2. A Decade of Learning What makes a region entrepreneurial? Systems approach – connecting the dots within the community and the region; seeing the whole; thinking regionally Entrepreneurial culture – shifting mindsets and changing conversations Sustainability - ability to continually invest and adapt to new opportunities and challenges; regional anchor institutions
3. Systems Approach Entrepreneur focused – meeting entrepreneurs where they are; responsive to their demand Pipeline approach – wide and deep mouth of the pipeline; process for moving through the pipeline Not just another program – holistic; interconnected Collaboration among resource providers – offers “no wrong door” and leads to “hard referrals” Hub – someone helping make connections; “network weaver” Regionally asset based – connected to community and regional assets
4. Entrepreneurial Culture Youth engagement – early exposure to eship education; demonstrating opportunities to “come home” Holding up entrepreneurial role models – shifting mindsets of what’s possible; “taking a job” vs. “making a job”; mentoring Community support for entrepreneurs – from buy local to recognition to public policy
5. Sustainability Entrepreneurship = economic development – allocate resources accordingly Measuring success - being able to make the value case for continued investment; being able to correct and change course as needed Homegrown development resources – encouraging give back, strategic endowment building, vehicles for building community wealth Shifting to an investment mentality – how can we invest in ways that build more wealth that can be re-invested …
6. What’s it take for entrepreneurship to be transformative? Get serious about connecting entrepreneurs to demand Providing information: Economic Gardening model Creating virtual clusters: KS Opportunity Innovation Network Connecting to value chains: ACENet, Rural Action…
7. What’s it take? Get better at helping entrepreneurs build businesses, not just start them Peer support and coaching: Dakota Rising Service provider coaching: Greenstone Group; Entrepreneurial League System Community E coaches: Kansas Farm Bureau initiative
8. What’s it take? Get serious about building the entrepreneurial culture Collaboration for mutual benefit: Project Synergy in Georgia; economic development in Ord Nebraska Leadership by anchor institutions: North Iowa Area Community College; youth and eship endowments in rural Nebraska community foundations
10. Provocative Questions In terms of transformative entrepreneurship development in the region, what’s working well? What have you figured out or perfected? What could be working better? Where are you getting stuck? What role does your funding community play now? What role should you play?
11. Going Forward What more do you need to learn to be effective partners and supporters? What additional capacity or discussions are needed? What resources can be tapped to continue the learning process? What’s the best way for this learning to happen? What role can AFN or the AFN Eship Learning Group play in furthering a learning and capacity building agenda?
12. Contact Info Deb Markley deb@e2mail.org 919-932-7762 www.energizingentrepreneurs.org
