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Liaoyuan & Harvard China Forum
Boston Startup Ecosystem
David Chang
@changds
Harvard Business School, Entrepreneur-in-Residence
PersonalVC, Co-founder
Feb 10, 2017
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David Chang @changds
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Background
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Startup Experiences
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Direct Via Syndicate/Fund
Angel Investments
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How can Boston help grow
your business?
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Resources Influencers Community
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Boston Ecosystem
Independent Corporate University
Investors
Accelerators
& Incubators
Co-working
Spaces
David Chang @changds
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University Resources
www.bostontechguide.com
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H-1B Visa: Global EIR
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Independent Corporate University
Accelerators / Incubators
Co-working
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Investors
Tech Healthcare / Life Sciences
Seed
Stage
Growth
Stage
Early
Stage
Angel Groups
Corporate VC Corporate VC
Energy
www.bit.ly/Boston-area-investors
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Influencers
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Local Pillar Tech Companies
www.bostontechguide.com
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Media
Publications
Podcasts
www.twitter.com/changds/lists/boston-tech-journalists/members
www.twitter.com/changds/lists/national-tech-journalists/members
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Strong Industry Vertical Clusters
www.seeingbothsides.com/2016/09/13/a-guide-to-the-boston-startup-scene-fall-2016
MarketingTech
e-commerce
Cybersecurity
Cloud
Travel
Mobile
EdTech
Robotics
LifeSciences
HealthIT
Energy
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Finding the Functional Experts
David Chang @changds
Development
Design
Product
Marketing
PR
Legal
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Amplify Your Network
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Community
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Events & Networking
www.bostontechguide.com
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www.greenhornconnect.com/events
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Community Groups & Trade Organizations
www.bostontechguide.com
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www.seeingbothsides.com/2016/09/13/a-guide-to-the-boston-startup-scene-fall-2016
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www.bostontechguide.com
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Talent
EcosystemCapital
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Liaoyuan & Harvard China Forum
Boston Startup Ecosystem
David Chang
@changds
Harvard Business School, Entrepreneur-in-Residence
PersonalVC, Co-founder
Feb 10, 2017
About me
Boston tech startup/entrepreneurial ecosystem – players & resources
Doing business in Boston
Title: Boston Startup Ecosystem - Liaoyuan & Harvard China Forum
Description: Overview of the Boston tech/startup ecosystem, including resources for startups, tips on doing business in Boston and how to reach influencers, and ways to get plugged in.
Tags: startups, entrepreneurship, boston, business, accelerator, university, investor
Born in Taiwan
Surreal for me to be an advocate of Boston
Full circle - so much activity between US/China
First 10 years of professional life in NY
Came to New England (like you), thinking a great place to go to school
…but never left
Next 15 years
Dumb luck: 1000+ amazing people, 5 startups/5 acquisitions
My startup perspective shaped by where I’ve been
Past 5 years – lucky to invest in other people
Small checks - very early/seed level
Focus: software, ONE THIRD in women
Walkable city – different vibes
Different clusters
Density
Boston today (credit Jay – TechScene)
So much so, I’ve traded planes for bikes
Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Seaport, Innovation District, etc.
Density (talent – vets & startups)
Here’s a real example: actual day (Wanderu, CO, Robyn, CIC)
New talent – students: 400 years vs 40 years (SV)
I’m just one person (hopefully I’ve had an impact) – how about 10, 100, 1000, 10000
…To help focus, what are your top obstacles?
Columbia startups
How to sell in the U.S.? Want to manufacture in Mexico and form distribution partners in the U.S. / buying
How to form commercial alliances / brand awareness for materials distributors (e.g., architects, design firms). Already exporting
How to find partners (including tech transfer) for medical devices/biotech? Both big (e.g., Medtronic, Genzyme) and small players
How to find partners in VR?
How to find mentors (retail)?
How to find coaching in farming (e.g., Freight Farms)? How to expand in the U.S.? Investors
Surprised to see so many software startups here (assumed valley was the place). How to choose location for software companies? Already selling in the U.S. / corp dev
Korea startups
How to do I get my first customers? (for artist JPG marketplace)
There’s lots of expertise in robotics in MA. How do I meet them?
3 kinds of resources/capital: 1) financial, 2) human, 3) real estate
Get them from 3 types of places
Lines blurring on both axes
…let’s start with resources closest to you
Huge assets: look for ways to connect with universities
If you’re a student
Money: for students: business plan competitions, seed funds
Programs
Other students
If not
Recruiting
Mentor on campus
Explosion of accelerators
Lines blurred:
Corp – left (independent - DCU) to right (strategic – AthenaHealth)
Bolt more venture fund
Staples, Launch Lab
https://bostonstartupsguide.com/guide/boston-coworking-spaces-roundup/
Lines blurred:
human – network model: pillar, underscore
space – p11, nextview, accomplice
Meeting customers, partners, business people, tech veterans, experienced operators
Leverage veterans
2,000 mentors
In all this time, resisted silicon valley (all my acquirers there)
Carried a business card from some of these companies (except Hooli)
Things you can do by yourself
Lots of industry trade publications as well
Blog
Podcasts
Journalists
Find experts and movers/shakers in your industry
World's foremost influencers in these verticals
Either at big company or startup themselves
Horizontal functional experts (unlike verticals)
People – advisors, board members, co-founder, freelancers, employees
Shops / agencies (e.g. web/mobile dev shops)
https://www.evernote.com/l/ACRarcLgBDZPgqU0fj0jZcGuEFpj_HTr63U
www.bostontechguide.com
Everyone is 1 degree away
Don’t be shy: Investors need you as much
…Best way is to get out there
So many events
Trouble is too many events – how to pick
Greenhorn Connect is a great resource
http://www.starthub.org/events
BostInno weekly events
VentureFizz weekly events
Credit to NextView
Contents:
Tech Companies – big/small customers
Investors
Development shops
Universities
Accelerators / Incubators / Co-working Spaces
Govt
Media/Pubs
Events
You are in a special place. 3 key ingredients:
Talent density: students (250K), veterans / startups (350+ mobile), corp leaders
Capital: angel/VC, $37B funding (seed exploding, A trouble)
Ecosystem: customers/partners (e.g. Mullen down the street), accelerators, schools, orgs
