Comments on: Bootstrapathon – Part 2 – Recap http://startup.berkeley.edu/2009/04/28/bootstrapathon-part-2-recap/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:56:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Haitham AlHumsi http://startup.berkeley.edu/2009/04/28/bootstrapathon-part-2-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-912 Haitham AlHumsi Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:58:29 +0000 http://startup.berkeley.edu/?p=609#comment-912 Interesting.... I honestly don't think VC funding is a 'driver' in startups. Due to the recession, less qualified and intelligent people are occupied with work. I think having free time, qualifications, clusters of 'jobless' friends (so enough to divy up the workload and bring in extra resources in the form of favors or friends of friends), and no option for employment forces people to be more resourceful and more 'risk taking'. I think necessity and the internal drive for 'self realization' are stronger drivers towards innovation and starting up. Funding is more of a byproduct. There's a lot of research that can be done (given enough data) on employment's correlation with startups ... (which came first unemployment --> Startups, Startups grow and need to hire --> increased employment). Check out this report from Sweden (especially figure 10 on page 24) which shows that high tech startups usually 'give' back to the unemployment rate after a 4+ year lag. I think economic recession is exactly the right time for this type of thing to grow. Interesting….

I honestly don’t think VC funding is a ‘driver’ in startups. Due to the recession, less qualified and intelligent people are occupied with work. I think having free time, qualifications, clusters of ‘jobless’ friends (so enough to divy up the workload and bring in extra resources in the form of favors or friends of friends), and no option for employment forces people to be more resourceful and more ‘risk taking’.

I think necessity and the internal drive for ’self realization’ are stronger drivers towards innovation and starting up. Funding is more of a byproduct.

There’s a lot of research that can be done (given enough data) on employment’s correlation with startups … (which came first unemployment –> Startups, Startups grow and need to hire –> increased employment).

Check out this report from Sweden (especially figure 10 on page 24) which shows that high tech startups usually ‘give’ back to the unemployment rate after a 4+ year lag.

I think economic recession is exactly the right time for this type of thing to grow.

]]> By: Sushant Shankar http://startup.berkeley.edu/2009/04/28/bootstrapathon-part-2-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Sushant Shankar Fri, 01 May 2009 00:42:10 +0000 http://startup.berkeley.edu/?p=609#comment-127 Paula, Thanks a lot for your comments and insights! The problem you identify (the lack of exposure on campus) is exactly the problem we at ST@B and sister organizations are trying to solve. We're introducing more events (and different types of events, and we're trying to reach out to more people. So far, most of our events have been focused on those who are already strongly interested in entrepreneurship - we're trying to broaden our scope by reaching out to more people and introducing more (and different types) of events. As for Berkeley students running businesses out there in the world, there are an impressive number started and run by Berkeley alums (or students!). But given the vibrancy of the campus and the intellect and energy of the people here, there is definitely room to improve! Stanford arguably creates the best environment in the world to churn out the best entepreneurs and companies; there is no reason Berkeley cannot be like this. (If you want to talk more offline, my email address is sushant (dot) shankar (at) gmail.com) Sushi Paula,

Thanks a lot for your comments and insights!

The problem you identify (the lack of exposure on campus) is exactly the problem we at ST@B and sister organizations are trying to solve. We’re introducing more events (and different types of events, and we’re trying to reach out to more people. So far, most of our events have been focused on those who are already strongly interested in entrepreneurship – we’re trying to broaden our scope by reaching out to more people and introducing more (and different types) of events.

As for Berkeley students running businesses out there in the world, there are an impressive number started and run by Berkeley alums (or students!). But given the vibrancy of the campus and the intellect and energy of the people here, there is definitely room to improve! Stanford arguably creates the best environment in the world to churn out the best entepreneurs and companies; there is no reason Berkeley cannot be like this.

(If you want to talk more offline, my email address is sushant (dot) shankar (at) gmail.com)

Sushi

]]> By: Paula http://startup.berkeley.edu/2009/04/28/bootstrapathon-part-2-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Paula Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:33:47 +0000 http://startup.berkeley.edu/?p=609#comment-124 This was my first St@b event and I was in complete awe of how the community entrepreneurs just here on the Berkeley campus are motivated to learn about business venturing and development. One would think that the recession and general conservative attitudes from venture capitalists over the last 2-4 years would be enough to deter or at least intimidate future businessmen and women. But the Bootstrapathon proved me wrong and showed me that even the most devastating economic downturns can be seen as a promising business opportunity for others. The diversity of the business plans, the ages of the entrepreneurs, the differing business backgrounds all showed me how innovative this campus really is. I was nothing short of impressed. As a future yerba mate entrepreneur, I found the meeting both informative and rejuvenating. I came out of the meeting scribbling ideas down and making sure I could read the list of emails and websites I got during the networking portion. What is unfortunate to me is the lack of exposure these types of groups and events get on the campus as a whole, I think if it were better advertised, more Berkeley students would consider and follow through with their pitches and you would see more Berkeley student run businesses out there in the world. This was my first St@b event and I was in complete awe of how the community entrepreneurs just here on the Berkeley campus are motivated to learn about business venturing and development. One would think that the recession and general conservative attitudes from venture capitalists over the last 2-4 years would be enough to deter or at least intimidate future businessmen and women. But the Bootstrapathon proved me wrong and showed me that even the most devastating economic downturns can be seen as a promising business opportunity for others. The diversity of the business plans, the ages of the entrepreneurs, the differing business backgrounds all showed me how innovative this campus really is. I was nothing short of impressed. As a future yerba mate entrepreneur, I found the meeting both informative and rejuvenating. I came out of the meeting scribbling ideas down and making sure I could read the list of emails and websites I got during the networking portion. What is unfortunate to me is the lack of exposure these types of groups and events get on the campus as a whole, I think if it were better advertised, more Berkeley students would consider and follow through with their pitches and you would see more Berkeley student run businesses out there in the world.

]]>