As part of the Leadership Roundtable pre-conference session, Scott Henderson of Sandbox Communities presented an inside look into the Sandbox Crew, the social club of Tech Square & Nearby Environs. The #1 lesson to learn is: The destiny of your research park/innovation district comes from its density of shared experiences. Shared experiences are created through a combination of spaces, events, and media - all three together help spark community, collaboration, and commerce.

1. Scott Henderson
Sandbox Communities
@scottyhendo @thesandboxcrew

2. So who’s in the room?

3. So then, who is
Scott Henderson ?

6. #1 Thing You Need to Learn:
The destiny of your research
park comes from the density
of its shared experiences

7. The time for patting ourselves
on the back is over

8. We’ve got this physical plant
and financing thing figured out

9. People no longer need to be at
the office to work, so how can
we make it so they want to be?

10. How can we make sure our
buildings are vessels for
human experiences?

11. During an era when power &
influence is shifting from
control to collaboration

14. 2011
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/a-visual-
guide-to-atlantas-startup-scene/247400

15. 2014
http://pando.com/2014/07/07/hip-hop-housewives-and-hot-startups-
a-guide-to-atlantas-startup-scene/

16. Atlanta is emerging as a
global tech hub because of
connections between three
essential elements

17. Talent Aquifer
(Education System)

19. Corporate Oaks
(Enterprises)

21. Southern Fried Culture
(Entertainment)

23. Which two words
best describe
Atlanta’s past?

24. Fragmented
Awesomeness

25. World class people & companies
disconnected from each other.

26. Which two words
best describe
Atlanta’s future?

27. Connected
Awesomeness

28. World class people & companies
connected with each other.

29. Density is Destiny.
Density leads to serendipity.
Serendipity gives people more chances to
collaborate and build trust with each other.
Trusted relationships are what every strong
innovative community is built upon.
Change your density, change your destiny.

30. Density of what?
Shared experiences

31. Shared experiences thru
places, events, and media

32. Why do they matter?

33. Shared Experiences
Financing
Physical Plants
Commerce

39. More shared experiences,
more commerce

40. Tech Square
anchors
Atlanta’s tech
startup
community

45. 13.3 acres
$340 million investment
1.8 million sq. ft.
Public/private partnerships

47. Tech Square
ATDC - VentureLab - Flashpoint
AT&T Foundry - AT&T Drive Studio - NeuroLaunch
Panasonic Innovation Center - Collider ATL -
Thyssen-Krupp - Tech Talent South - Home Depot
SQ5 Apartment Tower - Starbucks at 5th & Spring
Cypress Street Pint & Plate - Barrel House

48. How do we
collaboratively create
these shared
experiences?

49. Not everyone cares,
but some do and
they know others

51. Social club for Tech Square
and nearby environs

52. Physical Spaces +
Events + Media

53. How can Tech Square
be a physical hub
connecting with the
other nodes in Atlanta?

55. Tech Square
Buckhead/Brookhaven
Westside
O4W
Downtown
Perimeter/Alpharetta
Decatur/Avondale Estates
East Point

56. Start with who is
already there

58. Leverage existing
public and semi-public
collision spaces

61. How can our events
connect Tech Square
with other nodes in
Atlanta?

63. Start with who is
already there

64. Meetups in Atlanta
Atlanta Web Design Group (2800+)
Atlanta Startup Village (2700+)
PyAtl: Atlanta Python (1300+)
The Atlanta Javascript (1700+)
Data Science ATL (1700+)
Atlanta Big Data User Group (800+)
Atlanta Ruby Meetup (1600+)
Atlanta Scrum Users Group (1400+)
Atlanta Hadoop Users Group (700+)
Atlanta Game Developer Meetup Group (800+)
Geek Girl Dinner
Startup Lounge
Startup Drinks Atlanta
Startup Chowdown

65. Sources of Inspiration
Creative Mornings Atlanta
Forge ATL (healthcare)
Foster ATL (consumer focused companies)
Root City Market
Hive ATL (no lonely leaders)

67. Support Associations
TiE Atlanta
Atlanta Tech Angels
Technology Association of Georgia
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Atlanta CEO Council
Technology Executive Roundtable
Startup Chicks
Women’s Entrepreneur Center

69. Look for holes in
the community
and fill them

74. How can our media
connect Tech Square to
other nodes in Atlanta?

75. Start with who is
already there

76. Fun with Elevator Signs

79. Showcase the people
already there

82. Game Changer

87. Hasn’t all been
roses though

88. Too big to fail?

90. Can the “man” be
the “rebel”?

92. What’s next

93. Feedback Loops:
Camel Council &
Online Surveys

94. TechSquareATL.com

95. Deeper SandboxCrew.com
experience

96. Enough of my
blabbering,
what
questions or
insights do
you have?

97. Ways to find me
Scott Henderson
Connector of Awesomeness
Sandbox Communities
scott@causeshift.com
404.725.4441