AgriProc Enterprise

October 05, 2015

By Mark Marich

As policymakers throughout the country--and around the world--look for ways to help entrepreneurs launch and grow new businesses, a new research paper from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation underscores the importance of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

“Enabling Entrepreneurial Ecosystems” by Philip Auerswald, associate professor at George Mason University, outlines six strategies to help create connected, dense and diverse environments for entrepreneurs. 

• Favor incumbents less. Policies and regulations that favor existing, dominant companies over entrepreneurial ventures constrain competition and create barriers to entry for new firms. Examples of such regulations include assertive enforcement of non-compete laws, excessively restrictive occupational licensing requirements and regulatory complexity that inhibits contracting. Policymakers should avoid such policies and regulations and work to reduce the barriers to business startup.

• Listen to entrepreneurs. Rather than developing policies abstractly intended to correct “market failures,” policymakers should listen to what entrepreneurs have to say about their challenges. That input should be used to develop policies that stimulate idea exploration, product development and increased rates of deal flow.

• Map the ecosystem. Entrepreneurial supporters should create an inventory or graph that indicates who the participants in the ecosystem are and how they are connected. Ecosystem maps can become valuable tools in developing engagement strategies.

• Think big, start small, move fast. This simple rule, long a guiding principle for entrepreneurial ventures, also holds true for successful entrepreneurial ecosystems. The ecosystem should enable the connectivity needed for early success, and then clear the runway for future growth.

• Avoid artificially segmenting your community or your strategies. Entrepreneurs and members of entrepreneurial communities are active participants in creating new companies, investing in and/or advising startups, mentoring entrepreneurs and serving as customers of entrepreneurial companies. Expect participants in entrepreneurial ecosystems to play multiple roles, and make the most of their valuable skillsets.

• Prepare to capitalize on crises. Much like the rotting trunk of a fallen tree feeds the growth of new saplings, economic disruption creates entrepreneurial opportunities. Because disruptions are inevitable in economic and social life, architects of entrepreneurial ecosystems should anticipate them and prepare to make the most of the opportunities they create.

“The paper raises questions and provides practical advice about the best way to encourage entrepreneurship, which is crucial to the growth of our economy,” said Dane Stangler, vice president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation. “It encourages proponents of entrepreneurship to take a step back and envision a more holistic approach toward accomplishing their goals.”

The paper says establishing an entrepreneurial ecosystem requires a practical approach toward entrepreneurs’ everyday needs. Policymakers should ask relevant questions and map out a broad framework that minimizes barriers to success. Once the results are evaluated, policymakers should use that data to make necessary adjustments.

Photo Credit: Flickr

October 05, 2015

1 Million Cups (1MC) is a simple way to engage entrepreneurs in communities around the world. Each week, the 1MC program offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs.

Presenters prepare a six-minute educational presentation and engage in twenty minutes of feedback and questioning after they present.

Entrepreneurs gain insight into possible ways they can improve their businesses, gather real-time feedback, connect with a community that cares about their progress, and walk away feeling like they have advanced their business.

The audience also learns a great deal from the presentations. Whether this is through passively listening or deeply engaging with the entrepreneurs, there is much to learn every week from these dynamic and diverse communities.

The program takes place every Wednesday morning from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in locations all around the country. Each city runs the program semi-autonomously, and gathers in coffee shops, co-working spaces, and even TV stations.