the community builder's dilemma
DESCRIPTION
Brad Feld wrote about the Boulder Thesis, why Boulder, Colorado is one of the most entrepreneurial places on the planet. He didn't discuss his own role. Community builders like Brad are in every city all over the world. They act as super connectors. This presentation discusses the role of the community builder in the growth and development of entrepreneurial places. This also introduces my next book which highlights the community builder.TRANSCRIPT
The Community Builder’s Dilemma
Follow along @NicoleGravagna
My first book
My second book
This one is about you.
Visits this year
Not interesting for this book
Economic Downturnaka 2008
Decimated2008-2010
Regeneration2010-2012
New trees2012-2014
Rainmakerthis is your part
A Startup Event(pretty darn standard)
A Startup Event(pretty darn standard)
Clarissa SteinhöfelCofounder of Startup Safary
Help me tell itThis is my ask.
Brad DenenburgPhiladelphia Region
Michael SitarzewskiBoulder, Denver, Dallas
Toma BedollaHouse of Genius
Andrew HydeStartup Week, Startup Weekend, UpGlobal
Enoch ElwellCo.Starters, The Company Lab
Mary Grace StockerNow with Field Squared
Mike BradshawThe Company Lab
Nicole GravagnaRockies Venture Club, Venture Capital for Dummies
Nicole GravagnaAvailable fall 2015
Xxxx Xxxx:
Nicole Gravagna, PhD
The community builder’s dilemma
Brad FeldThe Boulder Thesis:
!•Entrepreneurs as leaders •A long-term view •A philosophy of inclusiveness •Events that engage the entire
entrepreneurial stack
Richard FloridaThe Creative Class: !
•There are better cities than others for your thing.
•The creative-class follows a new way of living.
•Gay Index
Extracting Talent
• Currently doing other things
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Learn comfort with ambiguity
Visible Opportunity
• A little blight is a good thing
• People seem to need reminders
Training Angels
• Educated dealflow must be present first
• Gather angels to learn from each other
• Simply share what’s normal
Role of the community builder
• The super-connector
• The know it all
• The natural impact finder
Prescription for local governments
• Cheer loudly
• Get out of the way
• What Else?????
Community growth
1. One or two meetups
2. Competing events
3. Some expensive infrastructure
4. Tipping point - when you can’t point to all the community builders anymore
