Comments on: It’s Time to Start Networking for Real http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/ Business + Technology in the Exponential Economy Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:49:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: KeithM http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-85455 KeithM Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:31:52 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-85455 Bravo, James, and great work at the unConference! I've made it a policy for many years to put new contacts in touch with others who I think would make for a good 2-way fit, but I love your explicit question of "what are your 3 biggest needs?" I'm adopting that as of today, and I already volunteered myself for the Connectors list. :) Keep supporting us serial starters--we need all the help we can get! To John Poole's question above, one thought is to explore one of the many inspirational and educational stories in the startup world...perhaps talk about the experiences of an innovative company that has developed something close to the hearts of teens. This can be a platform to explore whatever aspects of entrepreneurism one wishes to touch on. Bravo, James, and great work at the unConference! I’ve made it a policy for many years to put new contacts in touch with others who I think would make for a good 2-way fit, but I love your explicit question of “what are your 3 biggest needs?”

I’m adopting that as of today, and I already volunteered myself for the Connectors list. :)

Keep supporting us serial starters–we need all the help we can get!

To John Poole’s question above, one thought is to explore one of the many inspirational and educational stories in the startup world…perhaps talk about the experiences of an innovative company that has developed something close to the hearts of teens. This can be a platform to explore whatever aspects of entrepreneurism one wishes to touch on.

]]> By: Ed http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-84281 Ed Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:10:07 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-84281 James - Great to see that folks like you are stepping up to encourage the start-up eco-system in Boston. Of course the very first comment mentioned CA vs. Boston. One of last year's MTLC experts asked if we need to import start-up VC's. Interesting to note that if you do a search by state on exhibitors at the upcoming CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment, focused on a hot emerging market sector, 7 companies are from MA, and over 67 are from CA. Granted, its being held in CA (not here?), but it is intuitively obvious to most people that care that we in Boston still have a long way to go. I found a community incubator in San Diego that may be a good model for you and your readers to review: http://www.commnexus.org/incubator/about-us/ James – Great to see that folks like you are stepping up to encourage the start-up eco-system in Boston. Of course the very first comment mentioned CA vs. Boston. One of last year’s MTLC experts asked if we need to import start-up VC’s. Interesting to note that if you do a search by state on exhibitors at the upcoming CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment, focused on a hot emerging market sector, 7 companies are from MA, and over 67 are from CA. Granted, its being held in CA (not here?), but it is intuitively obvious to most people that care that we in Boston still have a long way to go. I found a community incubator in San Diego that may be a good model for you and your readers to review: http://www.commnexus.org/incubator/about-us/

]]> By: Shareaholic Funding, Download Milestone & a Lesson for Boston Startups - 93South – Thoughts on New England Web 2.0 http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-83800 Shareaholic Funding, Download Milestone & a Lesson for Boston Startups - 93South – Thoughts on New England Web 2.0 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:08:24 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-83800 [...] was an excellent set of articles from Scott Kirsner (Boston.com) and Xconomy’s James Geshwiler and Time Rowe covering the concepts of fostering local innovation and entrepreneurship back in [...] [...] was an excellent set of articles from Scott Kirsner (Boston.com) and Xconomy’s James Geshwiler and Time Rowe covering the concepts of fostering local innovation and entrepreneurship back in [...]

]]> By: John Poole http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-82074 John Poole Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:35:50 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-82074 Great newsletter; just hope I am on the mailing list. May be one area to include is the academic communitiy as many colleges and universities are trying to get the entrepreneurial band wagon, as you know. I've even been asked to teach a course for seniors at Thayer Academy in Braintree. My question is how to organize so much information into something of real interest to teenagers that they can understand and for it to be inspiring for them. Great newsletter; just hope I am on the mailing list. May be one area to include is the academic communitiy as many colleges and universities are trying to get the entrepreneurial band wagon, as you know. I’ve even been asked to teach a course for seniors at Thayer Academy in Braintree. My question is how to organize so much information into something of real interest to teenagers that they can understand and for it to be inspiring for them.

]]> By: Tim Rowe http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-80582 Tim Rowe Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:40:47 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-80582 Right on, James. The unConferences (the two so far) have been amongst the best recent conferences I have attended. I especially like the quantity of real, 2-way conversation, lack of talking heads on stage, and ability to pick amongst a dozen or so sessions in every time-slot, so you are sure to land on a topic that really gets you going. Another that really stands out is Shayne Gilbert's Nantucket CEO Conference that happens in the Spring. While it is a conference that follows the traditional format of a pre-set agenda and talking heads, it is very intimate, and there is a spirit of familiarity and candid sharing that is unusual. And nothing beats being stuck on an island for several days to help people connect. Anyone want to make the case for their favorites? Right on, James. The unConferences (the two so far) have been amongst the best recent conferences I have attended. I especially like the quantity of real, 2-way conversation, lack of talking heads on stage, and ability to pick amongst a dozen or so sessions in every time-slot, so you are sure to land on a topic that really gets you going.

Another that really stands out is Shayne Gilbert’s Nantucket CEO Conference that happens in the Spring. While it is a conference that follows the traditional format of a pre-set agenda and talking heads, it is very intimate, and there is a spirit of familiarity and candid sharing that is unusual. And nothing beats being stuck on an island for several days to help people connect.

Anyone want to make the case for their favorites?

]]> By: Vinit http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-80514 Vinit Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:10:05 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-80514 Right on James. www.tie-boston.org has an active mentoring program for startups and I have recently launched the BU Kindle Mentoring Program at Boston University: http://www.bu.edu/otd/for-enterpreneursinvestors/kindle-mentoring-program/. Right on James. http://www.tie-boston.org has an active mentoring program for startups and I have recently launched the BU Kindle Mentoring Program at Boston University: http://www.bu.edu/otd/for-enterpreneursinvestors/kindle-mentoring-program/.

]]> By: Jason Jacobs http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-80477 Jason Jacobs Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:03:13 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-80477 James, I enjoyed this post as well. I quit my job over a year ago to start my first company, and have been working hard ever since to cultivate a mentor network locally and seek out advice. I have been fortunate to assemble a great group of people around me to use as sounding boards and to help me avoid landmines (almost daily), but I have found that it has been a bit of an inefficient (ongoing) process to make that happen. There are tons of smart, seasoned people around to learn from, and it seems they all really want to help. It is the process of finding the right ones with relevant skills and interests that seems to take more time than it needs to. The strides that people like you, Tim Rowe, and Scott Kirsner (and many others) have been taking to try to centralize this process and remove friction from making the right connections is exactly what we need. I think it is less about a culture shift, and more about providing people the vehicle to facilitate this kind of behavior without adding extra steps or process to their already over-booked schedules. Keep up the great work! And although I'm still a first-timer, let me know if there is any way I can help the cause. Jason James, I enjoyed this post as well. I quit my job over a year ago to start my first company, and have been working hard ever since to cultivate a mentor network locally and seek out advice. I have been fortunate to assemble a great group of people around me to use as sounding boards and to help me avoid landmines (almost daily), but I have found that it has been a bit of an inefficient (ongoing) process to make that happen.

There are tons of smart, seasoned people around to learn from, and it seems they all really want to help. It is the process of finding the right ones with relevant skills and interests that seems to take more time than it needs to.

The strides that people like you, Tim Rowe, and Scott Kirsner (and many others) have been taking to try to centralize this process and remove friction from making the right connections is exactly what we need. I think it is less about a culture shift, and more about providing people the vehicle to facilitate this kind of behavior without adding extra steps or process to their already over-booked schedules.

Keep up the great work! And although I’m still a first-timer, let me know if there is any way I can help the cause.

Jason

]]> By: James Geshwiler http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-80468 James Geshwiler Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:32:25 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-80468 Jules: thanks for the comments. The mention of "barriers between old and young" reflected sentiments that were expressed to me about last year's unconference. They were kind of in the same vein as your quote from the VC--a description of how things sometimes are, not the way they should be. You and I are on the same page: age isn't an issue and, particularly in technology, doesn't necessarily correlate to current market knowledge. The question is do we have something to offer each other, can we help, and if so, why aren't we doing it more often? Jules: thanks for the comments. The mention of “barriers between old and young” reflected sentiments that were expressed to me about last year’s unconference. They were kind of in the same vein as your quote from the VC–a description of how things sometimes are, not the way they should be. You and I are on the same page: age isn’t an issue and, particularly in technology, doesn’t necessarily correlate to current market knowledge. The question is do we have something to offer each other, can we help, and if so, why aren’t we doing it more often?

]]> By: Jules http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/08/it%e2%80%99s-time-to-start-networking-for-real/comment-page-1/#comment-80464 Jules Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:02:31 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=40338#comment-80464 Great post James. I think about this topic a lot. Most successful West Coast start-ups have a behind-the-scenes "godfather" or mentor helping to assemble capital and other resources. Not so much in Boston. A prominent VC in town told me last week, "The old guys around here never help anyone." So I appreciate your post. One tweak: the mentor/godfather does not have to be old, and the entrepreneur does not have to be young for your model to work. We have plenty of successful young entrepreneurs who could also lend a hand. And you still need help if you are 40 or 50, if you are a first time start-up CEO. So let's remove unintended age bias from the conversation.. Great post James. I think about this topic a lot. Most successful West Coast start-ups have a behind-the-scenes “godfather” or mentor helping to assemble capital and other resources. Not so much in Boston. A prominent VC in town told me last week, “The old guys around here never help anyone.”

So I appreciate your post. One tweak: the mentor/godfather does not have to be old, and the entrepreneur does not have to be young for your model to work. We have plenty of successful young entrepreneurs who could also lend a hand. And you still need help if you are 40 or 50, if you are a first time start-up CEO. So let’s remove unintended age bias from the conversation..

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