An Introduction to the Brooklyn Tech Ecosystem — Coming Soon, Want to Help?

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I’m working on an introduction to the Brooklyn tech ecosystem. The initial round of research is done. I’m finalizing the outline now.

The idea came from Matt Turck’s post about the NYC tech ecosystem. Matt mentions that “The Rise of Brooklyn” could be an interesting spin-off topic.

Why Me? Why Not?

I’ve been living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for going on seven years now. That’s not as long as some people. It’s as long as many people. It’s longer than a growing number of people too.

I’m a Tech, OPS and M&A consultant to tech companies and their investors. I’ve been studying the Brooklyn tech ecosystem since I arrived.

I’ve been excited to witness the Brooklyn tech ecosystem’s evolution.

I also read Where Good Ideas Come From The Natural History of Innovation, by Steven Johnson. I read it when I first moved to Brooklyn.

Steven discusses 8 factors that help an innovation ecosystem thrive. It struck me, even upon first moving here, that Brooklyn supports many, if not all the factors. Six years later, I’m more convinced the ever.

Lesson 1: Evolution and innovation usually happen in the realm of the adjacent possible.

Lesson 2: World-changing ideas generally evolve over time as slow hunches rather than sudden breakthroughs.

Lesson 3: Platforms are like springboards for innovations.

Lesson 4: Innovation and evolution thrive in large networks.

Lesson 5: Collaboration is at least as important a driver of innovation as competition.

Lesson 6: Lucky connections between ideas drive innovation.

Lesson 7: Serendipitous discoveries can be facilitated by a shared intellectual or physical space.

Lesson 8: Great innovations emerge from environments that are partly contaminated by error.

Lesson 9: Innovation thrives on reinventing and reusing the old.

He also explains how Willis Haviland Carrier invented the air conditioner in Bushwick, Brooklyn. That happened in 1902.

Learning this helped me understand how long innovation’s been happening in Brooklyn.

Want to Help?

I’d love to have some help with this project. My perspective is that of a single person.

There are plenty of people out there who -

• Have been involved with the Brooklyn Tech Ecosystem longer than me
• Are more tightly connected with it
• Are more deeply integrated within it

Is that you? If it is, drop me a line. I’d love to have your help and include your perspective.

Are you new to the Brooklyn Tech and Startup ecosystem? Would you like to help too? Cool, drop me a line too!

There’s plenty going on in the Brooklyn tech ecosystem. That means there’s plenty to do too ;)