The Next Era for Trailhead Boise?

The Next Era for Trailhead, Boise's entrepreneurial co-working space?

UPDATE: July 9. My interview was unsuccessful :(

[for those who aren’t in Boise/Idaho, Trailhead is Boise’s amazing, 3 year old coworking space. Trailhead is in flux and here are my thoughts as to what they could be doing to grow the local ecosystem! My hat IS in the ring for the director job, please wish me luck! :) And many of you will see that I'll need your help to pull all of this off. Much of this might apply to your own communities (feel free to steal anything!) There's so much that could be accomplished, if we just go for it! Your thoughts on my thoughts? ;) ]

[if you ARE in Idaho, I don’t expect to be picked… will you still chime in? After all, there’s no way I can do half of this without YOUR involvement. There are action items listed here that some of you can do far better than I! Moreover, the only way that Trailhead (or any thirdspace like this) fulfills its promise is if we listen to YOU. Your thoughts on my thoughts? ;) Whether I get this or not, never be afraid to email [email protected]. Some awesome folks on that board!]

The Next Era for Trailhead, Boise's entrepreneurial co-working space?

Trailhead Boise was born with an eye toward becoming a leader in Idaho’s entrepreneurial community. Not territorial but a convenor and collaborator par excellence. It is more than time to fulfill that promise. Trailhead has enjoyed an enviable reputation as “Switzerland”, not beholden to any of the institutions and power players. (I suspect they are trying... :) But that reputation is definitely starting to fade. I can help.

Trailhead was also born with an eye toward growing the entrepreneurial capital in Boise and beyond. Build entrepreneurial social capital by finding ways to nurture a truly healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem. Build entrepreneurial human capital through a variety of experiential learning experiences. To do all of this... [warning: shameless self-promotion ahead ;) ]

Could Trailhead use a recognized expert at entrepreneurial learning, Idaho’s #1 expert?

Could Trailhead use a recognized expert at ecosystem building, Boise’s #1 resident expert?

Could Trailhead use someone broadly, deeply connected with the entrepreneurial community (across entire region), economic development community, and civic & political communities?

Could Trailhead use someone who can help strengthen Trailhead’s structure, including financially?

It would be my honor and privilege to lend my skills, my experience, my training and my local (and global) contacts to grow a more entrepreneurial Idaho. Trailhead is the perfect vehicle for me. For us. For all of us.

A question I'd asked the board before: Is Trailhead growing or just getting bigger? It’s time to grow.

So what’s my “campaign platform”? What proven practices? Bold actions?

Build a team*. You have great staff already; what other expertise is needed to grow? Marketing is certainly needed. Fundraising too. (* make no mistake: advancing Trailhead needs a team!)

I could do any of these alone,. if need be... but why? And to do all of these? I'd need YOU, dear reader.

Do my homework. Strategically, how well do we really understand the competitive arena? I’m very well-grounded in strategic analysis tools (and where I don’t know, I know the best people.) I intend to use every tool in the toolkit including stakeholder analysis. This will help us develop the right KPIs. And I’ll call on the best innovation doers in the community (like Joe Bonocore) to do so.

Civic Engagement - Model Programs. My mantra: Celebrate. Educate. Initiate.

Advisers. Let’s add a powerhouse Idaho advisory board with expertise and contacts. Also an informal (but equally powerhouse) national/global advisory board. Start communicating and connecting with entrepreneurs, innovators, and experts everywhere. And why not connect with the best role models available? Our region’s best? If CDA’s Innovation Collective can do so much in such a short time… why aren’t we learning from them? From Startup Ogden? (From KC’s Innovation Center??)

Awards & Competitions. e.g., RISE Awards (Recognizing Idaho’s Stewards of the Ecosystem)

Connect/Re-connect with Big Picture: Global Entrepreneurship Week, 1 Million Cups & ?

Convene, Convene, Convene. Become the “usual suspect” for events, epsecially where we can bridge disparate groups.

Entrepreneurial Learning - Model Programs. I propose both entry-level/low-cost “Entrepreneurship 101” classes AND to innovate some high-level, master classes, including corporate venturing.

The introductory classes of the past seemed well-received, let’s start there. But let’s also do more customer discovery and identify MVPs for rollout. I have access to the very best curricula; why not Trailhead as THE #1 entrepreneurial training in the state?? I have access to the very best high-level programming for innovation and entrepreneurship. Why not serve Idaho’s larger organizations as well? Think $$$. If the OECD, EU & global entrepreneur groups think I’m really good at this…

Ecosystem Building - Model Programs. More immediate action items! If the experts like the Kauffman Foundation, Lowe Foundation, Federal Reserve & Sourcelink think I’m really good at this…

           Bigger Projects: “Google Map” the ecosystem – help Idaho to do a best-in-class mapping of existing assets and how they are connected AND start listening sessions to learn where Idaho’s entrepreneurs and innovators actually want us to go. The ecosystem resource mapping is not cheap but sponsors should be available, including significant federal and foundation funds! The listening sessions require only... committing to doing them the right way. The world’s best at both tasks are willing to help.

           Smaller Projects: Trailhead once hosted a great speed dating for entrepreneurs event, why not more variations on that theme? Why not hackathons like Seattle, where we hack a civic issue or a social problem? We need an open door for these but we also need to help them, e.g., with marketing. Audiences always seem to be an issue for everyone. What about interns?

           Convening: Trailhead has often had an open door to grassroots entrepreneurial support groups. The INL-led open innovation for tech commercialization team is our latest beneficiary. But there is so much more to be done (and need not be pro bono). For example, Idaho’s participation in the massive Global Entrepreneurship Week festivities has been dismal, in large part because of turf and other squabbling. It is time to revive the 1 Million Cups model and Startup Weekend. Why is it that Boise is about the ONLY city where these two models (and now Startup Grind) have failed? 

           Mentoring Academy: As I’ve interviewed Boise’s very best mentors, the same recurring theme arises – we need to identify the best mentors (and mentor prospects) and coach them. As mentoring skills transcend new ventures, this would be a way to reach out across the civic community and create value for many beyond the techie/entrep world. Sponsors, grants and fees are out there.

These are the tip of the iceberg as to what we can do - together - to make Trailhead what it was born to be. Everything here is feasible and fundable, everything here multiple stakeholders will support.

Where do we get started? Immediate actions…

Listening Sessions with Entrepreneurs/Innovators: I intend to get busy on starting the listening sessions, complete with briefings on the state-of-the-art on what we know. I can get buy-in (& listening) from the state’s leaders. [These & other key projects where Trailhead can lead and get paid are listed below under "Bold Actions".]

Grant Writing: Might be some low hanging fruit – but we have to look. So… let’s look!

Advisory Board: Easy to reach out. Use that to connect with entrepreneurs around the country/world!

Strategic Analysis: Do my homework as above. Identify KPIs.

Test Drive Classes. Start experimenting, customer validation then customer development.

Global Entrepreneurship Week: All in. 1 Million Cups: All in. (What else?)

Blog posts and social media: We could be doing so much more. Trailhead – and its members and its stakeholders should be the local thought leaders.

Communicate with Stakeholders: If we want sponsors to be happy, are we doing a great job? Are we connecting with future sponsors? Are we seeking other funding? (Startup Ogden got >$2 million from EDA, IC apparently has money from Apple & Toyota. Why not us?) I’ll start calling today.

So why me?      

To borrow from Utah’s Peak Ventures, every viable growth venture offers the 5 T’s: Technology, Traction, Ten X potential, Terms, and Team. We have the ingredients (the people and tools), we have traction (slow but positive), we definitely have potential to be The Next Big Thing, and we have the Team. It’s not just me that you get.

Is there anyone in Idaho who knows more about designing, developing and delivering best-in-class entrepreneurial learning?

Is there anyone in Idaho who knows more about growing entrepreneurial ecosystems?

Is there anyone as connected, not just locally but regionally, nationally & globally? Who will be collegial and delegating?

Is there anyone who’s been more vocal in support of entrepreneurs and innovators?

You have my sword…

Respectfully submitted, Norris Krueger PhD

Bold Actions

Some of these have fee-for-service/subscription potential; all should be sponsor-friendly. Trailhead as project manager can honorably “wet its beak”. Ready to start ASAP.

And start recruiting teams for all of these,

Webinar/MOOC on Ecosystem Building

         Develop and deliver here and market nationally/globally. Needs a little investment/sponsorship but could easily make money. I’ve been working on this [here] but I am willing to do this via Trailhead. Sponsor $ plus subscription $.

Webinar and Master Class: State of the Art of Entrepreneurial Learning

         As above, we would bring in experts globally. Deliver locally and recorded for distribution. How DO you do lean startup right? Design thinking? Customer journey? Blue ocean? Pitching? Design sprints? Combine into master class, especially for corporate clients! Big chance to partner across community. Sponsor $ and subscription $.

Dashboard “How are We Doing” Metrics and Feedback

           What if Idaho had a dashboard where we can go to (a) see metrics on the entrepreneurial economy AND (b) more important, where entrepreneurs can share their insights on critical activities in the state? Examples of (a) Kauffman Index, Startup Genome; of (b) see www.bit.ly/EcoSys. Sponsor $.

"Entrepreneur-Only" Town Halls / Listening Sessions

Half-day workshops with breakout groups on how to grow the entrepreneurial community. Overview briefing [TED-style talk(s) on the state of the art re building ecosystems] but deeply interactive followed by intensive small group discussion to result in tangible, immediate action items and longer-term initiatives. (I do these fairly regularly with good success -why not here?) This could be co-listed on Entrepreneur track. I already have several volunteers to co-facilitate (1 per breakout group). Should attract sponsors too! (p.s. wouldn’t City Club likely want in on this under the banner of their Civility Project?) Could also be technology-mediated via online tools. Becomes model for the state. Sponsors as needed. Possible partnership with Boise Startup Week.

Best-in-Class Ecosystem Mapping

           Recruit Sourcelink (world’s best) to lead us through mapping of Idaho’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This would permit creation of a resources portal (like KC’s Resource Navigator) and “rail map” (like). Combine with listening sessions to “google map” Idaho’s ecosystem! Sponsor $$ with fee to TH for management.

Other Studies (White papers, best practice analyses, etc.)

           Trailhead could include a “think tank” component by serving as project manager for answering the questions that Idaho needs to get answered. For example, whither iGEM? We need to assess its outcomes and we need to see what other proven practices can help! Again, sponsor $.

Global Entrepreneurship Week. 1 Million Cups. And?

Blogs and Social Media

         Create a weekly blog, including invited posts from members, stakeholders, other valued sources. Reblogging the great work of our friends, etc. Explore the expansion of social media presence. Make sure we are at least retweeting/sharing posts from our friends, here and beyond Idaho!

[p.s…. am I nuts? ;) ]