This post is syndicated from Tech Hustlers.com
It’s amazing the power that a community can hold not only in a particular industry but for an individual as well. Throughout history we’ve been witness to large communities rising together and helping one another for a greater cause of sorts. We’re again now seeing this same process beginning within our country’s present boom of entrepreneurs and startup companies.
As an entrepreneur one thing that you learn from very early on is that it’s hard to do everything yourself. I know that’s tough to admit… trust me, but it’s true. When starting a company, there are a number of hurdles you have to get over – legal, the right technologies to use, branding, etc. Some of which you may be an expert in, others you probably only know because you can relate to a buzz word. And that’s ok. In this day and age we’re lucky to have the Internet at our finger tips to learn things that we might not know. However reading a webpage is no match for learning or speaking with someone who’s been through it before or has the industry experience.
Coming from an area where there wasn’t much of a startup community to somewhere like Los Angeles were the community was really just taking off, offered me a growing experience as an entrepreneur. It was great. There was a support system rather than questions. An opportunity to learn about new methodologies such as “being lean,” while grasping a deeper understanding of business and product, and even a chance to learn a new city. A startup community puts you in one of the best positions to network and build relationships to help you and your business grow.
Depending on your geographic location, cities have begun adopting local “hubs” – places startup communities can grown and have flocked towards. In Santa Monica, we have one location, Coloft – a co-working space that is always involved, friendly, and throws the greatest events (i.e. Meetups, Speakers, Startup Weekend, etc). In some cities you have people helping to drive and create communities such as, Startup City Des Moines, Steve Case in D.C., even Michael Bloomberg in NYC.
Startup communities have even begun migrating to the web. For example, earlier this summer Eric put together an amazing group of young entrepreneurs (myself included) from around the country. The group, which quickly became a community, was created to develop a small online community that could support each other in our growing efforts as entrepreneurs, while also supporting our companies. Upon our first meeting the spark was there and the 6+ of us were talking about startups and helping one another to solve the issues we were experiencing. Soon we began meeting bi-weekly just to chat, ask for advice, or just to simply support each other in our daily grind and hustle.
We want to hear from you… How has a community supported you as an entrepreneur? Leave a comment below and let us know your story and where your community is.
