Building a startup community is not a zero-sum game in which there are winners and losers: if everyone engages, they and the entire community can all be winners.
Brad FeldRead
For a long time, I've ranted against naming your startup community 'Silicon Whatever.' Instead, I believe every startup community already has a name. The Boulder startup community is called Boulder. The L.A. startup community is called L.A. The Washington D.C. startup community is called Washington D.C.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Every startup community should embrace its unique identity rather than adopting generic names.
In this quote, Brad Feld emphasizes the importance of local identity for startup communities. He suggests that each community has its own inherent characteristics and culture that can be better represented by its local name rather than opting for a broad or generic title like 'Silicon Valley.' This focus on specificity fosters a sense of belonging and pride within the community, ultimately leading to more tailored support for local startups.
Themes
StartupCommunityIdentityLocalInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
A local entrepreneur uses this quote during a pitch to highlight the uniqueness of their business network.
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