This document outlines the key components of a startup ecosystem and provides suggestions on how to develop each component. It identifies 10 core elements: entrepreneurs and leaders, community, talent, terroir, corporate patrons, mentors, services and support, access to capital, spaces and places, and communication platforms. For each element, it provides a brief definition and lists strategies for cultivating and strengthening that aspect of the startup ecosystem. The overall aim is to provide thoughts on how to build a robust local startup community and environment.

1. Anatomy of a
Startup Ecosystem
And some thoughts on how to roll your own.
Date: March 24, 2012
Event: MadeByFew Conference
Author: Kristian Andersen | @KristianIndy

2. My name is Kristian. I’m a
#designer, #founder, and
#investor. I love #startups
and the people that start
them.

3. The Stack

4. Entrepreneurs & Leaders Mentors
Community Services & Support
Startup
Talent
Ecosystem Access to Capital
Terroir Spaces & Places
Corporate Patrons Communication Platforms

5. 1
Entrepreneurs & Leaders
Folks with vision and thick skin, who will lead the charge
✚ Group of committed leaders
✚ Heavily biased toward action
✚ combination of young bucks & elder statesmen
✚ focused on a very long view

6. 2
Community
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.
✚ Be findable
✚ pursue diversity // Expand network
✚ formalize the sharing of ideas
✚ Get the uninitiated & first timers on board
✚ Stage a variety of regular events
✚ Commit to supporting other startups // Be a customer

7. 3
Talent
It all starts with talent. Ideas are cheap – execution rules.
✚ Focus on net talent gain
✚ A.B.R. (Always be recruiting)
✚ Higher education’S role must evolve
✚ states should have talent czar’s
✚ communities need loyalty programs
✚ resist homogeneity

8. 4
Terroir
If you’re trying to be cool... you’ll always be on the wrong side of cool.
✚ identify the points of difference // unfair advantages
✚ embrace what is unique & indigenous to the area
✚ Develop an “insider language”
✚ stop apologizing

9. 5
Corporate Patrons
Everybody needs a sugar daddy.
✚ understand the business community’s family tree
✚ provide early revenue & serve as reference customers
✚ source for mentors
✚ become talent trading partners
✚ provide supportive, but honest feedback
✚ Find the intrapreneurs

10. 6
Mentors
Seed the ecosystem with folks that have been there and done that.
✚ Identify the top 10-15 in your market
✚ Startup Mentors typically come from the startup world
✚ Import what you don’t possess
✚ provide environments for them to connect
✚ always be looking to grow the fraternity

11. 7
Services & Support
Accountants, attorneys, PR and marketing professionals, consultants, and Uncle Sam.
✚ Clearly communicate how they can help
✚ clearly communicate what’s in it for them
✚ start spreading the love... and equity
✚ Help them help you – then make them a star
✚ Map the genome and reward loyalty
✚ educate yourself on opportunity – ignorance is no excuse

12. 8
Access to Capital
Capital seeks the highest return coupled with the lowest risk
✚ crisis of capital is greatly exaggerated
✚ become fluent in the language of investing
✚ always have the scene’s pitch tuned up
✚ know who is interested in what
✚ build bridges with other communities

13. 9
Spaces & Places
Every community needs a home.
✚ place is secondary to community
✚ if you build it – they might, very well, not come
✚ if they’ve come however, you should go ahead and build it
✚ place can serve as a powerful symbol of unity and momentum
✚ provides a platform for connecting & story telling

14. 10

15. 10

16. 10
Communication Platforms
Tools for telling the stories
✚ formal communications strategy // The Big Idea
✚ Dedicated media site // e.g. – Silicon Prairie News
✚ multiple content creators // Diverse perspectives
✚ Every startup business is a publisher
✚ every startup citizen is a journalist
✚ be an educated evangelist

17. Q&A