GroundReport’s
Field Guide to NYC Entrepreneurship
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Quickly…
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What’s GroundReport?
Real Quick:
• Global citizen media platform founded in
2006. Founded by lifelong New Yorker
Rachel Sterne
• Mission: democratize the media.
• Empowers anyone to publish text articles,
videos and photo news reports.
• Team of volunteer Wikipedia-style editors
vets stories.
• Over 4,000 contributors around the world
earn revenue shares based on traffic.
• Breaking scoops on major news, from Beijing
Olympics to Mumbai terror attacks.
• Named one of BusinessWeek’s Most
Promising Social Enterprises.
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Step 1: Get Inspired
• Embrace the chaos.
• Follow your heart.
• Find your Big Idea.
• Be thankful you don’t live in a bubble like Silicon
Valley.
• Realize you’re surrounded by the best and
brightest across all industries.
• Go for an unconventional marriage. (Like web
technology + foreign affairs.)
=
+
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Step 2: Get Smart
• Find mentors: NY Tech Meetup,
Web 2.0, Social Web
• Read Up!
TechCrunch
A VC
Silicon Alley Insider
PaidContent
Mashable
• Join Listserves: NextNYC, Tech
Meetup, PHP Developers
• Follow smart folks on Twitter like
@JohnBorthwick @fredwilson
@davidsrose @Caro @BrianStelter
@JeffJarvis @hblodget
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Step 3: Get Started
• Cowork.
New Work City
SparkSpace
Jelly
• Hire.
Bond Street Group
The Ladders
PaidContent
Twitter & Facebook
NYU & Columbia (Interns!)
• Test.
Free usability testing at Starbucks?
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Step 3: Get Out There
• Network.
• Be a ‘Brand Ambassador’ for your startup.
• NYC is more media-centric than Silicon Valley. Embrace it.
Specifically:
• Present at the NY Tech Meetup, Video 2.0
• Start your own Meetup!
• Build Your Twitter Following: Become an Expert.
• Blog.
• Participate in Internet Week, Social Media Week,
NYC Entrepreneur Week, LaidOff Boot Camp
• Find events through Gary’s Guide
• Say Yes to EVERY Panel. (It’s an Honor)
• Get on Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Facebook
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Step 4: Get Money
New York boasts incubators… …and Venture Capital Firms.
• The Hatchery • Venrock
• NYC Seed • Sprout Group
• New York Angels • Union Square Ventures
• Startup 2009 (SAI)
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Q. startup city?
Why is NY the ultimate
A.
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Thanks!
Find guide online at http://groundreport.com.
Email me at rachel@groundreport.com.
Special thanks to @trinaalbus @dorianbenkoil @bradszollose @scottperezfox
@stephiebee @midwaybeach @samseder.
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