Finding Your Entrepreneurial Tribe
Entrepreneurship can be super lonely. You’re working on solving a problem and changing the world, but you keep hitting a wall. Your friends and family might not understand what you do, so how do you get over the hump? Startup ecosystems, or the collection of groups and people that make up the entrepreneurial community, are the key to beating that feeling of isolation and getting your venture back on track.
1. Silicon Valley is Overrated
Maybe “overrated” is the wrong term. My point is, you don’t need to be located in Silicon Valley (or Boston, or New York, or any huge hub awash in venture capital) to find your tribe of entrepreneurs. Often, people in smaller markets bemoan the fact that “everything” is happening elsewhere and “nothing” is happening where they are, but having that mindset means you might miss out on a lot of awesome opportunities in your hometown. Big tech hubs had to grow from something, and the nice thing about being in a smaller market is that you can shape the growth of your own ecosystem. Startup Communities by Brad Feld is an excellent guide to jumpstart your thinking in this area (for those who don’t know, Feld is a major force behind the Boulder, CO ecosystem and is one of the founders of Techstars).
2. Meetups
There are tons of entrepreneurial meetups across the country. One of the most prominent is 1 Million Cups, which is in more than 150 cities across the country. 1MC offers an opportunity for founders to pitch and get feedback, while community members can network and stay up-to-date on the latest innovations. Another cool model is Open Coffee Club, a sort of open-ended discussion for startup-minded people. Having attended both of these events, I can say from experience you will find warm and welcoming people if you decide to go. Meetup is another good resource that works for very specific interests (like if you want to connect with people interested in blockchain, or need a place to talk Javascript). Finally, larger events, like Startup Weeks or Startup Weekends, can offer more variety and a break from the routine. Once you start looking, you’ll find no shortage of startup events and innovative individuals attending them.
3. “Can I buy you a coffee?”
Here’s a not-so-secret key to networking: people love talking about themselves. If you are at an event and want to learn more about someone and what they do, ask to buy them a coffee. Playing into their ego a bit can get you far. Keep in mind that entrepreneurs can be busy, so be flexible with scheduling. Always frame it as if they are doing you a huge favor, and never forget to thank them. Finally, don’t be offended if they don’t want to meet or can’t make time. You’d be surprised by how many doors will open with this method. Furthermore, with each coffee meeting, you can ask, “Who else should I talk to?” You can even ask for a warm introduction, which will keep growing your entrepreneurial support network.
4. Be a social entrepreneur
Maybe there aren’t any meetups in your area. The nice thing about entrepreneurship is that it’s all about starting something new. It doesn’t take much to start a meetup, even just a simple appointment for a few people to get coffee. You’d be surprised by how much these things can snowball. If you liked some of the events mentioned above, bring them to your town. Start a chapter of 1 Million Cups or organize a Startup Weekend. If it seems like your community needs something that these events don’t quite offer, start something new. You can take inspiration from existing events, and work with entrepreneurs or stakeholders in your town to get something started. As the former organizer of a few entrepreneurial meetups, I can assure you there is no better way to get to know people than by organizing events bringing them together. The most important thing is figuring out what’s best for your ecosystem.
5. Entrepreneurship takes many forms
A common misconception is that every entrepreneur is building a mobile app, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the best people to connect and sympathize with on your entrepreneurial journey aren’t even business owners. Look for people who share your style of thinking (innovative, questioning assumptions, biased toward action) rather than limiting yourself to people who pay their rent in the same way you do. This might mean seeking out artists or musicians who are struggling with getting their projects off the ground. Freelancers can be good people to talk to as well. Try to abstract your problems to empathize with the largest number of people.
As you can see, no matter where you live or what kind of innovator you are, there are other people out there who can sympathize with the struggles of entrepreneurship.
