ENET Boston Entrepreneurs Network

Boston Entrepreneur's Network

Welcome back reader! As you probably know by now, I’m a member of ENET the Boston Entrepreneurs Network. It’s a great association of entrepreneurs where opportunity comes to life. If you live in MA you should seriously consider joining. I’ve found the information over the past year to be invaluable.

This past week’s event was around the topic of Funding a Company Without an Angel or VC. There are countless examples of successes that weren’t funded those ways, and often companies are better off delaying inorganic growth. Angels and VCs want something (a ROI on the $) and aren’t company saviors looking to burn money. Friends and family can often provide a lot of the financing needed to start a company on a budget. Bootstrapping is another way to grow a companies without risking dilution from investors or bankruptcy from loans. Often an investor wants to see cash flow and growth over time, and without those, the investor really holds the cards because they’ve heard “it’s a great idea it’ll work” a million times.

That being said, VCs and angels serve a great purpose in investing in small businesses that will grow the economy. The important thing to do is weigh all the options and get multiple opinions on growth strategies to protect yourself. Sometimes delaying growth can be deadly, but so can uncontrolled growth.

 

Being a NERD

Last week I got to be part of ENET ‘s event at the New England Research and Development Center. It was a great chances for entrepreneurs and incubators to get together. Over 100 people attended the event and hopefully ENET will be expanding the number of meetings throughout the year. It was nice seeing David Zhou again of ePowerhouse, as it seems everything is coming full circle. I’ve been enjoying my work with ENET where I’m volunteering with their alliance efforts.

Microsoft NERD Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also got to meet the founder of MassChallenge, which is a popular nonprofit in the Boston area. Both of these organizations aim to bring startup companies to success by offering discounted office space, mentorship and synergy from the other startups. It great because many entrepreneurs don’t have the resources themselves to grow a company. Maybe someday I can use the resources for my own startups.

 

 

Capturing the Odd Moment of Endless Wins

There was intermittent sunshine and puffed lead looking clouds.

Lotus Development Corporation had already moved into a newer and more spacious Cambridge site.

I was sitting—a comfortable bench at the ground floor—the street level, the entrance area.

I had just come from Harvard, waiting to meet, Linda, who worked upstairs as a Lotus Q/A wrangler. We were going to a Mexican Restaurant, just down the street.

This area—cool and comfortable. I was sitting on a bench reading an old book in English published “Ceylon, 1910”—The Pratitya Samutpada Sutta—on the idea that THE ALL = The Simultaneous Interdependent Origination of All Phenomena—thus THE ALL was existing within and without itself and basically was both connected and not connected to the “Inside” and “Outside” of Actual Being. Waiting was comfortable and relaxed—very few people wandering around.

This guy in a dark suit that was a little bit too big for him, came up into the corner of my eye and said, “Whatcha reading?”

I replied with the book title, expecting the old “Say what?” or some signal of not caring at all, or “I don’t have time from this crap…unimportant anyway.”

But he sat down, saw the book title, and started talking cogently about Buddhism and the Nature of Reality. I recognized him. “You’re Jobs, aren’t you?”

“Steve,” he said.

And we talked for about an hour: The Nature of Reality and how people react to even thinking about it; why people run away from it; zen koans and the nature of hidden laughter within important truths; the nature of “taking the medicine instead of worshipping the prescription,” interactions and simultaneity of Compassion, Wisdom, and Power.

So fast “Steve” became a brother with no blood roots to me. He was a Brother to the Many Minds of Us–The Other Brothers–The Other Sisters. He joined his intelligence to the many, and never kept it for himself. How can I miss him since I and We–the Brothers & Sisters–are still joined at the hip. And I am not alone.

Mass Innovation Nights, ePowerhouse and more!

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the 31st Mass Innovation Night, at the Trade Center 128 in Woburn. It was cool to see a handful of startups and their strategies for growth. I was surprised to see and 0ld friend, Alexander Tsepko of Grafpad doing a professional pitch when only months ago he was at the Venture Cafe testing the water. That in itself is a testament to the great resources in the area being made available to entrepreneurs. Speaking of resources…

Mass Innovation Night
Mass Innovation Night #MIN31

ePowerhouse is a company trying to help entrepreneurs and investors. The accelerator program being created and the network around it will soon evolve into a hub for both investors and entrepreneurs. After all, who likes going to a million different places to do a million different things when trying to start a company? Surely there is an easier and more efficient way. From talent pools, comprehensive event calender,  incubators to capital acceleration programs, EPH will change the landscape for entrepreneurs, and not just locally. But yeah check it out at the link.

Finally, Hubspot has been providing some great resources on social media. I went to an event last week at Hubspot and as usual, learned a lot. Right when my arrogance kicks in and I think I know everything, I talk with some more knowledgeable people and realize some great concepts and ideas. That’s what networking is all about.