A few weeks ago I was talking to my brother and sister-in-law at the dinner table telling them about my excitement regarding an impending dinner with Brad Feld. I had investigated the Boulder startup community earlier in my career and was totally psyched that I would be able to ask Brad himself about the key drivers behind the success of the startup community in Boulder, and now Denver.
My niece with wandering ears, an iPad Mini in her hand, a disgustingly beautiful face, the curiosity of a small hungry mouse and the brain of a nuclear physicist, blurted out, "Brad Feld, he ranks higher than Brad Pitt on Google!"
Audrey turned the screen towards us. Sure enough there he was. She had typed only, 'brad' into the search box. I have no idea what algorithm bias sent Brad Feld to the top of Audrey's search result, as I have not been able to replicate it. Regardless, the result made a statement in her mind and mine about just how famous Brad was.
If you don't know about Brad, he is one of the leaders of the startup community in Boulder/Denver and now worldwide. If you work or have even a remote interest in tech, startups, and the secrets behind innovation, Brad is one to watch.
Later that week at dinner I told Brad what an awesome time I was having fresh back into the Colorado tech scene again after 12 years away. I continued to say how welcoming it was, and a testament to this finding was the fact that I was sitting at dinner with him. “What’s the secret?” I asked. In response to my question, he proceeded to ask me to hold out my wrist. I did so hesitantly. He pressed his two fingers into my wrist and said, "You have a pulse don’t you?"
This was Brad's way of telling me that the key to the community is its open door policy, if you have a pulse and passion for something (in this case startups and innovation), you 'are in'.
The following week Brad sent me a copy of his book, "Startup Communities, Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City”. If you haven't picked it up, grab a copy. To me this book isn't just about building a great entrepreneurial ecosystem in any city, but its lessons can be applied to any organization wanting to develop an entrepreneurial culture. If you are working with the leaders of tomorrow, who in their core are entrepreneurs (much to the frustration of proponents of hierarchies), you need to read this.
Brad's writing style is clear and simple. Two qualities I love in any application I am building ;-). He's super smart, but is able to deliver his concepts in ‘normal’ speak. His personality is warm and welcoming and it comes across in the overall tone of the book and in the community he has been instrumental in building.
A quick and efficient summary of the findings as written by Brad himself are espoused in the Boulder Thesis in his book on page 25:
"1. Entrepreneurs must lead the startup community.
2. The leaders mush have a long-term commitment.
3. The startup community must be inclusive of anyone who wants to participate in it.
4.The startup community must have continual activities that engage the entire entrepreneurial stack."
These findings seem straight forward, but like any great thesis, took many, many months, even years of consideration by Brad and the many others he acknowledges that contributed to the book and to the Boulder/Denver startup community.
What many people don’t recognize is the risk of failure as the founder of a startup is 100%. As an entrepreneur you will fail, potentially on a daily basis, even if your startup succeeds overall. This open, warm, welcoming, community is the very thing that cradles the sometimes fragile and creative nature of ideation and exploration, and enables entrepreneurs to flourish while softening the play by play blows. In my opinion, it is this fundamental ethos, that comes from the top, from leaders like Brad, that makes Boulder's community so successful and can sow the seeds of innovation, even in the largest corporate. Everyone is a player if they are game. Leaders, entrepreneurs and feeders alike (you have to read the book to understand the term feeders) live and breathe the framework outlined above.
Brad is a rare breed of intellectual that has refined his communication skills so he can reach the widest possible audience. I think this is part of his magic. He talks down to no one, is generous in sharing his thoughts and has nothing to prove. Get the book. You will be inspired.