Building an Entrepreneur Friendly Community

Building Supportive Networks for Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs can be disconnected

Talent

Entrepreneurs

Services

AdvisorsInvestors

Each group needs the other to be successful

Talent

Entrepreneurs

Services

Advisors

Find a job

Find new deals

Find Customers

Find Advisory Roles

Find fundingHire talent

Acquire servicesFind advisors

Investors

Networks bring people together

Talent

Investors

Entrepreneurs

Services

Advisors

Find a job

Find new deals

Find Customers

Find Advisory Roles

A entrepreneurial network is:

An interconnected chain of entrepreneurs, individuals and organizations who exchange, share and provide information, services, advice, support and ideas that add value and vitality to business

Discussion Question

• What are the current networks that currently support entrepreneurs in (name of community)?

A successful network is built on three key factors:

• Organizations that provide guidance and facilitation

• The continued leadership and direction of local entrepreneurs

• Continued benefits to entrepreneurs

Organizational guidance

• Guide/manage network activities

• Provide connections to people and information

• Help to form linkages and strategic alliances

Project Discussion

• In (name of community), are there existing formal business organizations? (list)

• What are the services that these networks provide?

• What communication methods do these organizations currently use to connect each other and their membership?

Entrepreneurship leadership and direction

• Entrepreneur Champions with vision

• Create and nurture the “buzz”

Project Discussion

• Which entrepreneurs are the current champions?

• What are the champion’s overall vision for the (name of community) entrepreneur community?

• How do these champions currently create “the buzz”?

• Who are some additional potential champions?

Continued Benefits to Entrepreneurs

• Access to markets

• Access to assistance and ideas

• Access to latest information

• Access to resources

• Successful collaboration activities (i.e. promotional activities)

Project Discussion

• What resources are entrepreneurs currently accessing from existing networks?

• What are some examples of current sharing of ideas and information among entrepreneurs?

• What are some examples of successful entrepreneurial collaboration activities?

Building a network

• What are the needs for networking?

• Should we build on existing networks, or seed a new network?

• Who will lead the network? Who will provide support?

www.gobignetwork.com

What is the Go Big Network?

• Internet-based, interactive “virtual network” for entrepreneurs and the resource providers who want to serve them

• “Virtual network” for communities of interest

• Created by a “serial entrepreneur,” Wil Schroter, because of a recognized need

Solution

Go BIG Network brings parties together

Talent

Investors

Startups

Services

Advisors

Find a job

Find new deals

Find Customers

Find Advisory Boards

How Go Big Works

1. Search the Network for other members

2. Message each other through the system

3. Build a network of colleagues

4. Broadcast and receive requests through their network

5. Access resources, information and people

What you can do

• Create a member profile• Search other member’s profiles• Send and receive messages• Form networks• Post public ads & requests• Post private network requests• Establish private groups

Next Step: Building a Network

1. Map the territory

2. Sketch the plan

3. Launch pilot efforts

4. Reach out to entrepreneurs

5. Seed and replicate

6. Build strategic alliances

7. Let the pot boil

8. Let go

9. Tell the storySource: The National Commission on Entrepreneurship

“Building Entrepreneurial Networks”

Additional Resources

• The Role of Clusters & Bridges in Networks for Entrepreneurs

• Entrepreneurship Summit Executive Summary: Kauffman Foundation & IEDC

• Building Entrepreneurial Networks

• Additional Research on value of networks

Contact Information

Put your name and affiliation on this slide. Please also give credit to author and Ohio State University Extension

Adapted from an original presentation created by:Myra Moss, Assistant Professor

Ohio State University ExtensionOctober 2008

Step 1:

Log onto Go BIG Network

www.goBIGnetwork.com

Step 2: Create Member Profile

Step 3: Explore Features of GoBIG

a. Profile Search

b.

Mess-aging

c.

Networking

through GoBIG

d.

Posting a

Public

Request

e.

Posting a Network

Request

f.

Creating

Private

Groups