Comments on: Are DC Startups Developing a Complex?

By: DC Round-Up: Apollo Awards, VC Chips and MashMeet DC » The Buzz Bin

DC Round-Up: Apollo Awards, VC Chips and MashMeet DC » The Buzz Bin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:31:29 +0000

[...] Co-host Aaron Brazell and I (photo from MashMeet DC last night) had a really good chat on District of Corruption Episode on DC’s Psychological Complex in regards to Silicon Valley. This debate got started around a particular issue: "Are DC Start-Ups Developing a Complex," introduced on East Coast Blogging. [...]

By: Last Night’s Crowd Mashup | JOBMATCHBOX

Last Night’s Crowd Mashup | JOBMATCHBOX — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:20:23 +0000

[...] With that said, I have been perusing all of the chatter on Twitter and local blogs (batterista, East Coast Blogging, TheLetterTwo) about last night’s event. Some of it surprised me a little. There seem to be two factions in the community: [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:19:11 +0000

Some really good points from everyone. WhyGoSolo wasn’t the only local venture that they passed on and it won’t be the last either. The one thing that everyone needs to remember is that there is no shortcut to success. To get somewhere you have to have a combination of good ideas, people, strategy and the ability to execute. As for the us vs. them discussion, I don’t think that is a bad thing. A little competition can go a long way to motivate folks.

By: Steve Heath

Steve Heath — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:20:46 +0000

Chris,
I think that is a great idea. Use the local VC’s lack of support as motivation to succeed.
Seth Godin has a good entry in his blog today about the forces of mediocrity resistance increasing as you progress and ends with “..without people pushing against your quest to do something worth talking about, it’s unlikely it would be worth the journey.”
Keep that in mind and push back.

By: Thoughts on Investment and Incubation

Thoughts on Investment and Incubation — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:41:15 +0000

[...] On this week’s District of Corruption show, Geoff and I discussed entrepreneurship, incubation, investment and the role that a company like Launchbox Digital plays in a regional community. It all stemmed from Jimmy Gardner’s post titled Are DC Startups Developing a Complex? [...]

By: Chris Auer

Chris Auer — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:16:13 +0000

Great post! Thanks for bringing light to that point, I completely missed that Washington Post article. You know whats interesting is that it seems like so many individuals are after investment from firms like LaunchBox Digital or Y-Combinator. It also seems like a lot of time is wasted going after firms like this and other VC’s, time that could be used in developing and improving the business itself….
I find the interesting part of it is that both LaunchBox Digital and Y-Combinator only give up a few thousand in actual cash to get a company going. Most of the value is in the network of individuals working at and advising these firms.

I say let LaunchBox Digital invest in companies from SanFran; good luck to them! Why don’t we all, as the heart of the DC entrepreneurial community, start our own version if we want to guarantee that this group will only focus on DC startups. Between all our networks and contacts, we could probably reach the same networks as those individuals at LaunchBox Digital…

Anyone out there interested in coming up with a club, association, company (I don’t know what you would call it at this point..) then we should explore the option more. It sounds exciting to me, and maybe even help spark more growth in our area. I would love to be a part of group like that. I would be willing to do a huge amount of work for shares in an early stage startup!

By: The District of Corruption Show » Episodes 9 and 10

The District of Corruption Show » Episodes 9 and 10 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:04:55 +0000

[...] Due to a glitch we had a two-parter. We talked extensively in part one about this particular issue: Are DC Start-Ups Developing a Complex. The hub bub surrounded a Washington Post article featuring LaunchBox Digital. LaunchBox Digital was supposed to support DC firms, but funded a Silicon Valley firm first. We chalked it up to a PR gaffe after much debate and talking with East Coast Blogging’s Jimmy Gardner. [...]

By: Chris Parandian

Chris Parandian — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:26:27 +0000

Interesting post Jimmy… Ann had some good insights…

It may be a challenge getting over the perception that DC is just a mecca for politics and government…

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:04:04 +0000

Great post. I think we might talk about this on District of Corruption on Tuesday.

By: Ann Bernard

Ann Bernard — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:12:35 +0000

When I was in NYC on Jeff’s show last Tuesday…one of the in-studio guest used to be part of an Angel Group and works with many Angel Groups and his question was “Why are you staying in DC?” A question we keep getting. He knows a lot of Boston Angels he could introduce me to, but they won’t invest in a company in DC. He said we could have better luck with NYC Angels. Our options are so limited here in so many ways. No matter how amazing the entrepreneurs are in this area and how much work we do…if the early seed backing isn’t there with $$ this area will never be a thriving web/tech type start-up environment.

It will be interesting to see who the entrepreneurs are that take part of the LaunchBox Digital Program and what comes of those companies. IMHO had they invested in a local startup to start with that would have encouraged others to trust them and turned the eyes of the community on this area which would have been in their favor. With that being said…their program will turn some eyes our way so lets hope it they can execute properly.