Back in the old days when people were starting businesses, things were very secretive… or so I’m told. You couldn't tell anyone about your idea for fear they might steal it or the competition might hear about it. Today things have changed. Where once there were walls of secrecy, there is collaboration.
I'd be blowing smoke if I said starting and running a business is easy. It's not. It's very hard. One of the hardest things is that very few people have an appreciation for the unique challenges you face. Enter startup collaboration.
Over the last 5 to 10 years there has been a significant increase in the number of startup co-ops, incubators, collaborative work spaces and other structures designed to assist entrepreneurs.
I am fortunate to call myself a member of the Starve Ups group of entrepreneurs based in Oregon. Starve Ups companies produce everything from socks to steel casting. (Carrie Atkinson, founder of Sock It To Me and this issue’s cover story, is also part of the group.)
The group puts on workshops throughout the year, has guest speakers, Hot Seat Q&A grilling sessions for new companies, and many other amazing networking functions. More importantly, it’s a group of like-minded people who face incredible challenges on a regular basis and are there as a support system for each other. Fabled Starve Ups stories range from companies sharing employees to the time a Starve Ups founder received a phone call telling him his office was on fire. Some of the first people he called were Starve Ups members.
There are any number of organizations you can turn to for getting involved in the startup scene. Here are four to get you started:
Starve Ups: Membership is limited to selected companies in Oregon and Washington, but the companies are as varied as music-licensing service Rumblefish and artisan-food producer Arico. Starve Ups members get ongoing advice and networking, and members mentor each other. Find out more at starveups.com.
Y Combinator and TechStars: Both match fledgling entrepreneurs from the tech world with mentors to help get an idea off the ground and online. Entrepreneurs accepted to the programs get three months of intensive mentoring, up to $18,000 in funding from TechStars, or up to $25,000 from Y Combinator. Check them out at ycombinator.com and techstars.org.
General Assembly: On Broadway in NYC, General Assembly is a co-working space where startup companies share an office cam¬pus. With a library, classrooms, media rooms and working areas, the idea is to foster startup growth through collaboration and shared learning-by-doing. Learn more at generalassemb.ly.
Startup Weekend: These weekend events bring together developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts to test startup ideas and launch new businesses. Open mic pitches on Friday nights get the ideas out there. People then form teams and work on the idea over the weekend. On Sunday, teams present to a panel of experts who provide feedback. See if 54 hours of time is the right fit for your idea at startupweekend.org.
If you're thinking about starting a company (or already have), find other people who can serve as a support network. I guarantee you’ll need them.
By Bryan Sims on August 8th, 2011 for Brass Magazine in partnership with Peoples State Bank. Originally appeared in: Fall 2011 • Publisher's 2¢
