Building on your point, we shouldn’t think proximity is a panacea. You have to make a conscious effort to the most of it. At the same time, distance isn’t a terrible barrier as long as you consciously make an effort to overcome it. My point above was just that you have to at least start with a way to rub shoulders and get to know each other.

The most important thing entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are selling to each other is trust. Clearly from the energy around the topic of entrepreneur-investor relationships there’s a lot of room for improvement.

So as I see it, Tim is agreeing with Scott. His examples above, speak of the new culture of collaboration, giving back to the community and openness that is growing here in theHub.

James- RE: proximity – I believe a study was published recently that showed the further away from your VC you are, the better your returns.

Scott: If it is true as Bob B. says that Waltham VCs are doing more deals in Boston/Cambridge than the VCs in Boston/ Cambridge, then that’s probably the best argument for what they are doing. But I think your point is that to “matter” you have to do more than invest, you also have to contribute to building the community (not just reap, but also sow). No disagreement there.

Gus: These are good ideas, and you within Microsoft are really taking the lead in a bunch of these areas. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your many efforts to work with students and to help them find internships at firms in the area.

James: Your suggestion is better. The original title was “How to get off S.K.’s S**t list”, but I didn’t think that would survive editorial review.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2009/08/why_waltham_doesnt_matter.html

I’m not at a loss. I have served on MIT committees about innovation with VC members from Waltham (as well as from Cambridge and Boston), and I routinely see reps of Waltham firms taking part in, and sponsoring, entrepreneurship events and activities at MIT and Harvard, BU, and more. I’ve been to private dinners for entrepreneurs on leading-edge trends put on by two Waltham firms. I’ve been to a retreat for entrepreneurs put on by another Waltham firm. And these examples are off the top of my head, I’m sure there are many more.

And more to the point, I see investing in local firms as fostering entrepreneurship–don’t you? Just a quick look at the data on new VC investments in Boston-area companies in June and July shows 14 times that Waltham-based VC firms ponied up for local companies. The number for Boston- and Cambridge-based VCs is about half that.

I think that we need something that scales…that brings the action to the students, that crosses university boundaries and that really allows studetns to become engrained in the innovation community and culture in Boston. Ideally, we’d offer them opportunities to learn, engage with the folks that will be able help them, and to understand where the opportunites exist — on a regular rythym at times and places that are convenient to their schedules.

In short, think opencoffee meets webinno…with a twist of education.

But more to the point, I run into Waltham VCs in Cambridge and Boston all the time, and not just Bob Metcalfe. They are prowling the halls at MIT, meeting folks for lunch or coffee in Kendall Square, having breakfast with entrepreneurs at Henriettas, or roaming Rogers Street, where Xconomy is based. And, of course, Waltham VCs have made many, many investments in Cambridge and Boston startups. They are an integral part of the scene, and the culture.

(I do agree with your point that the best VCs travel constantly to learn about the world and do deals.)