At the Software Association of Oregon ( SAO ) meeting last night, Harvey Matthews put forward the need to engage in the Stimulus Package efforts as a way to make a significant impact on the economy. The key idea is to invest in the software industry in order to start and grow our businesses. Many small investments is more likely to have a larger, long lasting impact.
I see this idea as a way to make an explicit invesmtent in the infrastructure for the Innovation Economy. We see the Stimulus Package focused on improving infrastructure. While it is important to have traditional infrastructure investments in roads and water systems, it is equally or even more important to invest in the infrastructure for the next economy. If we believe that the path forward for our communities is through innovation, then we need to invest in the infrastructure to support innovation.
Paul Graham suggests in his blog post “Can you Buy a Silicon Valley? Maybe. ” that there may be a pathway to creating a startup hub. Specifically investing in the creation of the critical mass of investors + entrepreneurs to ignite the process. This is exactly what we are trying to do with the Willamette Angel Conference. It provides a venue to create the synergy that will build that startup critical mass.
If we can use the Stimulus Package as a way to amplify our investment in our infrastruture for the Innovation Economy, we will have a serious opportunity for getting to the next level in creating a startup hub.
Now is the time to take action