William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
STARTUP COMMUNITY ALCHEMYLESSONS LEARNED FOR GROWING SOUTH DAKOTA’S STARTUP COMMUNITYANDY STOLL, SEED HERE STUDIO / IOWA
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
June 13, 2008Iowa Floods 2008
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
Iowa Floods 2008
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @codyjamesbutler @cornfinger
Cody Butler, CornFinger
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @bpmilne @dwollaBen Milne, Dwolla
THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE
ITS JUST UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTEDWilliam Gibson
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
Entrepreneurship has been democratized
William Gibson
STARTUPSMALL BUSINESS
LARGE COMPANY
#innoexpo @andystoll
a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model whose founders desire to “change the world”
William Gibson
STARTUP
#innoexpo @andystoll
On Colourlovers: “We didn’t have a business model.” @bubs, ColorLouvers
On Peppermint Energy: Third times a charm. Brian Gramm, Peppermint Energy
William Gibson
WHY DO STARTUPS FAIL?“Most startups DON’T fail because they failed to write a good business plan or they lacked an incubator or capital, they DO fail because they underperform to their potential--they made a product that their customers don’t want or they couldn’t build a team that has the capabilities to build, sell and grow, with just a few people.”
Tom Chapman, Nebraska Global
#innoexpo @andystoll @tchap623
William Gibson
WHAT STARTUPS NEED TO SUCCEED“What startups need is help finding customers, mentors, business models, peers, investors and collaborators that provide the needed information and guidance for launching and pivoting their business.”
Tom Chapman, Nebraska Global
#innoexpo @andystoll @tchap623
William Gibson
WHAT STARTUPS NEED TO SUCCEED
+ access to knowledge+ access to networks+ encouragement
Josh Cramer, serial entrepreneur
#innoexpo @andystoll @tchap623
William Gibson
A STARTUP COMMUNITY[an entrepreneurial ecosystem]
#innoexpo @andystoll #nola #omaha #boulder
“inside the secret garden” @bubs, ColorLouvers“the value of Kickstarter was customer feedback” Brian Gramm, Peppermint Energy
“the best place to get advice is other entrepreneurs” Dan Martell, Clarity
“you are the average of the 5 people you spend yourself with” Dan Martell, Clarity
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
June 13, 2008Iowa Floods 2008
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @ideavillage @thwilliamson @robbievitrano @cschultz
William Gibson
THE TALE OF 3 CITIES
#innoexpo @andystoll
‣ there are no silver bullets, no easy and quick solution‣ what works in Nashville doesn’t necessarily work in Dubuque
DON’T FORGET
building entrepreneurial communities in unexpected places
William Gibson
NEW ORLEANSpop: 343,829
traditional industriesOIL & GAS
SHIP BUILDINGTOURISM
AEROSPACE
#innoexpo @andystoll @ideavillage @thwilliamson @robbievitrano @cschultz
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @ideavillage @thwilliamson @robbievitrano @cschultz
Some of the startup community leaders in New Orleans
William Gibson
NEW ORLEANSpop: 343,829
traditional industriesOIL & GAS
SHIP BUILDINGTOURISM
AEROSPACE
‣ started by a small group of entrepreneurs‣ broke the traditional networks of power‣ change began internally‣ success has many mothers and fathers‣ must “hardwire” your community with others‣ just start (and be patient)
LESSONS
#innoexpo @andystoll @ideavillage @thwilliamson @robbievitrano @cschultz
William Gibson
OMAHA
#innoexpo @andystoll @slobotski @dustyd @siliconprairie @tchap623
pop: 408,958
traditional industriesFINANCE
INSURANCETELECOMSHIPPING
AREOSPACE
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @slobotski @dustyd @siliconprairie
Some of the startup community leaders in Omaha
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @slobotski @dustyd @siliconprairie @tchap623
Some of the startup community leaders in Omaha
William Gibson
OMAHA
#innoexpo @andystoll @slobotski @dustyd @siliconprairie @tchap623
pop: 408,958
traditional industriesFINANCE
INSURANCETELECOMSHIPPING
AREOSPACE
‣ first step: find the entrepreneurs‣ highlighting success can have outsized impact‣ events, events, big events‣ get as many people on the bus as you can, then go‣ treat serial entrepreneurs like gold‣ there’s power when shirts connect with suits‣ be humble, learn from mistakes ‣ be prepared to pivot as you go
LESSONS
William Gibson
BOULDER
#innoexpo @andystoll @bfeld @techstars @bdnt
pop: 97.385
traditional industriesSCIENCE RESEARCH
ELECTRONICSAEROSPACE
NATURAL FOODS
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @bfeld
Amazon.com Public Library
William Gibson
BOULDER
#innoexpo @andystoll @bfeld @techstars @bdnt
pop: 97.385
traditional industriesSCIENCE RESEARCH
ELECTRONICSAEROSPACE
NATURAL FOODS
‣ led by entrepreneurs‣ leaders have long term commitment (20 years)‣ foster a philosophy of inclusiveness‣ events that engage the entire entrepreneur stack‣ give before you get‣ don’t ask permission
LESSONS
*Brad Feld’s “Boulder Thesis,” the core of his must read book Startup Communities.
William Gibson
CEDAR RAPIDS
#innoexpo @andystoll @seedhere
pop: 126,326
traditional industriesAGRICULTURE
FOOD PROCESSINGAEROSPACE
TRANSPORATIONTELECOM
‣ first asked: where are our entrepreneurs?‣ how to find them: started and instigated new events ‣ also: built online and offline “watering holes”‣ motivated our serial entrepreneurs to lead‣ building hardwired connections regionally/nationally‣ always asking “does this help our entrepreneurs?”‣ being patient, trying lots of things, learning
OUR ACTION
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
Lots of grassroots events to “shake the trees” and connect people - barcamp, startup weekend, meetups, conference, fairs
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @iccreatives
Organic growth of online “watering holes” for the community, to help find and engage people in our cause - ICCreatives.us
Organic growth of physical “watering holes” for the community - Vault Coworking & Collaboration Space grand opening
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @crvault
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @bigomaha
Hardwire connection between our region and elsewhere - Cedar Rapids/Iowa City contingent to Big Omaha 2012
Some very visible success stories and national exposure of our early stage entrepreneurs and startups
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll @recbob @activegrade
ActiveGrade at the HuffPost Event at the DNCRecBob at DEMO
William Gibson
BUILDING YOUR STARTUP COMMUNITY
#innoexpo @andystoll
1. led by entrepreneurs2. must be in it for the long game (20 years)3. identify your entrepreneurs and startups & rally around them4. create new events that engage the entire entrepreneurial stack5. be inclusive6. highlight entrepreneurial success & tell stories7. connect between generations & siloed groups8. give before you get9. its more an art, than a science (try lots of things)10. don’t wait for permission, start today
Conclusion: Ten key take aways that I think are important.
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
trust your crazy ideas
William Gibson
#innoexpo @andystoll
ANDY STOLLSEED HERE STUDIO / IOWAtw/fg/g+/linkedIn: @andystollandystoll.net
this deck & more links: andystoll.net/startupculture