Developing the Launch Ramp to the Future
As we have talked with entrepreneurs and investors over the past couple of months, one theme comes up quite often. It’s often subtle, but the essence is “This isn’t Silicon Valley. What do you hope to achieve?” The answers, respectively, are “nope–it’s not” and “a lot.”
What we are striving to achieve through the networking events, speaker series, Startup Weekend, and (most directly) the investment forums is a ramp. A ramp that will allow a person with an idea and talent to launch a business. For this ramp to work, we have to make sure that those with capital can connect to those with the ideas. This includes the whole range of investment, from small loans and financing to Angel investors to institutional investors. This ramp needs to allow institutional investors be on the front row as companies develop from ideas to outstanding investment opportunities. The ramp needs to include resources for young companies, such as those provided by EmergeMemphis and BioWorks. When this ramp is in place, talent will remain in Memphis, and the investment rewards will also reside in Memphis, providing a powerful multi-faceted attack on some of the issues we have in the city.
Optimistic? Sure. A big goal? Yep. Going to happen tomorrow? Nope. But, we believe it can. It requires the work of multiple organizations–we applaud the activities of BioWorks and Memphis Fast Forward, and we know that what we are doing is only a part of the overall puzzle. It’s going to take work. And it’s going to be worth it.
Hopefully you are wondering what you can do to be a part of making this happen, so here are some thoughts:
Entrepreneurs (a.k.a., anyone with an idea they believe in): Participate in the various LaunchMemphis events and talk to us about participating in the Investment Forum. Get to know others involved in LaunchMemphis and maybe find a partner or an investor who can help you turn your dream into reality.
Angel Investors (a.k.a., those with money to invest): Let us know you are interested in attending the Investment Forum and/or the types of companies you would be interested in investing in. We’ve heard some very interesting ideas and concepts recently, and we want you to have a chance to hear them and help make them a reality.
Businesses (a.k.a., those with resources and an interest in the health of Memphis): Help us by sponsoring some events. Help spread the word to employees and contacts to participate. We had a lot of very talented people come together at Tech Fuel.
Institutional Investors (a.k.a., smart people with resources to help companies): Participate in the Investment Forum. Talk to us about what you think we could do to make sure you can find great ideas in your own back yard now or in the future. Let us know of interesting concepts, trends, and companies in the area that we may not have heard of.
Finally, a big thank-you to all those who attended the networking event last week. It was great to see that there are so many people who want to see great things happen and who are willing to be part of the effort to make it happen.
Memphis Business Journal: Next great company could be in Memphis
Memphis Startup Weekend was recently featured in the Memphis Business Journal. Check it out here . . .
Memphis Business Journal
Friday, February 22, 2008
Next great company could be in Memphis
After beating out such cities as San Diego and Indianapolis, the city of Memphis was selected to be the next site for Startup Weekend — an event that aims to bring together local entrepreneurs with the goal of creating a real company in just 54 hours.
Memphis will join cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., which have all hosted Startup Weekend events.
“Over 600 people in Memphis have said we want Startup Weekend here,” says Eric Matthews, Mercury Technology Labs founder, who is helping organize the event. “It is a real testimony to what people want here as far as building an entrepreneurial community.”
Matthews says Memphis Startup Weekend will be held May 30-June 1 and will be hosted at EmergeMemphis at 516 Tennessee St.
EmergeMemphis is helping organize the event along with Matthews and Harry Brown, a local entrepreneur.
At the event, participants will decide on an idea for a company the first night.
After a decision has been made on a company, participants will split up and work on all the issues that come with starting a company — from branding to public relations.
Participants will be rewarded with shares of the company, which ideally could become operational in the future. Matthews says five of the original Startup Weekend businesses are still around and 10 more don’t have the funding, but could be viable businesses.
From staff reports
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Daily News: Biz Startup Event Slated for Late May
Memphis Startup Weekend was recently featured in the Daily News. Check it out here . . .
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Biz Startup Event Slated for Late May
ROSALIND GUY | The Daily News |The possibilities are endless.
With a group of 100 people, experts in various fields and many different visions, there’s no telling what ideas will come out of the weekend event that br….
Startup Weekend Comes to Memphis: May 30th - June 1st, 2008
Startup Weekend has select Memphis, TN as it’s latest city to visit — basically, 100 community members (those that register to participate, even you), come together over the course of a weekend to found a new technology startup company in Memphis — yes, you can walk away with founding level equity for your effort.
More Details . . .
Startup Weekend brings motivated individuals from the community together as company founders to decide what to make and earn an equal share of stock in the developed business. Attendees are responsible for bringing the ideas, desire, and passion to the project and walk out of the room with a brand new business by Sunday night. In this short 52 hour period, there will be entrepreneurs, lawyers, marketers, business developers, designers, technology developers, and many other individuals all working together to build a business from scratch. Think about it: 100 people times 52 hours is about 1-2 years of a small startup crew working full time. The outcomes are great, building not only a company in a weekend, but also further binding our entrepreneurial community together. We need all sorts of skills and we want you on board.
Memphis Startup Weekend will be held from May 30th at 6pm through June 1st at midnight. Hosted by EmergeMemphis and the Mercury Launchpad you will need to register in advance at http://memphis.startupweekend
Jump starting your mind for Startup Weekend
Someone recently recommended the show Startup Junkies as a good show about the startup life. If you have never seen it, I have to highly recommend it. Having been through one funded startup and having started 2 other companies, I have to say that it brought back memories (some of which I wish had stayed forgotten). This show can really give you a feel for what goes on in terms of the pressure to execute, get funding, sell, etc. as well as the constant awareness of the cost of failure to achieve goals. If you’re joining us for the weekend, I highly recommend watching at least a few episodes of this show–it’s on Comcast HD in Memphis (851 for you lazy people out there), but you can watch some episodes online, too.
There’s also a good show on the same channel called Bobby G: Adventure Capitalist, but that’s a little less up my alley, personally. Still, it’s a good way to see some ideas that get shot down and more of a turnaround story, but mainly you get to see another point of view. Enjoy and looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone.
