this before, but more causal parties--I think parties promote discussion and collaboration better then networking events. This change will take time, but I think there's enough of us here in Boston who are passionate about startups and entrepreneurs that we will improve.

    This post definitely made me think, Thanks for that Kevin. Shoot me an email jennie [at] bostinnovation.com if you come up with anymore ideas.




  • Also, this is primarily focused on students that want to be founders, which is what the ecosystem needs--more startups, more jobs, more ways to get involved.
  • Let's not forget graduates...it's really easy to say "Students, Students, Students!!!" and somehow the 23-26 year olds floating in and around the community are lost.

    This is why Cort and I have pushed hard for some pay events that give student discounts to realize that some of us in the community that graduated are just as broke, if not more (we have to repay those loans now...) than the students.
  • jenniewhite
    Jason, I second that. Students are wonderful, don't get me wrong (I am one of them), but you can't argue with a graduate's experience. Keep these 23-26 year olds in Boston; they've got more experience and expertise to work in a startup then students/new graduates.

    Student discounts should apply to anyone who's under 30.
  • It's not about student discounts to anyone under 30...if I have a startup that brings in real revenue, I have no problem paying for some events, but it is about not drawing such a defined line between being a student and not.

    It's also just as important to have ways to convey to people what a career path can be. I essentially have networked like crazy, took a part time job and now I may soon have the ideal full time job I think* I was setting out to get back in September. Not an easy path, but if it is scalable and repeatable, then we need to show people that's a possible path. Otherwise you have a lot of lost people not understanding what their options are.

    I've met these confused, frustrated people from time to time over the past few months (and I was one of them) and I want to make sure if we do engage more young people...we have something to do with them...otherwise it will be 10x worse when they all sink.



  • Having no money is having no money. Recent grads are often in a bind. I won't lie: I snuck into an MIT Enterprise Forum event last year because I didn't have the money to shell out $50 for an event. I had just graduated and all the sudden I was an outcast :(
  • jenniewhite
    Point taken Jason. I just don't like paying for things, but then again who does?

    I'd define a "student" as someone who's enrolled in school or transitioning into a full-time career. What you have Jason, is motivation and dedication. You created Greenhorn and your brand from scratch which is very respectable. I fear there's a lot of students who don't have that kind of drive. Provide structure for students; incubators, tons and tons of mentors, events, workspace, and workshops and they won't sink.

    Question: Who's going to be responsible for building and keeping this structure? It definitely has to be a team effort.
  • Thanks for pointing this out.
  • Actually, I really mean "recent graduates" and any new entrepreneur of any age. I emphasized students because that dreaded deadline of graduation is obviously a BIG transition point for most people. And Boston has a ton of great schools with a lot of entrepreneurial talent that grabs their piece of paper and heads out, so students do have a special role in Boston. It's a reservoir of untapped potential.
    However, there are many paths that lead to the same point of being a new entrepreneur.
  • Students provide an interesting opportunity. I can't really work full time for a company and dip my foot in the entrepreneurial pool quite like a student can try to start something while in school.

    If we work with students right, graduation will be a relief because they can pursue their venture full time.

    I wrote about why you should get started in college here: http://greenhornconnect.com/blog/10-reasons-you-should-start-your-first-company-college
  • Exactly. Reaching out to the right students is about getting their eye on the prize, not necessarily in that instant.
  • It's also about bread crumbs....don't make it out to be this HUGE LEAP...it's a bunch of smaller steps we need to lead them out on.
  • Boston's talent is sucked anywhere but Boston startups (or founding startups). My perspective is heavily influenced by MIT, which is supposedly an entrepreneurial stronghold in Boston. I know a lot of people that want to do startups, have ideas and energy, but it's not in the culture, and they don't really know where to start unless they get funded by Y-Combinator. And when you've got an algorithmic trading firm waving 120K in your face, it's a no go.

    As far as the sustainability issues, I would prefer to table them, but in general, would such an environment be valuable? Absolutely. If you have great people, you have a lot of value. You can then convert that into dollars. Not to imply that it's trivial.

    Right on as far as the solutions you mentioned. I'm right behind you. But the key is getting to critical mass. We need a higher matriculation rate. The shift arrives when you go to play basketball and one of the guys on your team is a startup founder. Young/new entrepreneurs fuel the ecosystem. But, I see a lot of people that want to do startups that get swept away into other careers, unlike the west coast where a much greater percentage go into the technology sector. Your first endeavors in the real world are important.
  • jenniewhite
    You make an interesting point about people who get "swept away" in their careers; It might sound like I live in startup fantasy land on this one, but what if opened our entrepreneurial community to those who might not have been included otherwise. People that come to mind are HR professionals, doctors, bankers, blue collar workers, white collar workers, the garbage man! This could increase the size and impact of Boston's entrepreneurial community. People wouldn't have to be swept away in their careers, instead they'd be a "part-time" entrepreneur or a supporter of the community. If we're looking to grow, we've got to get more people involved outside of the tech/student/startup worlds.

    People aren't going to leave secure careers for an unpredictable startup. If we prove to to them that Boston's startup ecosystem has potential and we're a fun group to hangout with, they might be willing to help in terms of money, time, support, food, and coffee.
  • I agree. Strong connections with a variety of groups is important. This concept would actually play a role in this as well.

    I should also point out that I'm catering more towards individuals that are (or are close to) the type of entrepreneurial animal that is really in their element as an entrepreneur. Once they come to this realization, there's no looking back for many people.
    However, industry experience is certainly necessary and many great entrepreneurs come from that walk. However, having a vibrant and fun community is an attractive base for those that come from that channel. Make it a party of "value-building." It's a fun group made of the most interesting people in the world.
  • Interesting thoughts, Kevin and Jennie. I definitely think we need to do a lot more of a number of things. As I've profiled the last two weeks, there are people young and old picking up the mantle to try to solve various problems. There are many more still to work on and you hit on a few:

    1) Be Louder -
    We need to celebrate entrepreneurs, young/old/new/veteran and everything in between. This isn't glamorous like catching TDs from Tom Brady and it certainly doesn't pay like it, but there are other intrinsic rewards (like loving your job, creating something new, energizing commmunity) that we can sell people on. The only way people will know this is if we're loud about it. That means talking to students (I've spoken to Tufts, Emerson and NU students in the last few months), engaging everyone and holding more events like NEXT event at the UMass VDC and the CIC groundbreaking.

    2) Engage Students -
    Believe it or not...there's 30+ schools in the city proper and 68 in the region. The more outreach to as many of them as we can, the better. That's why The Career Combine is so important...we're leveraging the contacts of MITX, Microsoft, Greenhorn Connect and a slew of partners to try to hit everyone multiple times about these opportunities.

    3) Know what to do with people-
    I can't tell you how much thrashing and struggling and frustration you can feel as a young person in this community. It's still difficult to get "plugged in" and even harder to get a job or get your business off the ground. We need to understand what the logical paths are. I want to make sure that I'm clearing a path behind me...not just having the vines grow back as soon as I take a step forward.

    Just a few thoughts...I'm actually posting something I wrote on Greenhorn Connect tomorrow about "8 things" the community still needs to do as a wrap up to my pieces I've written about what we're working on.

    Great job as usual, Kevin.

    Thanks,
    Jason
  • I certainly feel the pain. This concept is a product of my own experience and personal need, which is the most powerful motivator and the best way to design a "product."
blog comments powered by Disqus