Startups aren’t a fad. They’re hope for a better tomorrow.
Tonight I had the privilege to join most of Buffalo’s Start Up ecosystem in welcoming AOL founder Steve Case to town with Rise of the Rest to watch pitches from the premier companies in Buffalo’s current crop of startup companies and to make an investment of 100K in one deserving company. After amazing presentations from all the teams, one winner could not be selected and so two 100k investments were made (thanks to the support of Jordan Levy and Ron Schreiber.) We are the only city to get this honor and it reflects just how impressive what’s happening here is to people on the outside.
It’s easy to look at “Startups” in the eye of HBO’s Silicon Valley, but the truth is that these are companies whose founders have decided to lay it all on the line and play offense instead of entrenching themselves in what’s safe. That is how you grow jobs and build an economy. By being aggressive and making things happen by the sheer force of your will.
It’s hard to start a company. It’s hard to succeed. As Robert Frost said, taking the road less traveled makes all the difference. Not everyone is built for it, but everyone can help. And we need help.
The fact is that our community has done amazing things but it’s still a small group. The 500 or so people who routinely show up at these events are an amazing band of brothers and sisters dedicated to going above and beyond to grow our economy. They represent government, university, and private interests. They are racially and gender diverse. They understand that Buffalo has moved beyond the “silver bullet” phase of a new bridge or Bass Pro. Many hands make light work. Many businesses make bright futures.
But this isn’t enough to make the kind of change we need. To have our own revolution, we need more people involved. Everyone out there has a friend, a student, a parent, a cousin, or a spouse who has an idea for a business. Support them. Have them reach out to Dig, Z80, VCAMP, Innovation Hotspot, 43 North or WNY Venture Association. We’re waiting for you and every one of these organizations will bend over backward to get you connected to the right resources.
Our time is now but it’s limited. If you have an idea, go for it. We’ll support you. If you can connect someone to a potential client, make the effort to grow the economy. Mentor, advise, scrutinize, challenge and buy. And if you can afford to invest, look around and find someone to give 20k to realize their dream and maybe get rich in the process.
Finally, if you can’t do any of these things, then come out and cheer on the people doing it. Praise and promote them. Hold them up on a pedestal as the people willing to lay it all on the line for a better tomorrow. So we can have jobs. So we can have parks, restaurants, theaters and good schools. Promote them so we have a reason for our kids to stay here. Or get the hell out of our way.
We’re turning this ship around. Jump on board.
