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BiFC Manifesto - CT Startup Ecosystem Development
Our goal is to make starting a startup one of the standard alternatives that ambitious people consider - Paul Graham
Ecosystem development is a monumental undertaking. The state has an Innovation Ecosystem initiative with both state-wide and local "hub" endeavors, i.e. where Stamford Innovation Center represents one of the 4 identified "hubs". Our goal is to complement what they are already organizing, but without a year of bureaucratic red tape.
I think you only need two kinds of people to create a technology hub: rich people and nerds. They're the limiting reagents in the reaction that produces startups - Paul Graham
There are dozens of players in an ecosystem, but they can be grouped into 3 general functions: money, talent and environment. Any one is looking for the presence of the other 2. Investors want awesome startups and some promise of their success (talent + environment). Entrepreneurs want capital and a support system (money + environment). etc. If we're to succeed, we need to make progress on all 3 fronts.
Proposal
Move to create elements of an environment that:
1. nutures, supports and celebrates talent
2. persuades money to be less risk averse and more tech savvy
3. puts both in the same room.
Or in other words, make Connecticut a place I actually want to be.
Next Step
There's a laundry list of things in the pipeline, but these are 4 projects currently in development:
A. CT "Silicon Alley Insider"-type publication
B. Entrepreneur Success Stories event
C. Developer User Groups
D. CT Open Government Data Hackathon
Who wants in?
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Comment by Trip Foster on August 28, 2012 at 11:53am -
keep me in the loop, This is a great initiative. You should pipe in the guys at CT innovations. Reach out if you need an intro.
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Comment by Jim Daher on August 28, 2012 at 12:08pm -
I agree with much of what you say. I do believe that Fairfield county seems to lack a broad “ecosystem” when it comes to startups. I find southern Fairfield County seems particularly driven by finance and doesn’t have all that much breadth or diversity.
Personally, I attribute much of this to the glaring problem that we don’t have a world class research university to help drive the ecosystem such as exists in the tech communities of Austin or research triangle. I lived in Austin in the late 80’s and remember quite well how much of the push to develop Austin as a tech hub was the concerted result by the coalition of the state government and the state university. In fact, I worked at MCC, which I would say was one of the pivotal achievements of Austin on the “ecosystem” map, even if MCC in itself was less than a stellar success. It was not a grass roots or small effort.
I clearly think there is a lot lot more to start-ups than “rich people and nerds” Money will follow the elements that will allow it to make reasonable risk-adjusted return. In many cases this is not the “nerds”. Having managed multiple groups of PhD’s ( both in technology and finance.) I am pretty comfortable stating that academic creativity ( for lack a better term for nerd) is only one of many elements it takes to give a company a good shot at success. I think a good organizational structure and being driven to succeed are equally important. So I prefer to call this “funding and finesse”, rather than “rich people and nerds” Having commercial instincts are critical.
Nonetheless, this may be a long winded reply but “I want in”. I would like to make Fairfield County “a place that I want to be.” So keep me in the loop also. Thanks.
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Comment by T. Michael Rogers on August 29, 2012 at 2:53pm -
This is a great idea. Sign me up. I'd love to contribute to the pub and education elements.
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Comment by Rodger Gibson on August 29, 2012 at 5:13pm -
I also agree that this is very much needed. Count me in...
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