Our first anniversary!
August 12, 2009
As I was preparing my notes for the first post after the summer blog-break, it occurred to me to we’re celebrating a very minor anniversary. Although the Springstage blog network started a bit longer ago with Alex Muse’s and David Cohen’s startup blogs, the North Carolina Startup Blog started just about a year ago. With the millions of blogs out there, a year of startup blogging isn’t really a big deal, but it’s worth looking back. The mission of Springstage is to have a very strong focus on the local startup scene (we now have blogs in about 25 different geographies across the US and a few beyond). So logically, I set out to report and comment on the NC startup scene. The only wrinkle was that I had only just moved here and had no local startup network.
So a year later and a pinch wiser, I look back on what I discovered about the local startup scene and I can sum it up in three main points:
- Lots of enthusiasm and initiative. One of my early posts was about the RTP Startup Weekend at Edge Office organized by Wayne Sutton and Jess Martin (with the guitar singing the Startup Weekend blues). And that’s just one activity; you could be meeting up with startup minded folks almost every night of the week. Some of the activities are listed on our events calendar (see above; and you’re welcome to add your events), but two more comprehensive calendars are Wayne Sutton’s Social Carolina and the CED calendar.
- Startup activity in NC is more socially oriented than business oriented. I know there is some hard-core investment focused startup activity going on (take CED and NC IDEA for example), but when I compare with my experience in Boston, Dallas and Colorado, I see a lot of grass roots based startup activity around great ideas. They often excel in community focus and do-good desire, but are shaky when it comes to the business model. The world needs good ideas, but a good idea without a business model, is a hobby, not a business.
- Finally, we seem to be a lacking behind the rest of the country (read CA, CO, TX, NY) in terms of trendsetting and technology for the startup world. I realize the cycle of initiatives and returns needs to go around a few times before you start attracting VC, talent and attention. But nonetheless, my observation is we’re behind in terms of startup leadership and innovation.
All in all, I see an early stage but growing startup scene. Springstage will do its tiny bit to try and help the local startup scene forward. Some of the things we’ve done here in the past year, we will continue, but there will also be some changes. Changes in terms of content, but also people.
For starters, you may have read earlier this week that we’re saying goodbye to Donna Maria Coles Johnson. Donna Maria, or “dM”, has been reporting on startup activity from Charlotte. But her business is growing and she is refocusing her energy on that. Its our loss, but we’re hopeful she will write the occasional guest post (so her bio will stay on the About page). That means we’re looking for new contributors from the Charlotte area. If you know someone, get in touch.
Meanwhile, I’m excited to tell you that we will start seeing regular contributions from and about the Greensboro and Triad startup scene. Scott Brewster and Adam Arney are both experienced in the startup scene. Their first post will run on Friday (their bios will be on the About page by then as well).
Finally, a quick plug for the Startup Drinks meetings. We skipped the July meeting due to vacations and conflicts, but we’re on for August. Startup Drinks August will be on Wednesday the 26th at 6:30 PM at Brian Russell’s Carrboro Creative Coworking. Our special guest speaker will be Nathaniel Talbott who will speak about Lean Startups. And we’ll talk about a virtual startup incubator. As before, its BYOB.
