This fall, entrepreneurs and investors from all over the country gathered in downtown Cleveland for the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) annual conference. During a "fireside chat," AOL founder and Startup America Chair Steve Case touched on his belief that a "broader entrepreneurial ecosystem" with many hubs of innovation is possible. "Many years ago, you couldn't launch a startup in some areas, and now you can," he said. "Costs are down, and the ability to get talent is up."
The Midwest is working hard to make Case's vision a reality sooner rather than later. For example, a summit known as the Great Lakes Venture Fair directly followed the NASVF conference in Cleveland. This two-day event highlighted the region's expanding investment scene and its high potential young companies. Just a few weeks later, JumpStart presented an entrepreneur expo, which drew 117 startups and more than 1,000 people to an afternoon-long showcase of transformative technologies.
To read the original article: John Dearborn: How the Midwest Is Becoming an Entrepreneurial Hotspot
