Stay Out of the Way
The best thing that we can do to support entrepreneurs is to stay out of their way – letting them focus on their companies, their customers, and on building something great. As startups succeed, that’s how we’ll shape our communities.
The best thing that we can do to support entrepreneurs is to stay out of their way – letting them focus on their companies, their customers, and on building something great. As startups succeed, that’s how we’ll shape our communities.
All across the country, startup communities are emerging. But there’s a debate brewing on just whose job it should be to build these ecosystems.
I’ve been an entrepreneur in the Canadian tech/digital ecosystem for the last ten years. Built a couple of interactive companies, and spent a lot of time helping shape the ecosystem through research projects, advisory committees, awards juries, and industry associations. These experiences have culminated in my most recent venture, Startup Edmonton, a social enterprise aimed at activating startups in our hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
A recent article suggested that innovation needs an Own the Podium approach like we did in amateur sports leading up to the gold rush at the recent Olympic Games. A more strategic, cooperative effort to work smarter across the country, from the top down. An attempt to pick and produce gold medal winners.
Another post on Startup North suggested that “the best thing entrepreneurs can do for their local ecosystems is to build an amazing startup.” I think this is absolutely true, and I would add, “it’s everyone else’s job to stay out of the entrepreneur’s way.”
Competitiveness versus compliance
The problems in our ecosystems need to be attacked from the ground up. There are lots of top down innovation initiatives, flawed in execution and stacked against startup entrepreneurs. We’ve heard about the issues:
startups shaping and deviating to get public funding
entrepreneurs spending time in business plan competitions, instead of building a product
entrepreneurs engaging consultants to game the system for tax credits
researchers can’t start companies, handcuffed by technology commercialization policies
vouchers as seed funding that can only be used with approved service providers
We’re in trouble when compliance trumps competitiveness, and when entrepreneurs are distracted from their real goal: build great companies and products. We tout these programs as competitive advantages – but when it’s funding with strings attached, is it really an advantage? Are they doing more harm than good for startup entrepreneurs?
Reducing barriers for startups
A recent article in The Atlantic suggested, “It’s not about picking winners. It’s about making rules that increase the odds that more entrepreneurs play the game in the hope that many of them will win.” Indeed, our ecosystems need frameworks built around competitiveness, empowering more entrepreneurs to start something.
I believe we can have the most impact in the earliest stages, as startups become startups. Our campuses are shaping international talent that leaves to start companies in other countries. Initiatives like Startup Visa Canada would allow immigrant entrepreneurs to start companies here more easily. Initiatives like the C100 help connect entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, earlier and more often. Industry-led education courses for developers, designers and entrepreneurs are filling the gaps and arming startups with the skills to build products, reach customers and grow their new ventures.
Unlike Own the Podium, we can’t train entrepreneurs to compete every four years. Startups need to compete every day. For every one superstar startup we hope will emerge, we need thousands more in the pipeline. Many will fail, while some will rise to the occasion, but it should be entrepreneurs who determine how it all plays out.
Connecting and creating momentum
I believe Canada is littered with too many service providers, associations, and agencies pulling entrepreneurs in different directions. Instead, we need less programs and smarter policies built to support entrepreneurs at the start, and not to get in their way as they grow. We should stop distracting entrepreneurs with our competitions and advisory boards. We should stop confusing entrepreneurs with disconnected initiatives that blocks momentum.
My hope for Startup Canada is that it will bring more entrepreneurs to the game, realigning and consolidating everything else that surrounds startups in our communities. This is the playbook we’re using at a local level with Startup Edmonton to create momentum, and it’s working.
The best thing that entrepreneurs can do for their local ecosystems is to build great companies. The best thing that we can do to support them is to stay out of their way, letting them focus on their companies, their customers, and on building something great.
As they succeed, they’ll shape our communities along the way.