12 Solutions to Rid Communities of Innovation Deserts

There are over 27 million people in the United States that are currently economically distressed and thus disconnected from the wealth and access that a strong innovation economy provides. A few years ago we coined the term "Innovation Deserts" very similar in concept to Food Deserts, people having to take a car or public transportation to travel miles to access healthy food options that are absent in their neighborhoods. But while that conversation has died down a new type of desert needs our attention, because when you also have to drive those same lengths, if not further, to access tools and resources to be an active participant in the innovation economy how exactly are we then building smart cities?

As a member of the tech community and an entrepreneur, I believe we must ensure that as tech and startup ecosystems are being built and fostered and supported as economic development efforts, that we are building an inclusive innovation economy and providing easy solutions to getting rid of innovation deserts in communities across the country.

For the past five years, my husband and I have worked in South Florida with Code Fever and Black Tech Week and now Space Called Tribe-CoWork and Urban Innovation Lab. We set out on a mission to dramatically shift the way Black communities engage and create value within the innovation sector, by focusing on building asset and talent filled spaces in Black communities by drawing resources, training, networks, funding, and inclusive policies into Black community so that these communities will be valued as massive assets within the innovation sector.

We all know the future of the economy is rooted in entrepreneurialism and technology, and we want to enable the Black community to engage as stakeholders, leaders, contributors, storytellers and shapers of that space. We want to create a magnetic force of talent and opportunity within the Black community that draws resources and opportunities inward to foster increased entrepreneurialism and to reshape the way Black communities engage, contribute, and are valued in the innovation sector.

The pursuit is based on this question: How can we change the definition of disruptors and innovators and better connect our communities to the innovation economy? Here are key things we have learned that need to happen.

#1 Create Asset Maps

Once you’re in, you’re in. It’s always the “getting-in” part that disconnects the people who need the resources the most from utilizing everything that the ecosystem in your community has to offer. The truth is, there is a lot of activity already happening in our communities that needs a simple pivot to keep up with the pace of technology and the needs the community. It’s important to map out what the ecosystem looks like in your community not only as a whole, but also for different groups. What does it look like for a female startup founder? What does it look like for a Black, Hispanic, or Asian entrepreneur? What about for the LGBT community? This should include identifying the funders, the co-working spaces, accelerators and incubators, community programs, coding/technical bootcamps, government agencies that provide resources, innovation hubs, and startup and innovation event organizers.

#2 Cross the Tracks

We must cultivate a “Cross the Tracks” cross-collaborative culture. Traveling around the country for the Blacktech Weekend tour, I have noticed that innovation, creativity, tech, and startup activity seem to happen in silos in a city, instead of all over a city. Provide incentives for organizations to host programming in various communities, and assist organizers with connecting the dots as much as possible. Let them know where free and low-cost event space is in your district to provide programming. Most importantly, people should never feel that they can’t be innovative on their blocks and in their neighborhoods, that they must leave home and drive to where innovation happens. This just perpetuates the sense that this kind of activity cannot happen in neighborhoods that are already disconnected. Simply put, hold your "non diversity initiative" events in black neighborhoods.

#3 Innovation Hubs

Having innovation hubs in our communities and re-directing resources to our communities so that ideas are refined, innovative solutions are celebrated, revamped and accelerated to reach an ever changing market, where concepts like design thinking, agile and lean startup allows industries that black entrepreneurs index high in (food, health and beauty, healthcare, childcare, construction) to not have to raise capital for expensive build outs, but to “Uberize” their ideas and reach millions. When black entrepreneurs are connected to the right tech tools they can completely reshape lifestyles by merging culture and technology while selling to the global market.

#4. Change the Narrative of Inclusive Innovation

It’s the difference between compassion and charity. Charity is showing up to marginalized neighborhoods with a truck full of turkeys and giving out free turkeys during Thanksgiving. It looks good and it feels good, but the next day the recipients are hungry again. Investing in marginalized communities and making sure that they are active members of your startup ecosystem is not charity; it’s economic development. When done right, it will increase everyone’s bottom line. Smart cities don’t happen without investing in black people.

#5 Infrastructure

Can Black neighborhoods get fiber please??!! Can communities centers get better hardware? Can libraries be updated or at minimum stay open later so there is better access to wifi? So much to say on this but more on this another time...

#6 State and Local government

Government plays an important role, I know it seems like a no brainer??, where community redevelopment agencies usually support and fund, brick and mortar/capital improvement projects, investing in startups could prove to be more impactful and allow those funds to assist a larger number of small businesses to scale. Startups by definition is a rapidly repeatable, scalable and fundable business model which is different from a traditional small business. Startups are fluid and collaborative, and thrive in shared work environments whether it is co-working spaces or shared commercial kitchens and local government making sure these places exist in urban cores can really spur entrepreneurial activity.  

#7 Innovation Funds

Setting up funds that allow minority entrepreneurs to access funding to test their ideas, lowers the barriers to entry of innovation. Check out Backstage Capital Invest Detroit, Cross Culture Ventures, and Impact America Fund all funds that inclusively invest in High Growth companies led by underrepresented minority startup founders.

#8 This is not just a problem that the BIG tech Companies are supposed to solve  

The brunt of the attention around solving diversity and inclusion problems are often directed at the big tech companies, but there is a lot that local government and organizations can do. Moving Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA’s) towards funding innovative programming over capital improvements can help residents quickly learn and pivot their ideas to those that are financially viable and scaleable.

Examples of how funds can be redirected include- 

#9 Bringing in an Entrepreneur in Residence to work closely with small businesses to help them uncover new and innovative approaches to their business model or hiring a Developer in Residence to provide pro-bono tech support to help small businesses become more tech enabled so that they can sell pass their neighborhoods and reach a global market with their business concepts.

#10 Procurement

Minority focused Accelerators and Incubators can help companies scale so they are better aware of vendorization opportunities and prepared to bid on procurement contracts. In the absence of a strong angel or VC network, funding via contracts are just as good as gold!

#11 Employment Opportunities 

Jobs, on Jobs, on Jobs-Imagine the number of jobs and opportunities that can be created when a neighborhood restaurant becomes more tech enabled, scales and is supplying to a leading luxury retail giant or pivots their idea into something like Plated or Blue Apron who according to Forbes delivers over 5 million meals a month and employees 2400 people. Can we say HELLO middle class jobs!

Countless studies show an increase in employment of people of color through first increasing the number of companies started by people of color is the formula for impactful change because they are more likely to hire applicants from diverse backgrounds. Startups with the right support provide a clear solution to solving a number of challenges facing targeted urban areas.

#12 Create a Pledge

The diversity pledge that Kapor Capital is made their portfolio startups sign as a condition of getting funding is something that I would like to see duplicated in startup ecosystems across the country and in benefit agreements being signed by cities and developers. Diverse hiring practices, mentorship, and internship opportunities are some of the ways that local startups and tech companies can drive innovative corporate social responsibility in your city. Once basic “Maslow’s needs” are met, then people in marginalized communities have the luxury to innovate. While we are shaping what our communities will look like over the next 5-10 years, we have to make sure we invest in building innovative capacity and human capital. Let’s rid our community of innovation deserts.

This past year we toured the country sharing what we've learned, convening experts and partnering with sponsors like the Knight Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Etsy, Samsung Next, Kauffman Foundation and Kansas City Mayor's office. Our team, as well as community programming partners, held events all over the country to increase deal flow opportunities, showcase opportunities, provide collaborative collision points, and increase the resource magnesium in our communities. We provided access to VC and angel-funding opportunities, mentorship, hiring partners, youth tech, and innovation programing. Over the next few months, I'll be publishing more articles that take a look at the role community plays in shaping the innovation economy of the future.