A VC - Latest Comments in Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:37:30 -0000

is this centered in Sao Paulo or are their pockets elsewhere in Brazil?

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Leo Kuba — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:41:23 -0000

This is a great post, Fred.
And I read it at the right moment because we're experiencing this kind of "birth" of a tech/web ecosystem here in Brazil, where we have lots of hubs of talents through the whole country, and there's a clear movement of aggregation of resources lead by companies like Microsoft SOL, incubators and VCs, creating the road for the next decades for our market.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Johnny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:37:41 -0000

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Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Guest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:58:07 -0000

London has just kicked off the Global Entrepreneurship Week and having listened to a lot of the panel yesterday, it is clear that it will take time to develop a startup ecosystem here. It is tempting to migrate to cities such as New York or Boston or head to Silicon Valley but I think London is an exciting place to be right now. I am meeting more and more Americans who are looking for a challenge and to create an ecosystem outside of the States. If government initiatives are actually introduced to support entrepreneurs and not are not just for show, the UK can become a place to nurture entrepreneurial talent. I think it was in a book called 'Flight of the Buffalo' that I remember reading about the Japanese making 100 year plans for companies. We have to plan this far ahead to make sure future generations benefit.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Mike O'Horo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:41:57 -0000

This thread reminds me of the point that Malcolm Gladwell makes in "Outliers," i.e., citing research that says developing true expertise in any field requires 10,000 hours of focused practice, with coaching and feedback.

Likewise, the ecosystems Fred refers to have gone through their 10k hrs. The various elements show up in sequence, e.g., the entrepreneurs beget the need for investors, who beget the need for advisors, etc. They all enable practice, coaching and feedback. It takes time.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:55:32 -0000

It's not false, I stated my perception.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Dave Pinsen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:42:17 -0000

Your comment about me was false, Mike. You can stand by it all you want but it doesn't stand up to an objective appraisal of the facts.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:49:34 -0000

Those who know me know I don't "kiss up" well. I stand by my opinion as an honest one.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Dave Pinsen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:29:17 -0000

False. I did suggest some possible solutions in the comment thread I linked to above, while at the same time noting that I didn't claim to have all the answers.

Again, if you want to think critically about these issues, I'll be happy to discuss them with you. But if you just want to kiss up to Fred by taking potshots at me, I'm going to call you on it.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:58:39 -0000

My cliched response was based on the fact I've seen the majority of your comments I've read identify problems but propose few solutions. I tend to shy away from engaging people in online forums whose focus is the former vs. the latter. If I don't understand the problems as you see them then please just count me as someone who is blissful in my ignorance.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Dave Pinsen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:45:21 -0000

In order to be part of the solution, you first need to understand the problem. From your cliched response, it's not apparent that you do.

If you'd like to engage with me on this subject, put some thought into your next comment. You have time: I'm heading out for a late dinner with my inamorata.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:36:04 -0000

Why don't you send me an email? You can do that by clicking on the contact button on the upper right of my blog

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:32:40 -0000

That would be much appreciated. I know you are a very busy guy so tell me what works for you. You can contact me via mikeschinkel at gmail dot com.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:29:58 -0000

I'm not that close to it but would be happy to give you some advice

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:12:08 -0000

Well you can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Your choice.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Dave Pinsen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:09:55 -0000

Right, lots of jobs for high school grads in biotech and green energy. Look at Spain, world leader in wind power, with its 19.3% unemployment rate. I challenged Fred to think more about this in a previous comment thread. I would challenge you to do so as well.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:55:37 -0000

So I've spent 3 years running a meetup group for Atlanta Web Entrepreneurs and advocating for startup-related events and activities. Now in 2010 I've decided to launch an association to advance the startup ecosystem in Atlanta . Hoping to get your input and (maybe even involvement?) in what we should be doing to advance the startup ecosystem in Atlanta?

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:51:15 -0000

Who said "Web application companies?" I said "startups"; i.e. could be biotech, green energy, or any other myriad of startup potentials.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

Dave Pinsen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:20:06 -0000

Think it's going to take more than that, Mike. ~17% unemployed + underemployed + discouraged workers and climbing. How many of them are going to find jobs working for Web applications companies?

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:20:05 -0000

Good but not yet great. It sure has the potential

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:01:43 -0000

And your opinion of Atlanta for startups?

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:35 -0000

Agreed. The connectivity enabled by the Internet does not make the need (or benefit) of physical location for people to work together go away. Just look at the surge in coworking across the country; why would it be organically emerging if not for people feeling the need to work around others?

(Full disclosure, I'm a partner in a recently launched coworking space in Atlanta.)

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

MikeSchinkel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:53:21 -0000

Don't let the peanut gallery get you down Fred. As you know it's startup innovation which will eventually get us all out of this mess.

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:26:30 -0000

Good not great. The loss of dick costolo was a major blow

Re: Startup Ecosystems Take Time

fredwilson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:21:02 -0000

I agree with this approach. Three small companies instead of one big one. But they are all companies not people working out of their bedrooms