I'm the COO of Silicon Prairie News. That means I get to work on the business operations of our company - everything from doing the books to helping craft strategy to holding the team accountable on initiatives we undertake. Unofficially, I'm our connection point here in Iowa, which means I get to write a lot about issues that affect the startup community and meet (pretty much every day) with the entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers who are moving our entrepreneurial ecosystem forward.
I'm involved in two other startups, VolunteerLocal (www.volunteerlocal.com) which provides a volunteer management system to events big and small and Eggcrates (www.eggcrat.es) a customizable modular furniture system.
What's going on at Silicon Prairie News?
SPN was founded in 2008 in Omaha. I brought it to Des Moines in 2009 and we launched in Kansas City this past February. We work on several projects related to evolving the Silicon Prairie (Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City & surrounding) into a "center of Innovation". It started with the blog, extended into podcasts, events like Thinc Iowa and Big Omaha and most recently managing a non-profit institution called the Des Moines Startup Foundation (desmoines.startupfdn.org).
Thinc Iowa is scheduled for later this month. What's on the agenda?
Thinc Iowa (www.thinciowa.com) will feel a lot like our other event, Big Omaha (www.bigomaha.com), but will have a different focus. We're bringing in eight speakers from around the country to each give a talk on how startups and established businesses can work together and learn from each other. The speakers are all "doers" in their companies and represent both perspectives. We're bringing a national conversation to Iowa are excited to say the least.
What's the conversation like at Startup Drinks?
Startup Drinks is a monthly get together for entrepreneurs and others interested in the local startup community. Conversation is very casual and has recently ranged from updates like "we signed our first paying client today!" to "hey, can you 'like' my new startup's page so that I can get my official facebook page". It tends to be a diverse mix of people with 30-40% being new each month.
I'm a technology worker. I have a business idea. Who do I go to, or where do I go, for advice?
Three thoughts:
1. Read SiliconPrairieNews.com. I'm biased, but that will give you a heads up on the active people involved in the startup community and the local people who are active in the adjacent market for your idea.
2. Get involved in the social community. Stop by Startup Drinks, the BIZ Luncheon, TechBrew, DeMo, or Pitch Club (or any of the other events that ake place here each month). They're all open and welcoming to new people. While you're there: share your idea.
People are naturally inclined to be private and secretive with a new idea but history has proven that you are much more likely to get helpful advice from the people you talk to about it versus having someone steal it. The value isn't in the idea, it's in your ability to execute on it. The people at these events all want to see you get there. Side note: other quality events pop up all the time, for a curated list of the best see: http://www.spne.ws/events
3. Talk to Mike Colwell at the Business Innovation Zone (www.bizci.com). Mike's a great sounding board for new companies and if you follow up on what he tells you'll be off to a great start. He'll never tell you if your idea is good or bad but he will help you figure it out for yourself.
