Understanding Your Role in a Startup Community

I recently read and re-read Brad Feld's book Startup Communities where he compresses 20 years of experience building a startup community in Boulder, Colorado into 224 pages. It is by far the best comprehensive book I have read on startup communities. The biggest takeaway for me was understanding the clearly defined roles of leaders and feeders. I am convinced that understanding the difference between the two roles and adhering to these principles from the start is the determining factor in how quickly and successfully we can build supportive entrepreneurial ecosystems where we live.

So here are my top 6 takeaways from what Brad refers to as the Boulder Thesis. I hope it intrigues you enough to get the book!

 1.  Leaders - Entrepreneurs must lead the startup community to be sustainable. The leaders are not typically the pillars of the community or the patriarchs they are the entrepreneurs with their heads down building high growth companies. They are nodes of interconnectivity. Their role is focused on introducing "real entrepreneurial" activities that engage the entire entrepreneurial stack fostering an environment of learning and sharing. Some of the activities they run in Boulder are tech meet-ups, open coffee, Ignite Boulder, Startup weekend, Startup week, Boulder Beta and there are more. It is a complete grassroots effort! A bottom up approach. What this is NOT: shining a bright light on achievers at networking events. You can learn more about activities that build the entrepreneurial ecosystem by reading Brad's book or going to https://www.startuprev.com

 2.  Feeders - Government, universities, investors, mentors, service providers and large companies must assume the role as feeders who support the entrepreneurial ecosystem as opposed to leading its direction. Some of the things that feeders do to support: act as community catalyst, provide funding, act as magnets for talent feeding students into the ecosystem, provide resources, spread the word, create an environment where people want to live, work and play, welcome newcomers with open arms.

3.  There must be a long-term commitment to build a startup community, at least 20 years.

4.  Welcome anyone and be inclusive. Anyone can take an initiative and run with it. Many towns have a hierarchy and newcomers have to earn their way. As Brad Feld says "This is dumb and the exact opposite of what needs to happen in a startup community. Most feeders run on hierarchy models so "Beware of feeder control."

 5.  There must be a” GIVE BEFORE YOU GET" culture and mindset. Anyone who wants to be part of building the entrepreneurial ecosystem must be passionate about building their community. There are no handouts and those looking for a pay-day will be recognized immediately.

  6.  Beware of global vs. regional. Building a startup community is not about global entrepreneurial ecosystems or global markets it is about building locally and regionally, period.

This seems simple but building a startup community requires a shift in culture and mindset. It’s easier said than done. The activity is the easy part as there are always doers in a community. It’s understanding everyone’s role and a willingness to relinquish control that will be the hard part. Entrepreneurs are doers who are used to making things happen quickly without a lot of red tape. Let them lead the way in your startup community and do whatever it takes to support your communities 20-year vision.

We want to hear what is working for you and your thoughts as a leader or a feeder. Any advice or valuable tips?