When JumpStart was started, the leaders looked across the country for models to emulate, and Innovation Works in Pittsburgh was one of them. Innovation Works (IW) is five years older than JumpStart but served as the model for many of our operational choices. While we have some important differences (including funding sources and the specifics of our local geographies), we also have many of the same elements: business community, deal flow from multiple partners including universities and service providers, inspired and supported entrepreneurs, and a model which ties various amounts of funding with business assistance.
IW had its annual meeting last Thursday and John Dearborn and I were in
attendance. WOW. If you ever needed proof that the model we are both
pursuing can work to create incredible economic transformation, a
thriving entrepreneurial economy, positive internal brand image, and
jobs, take a look at Pittsburgh and the work of IW. As just one example
alone, the annual meeting 
was
at McKesson Automation. The company that was the predecessor to McKesson
was brought to IW by its three founding entrepreneurs. With the initial
funding and business assistance from IW, the company grew from three to
800 employees in the Pittsburgh area. It was sold to McKesson and
continues to employ over 500 hundred people in the Pittsburgh area and
thousands of people across the U.S., while those three entrepreneurs
have gone on to start other companies that have created hundreds of jobs
(or lead IW, in the case of Rich Lunak). And that’s just one example.
To read the full, original article click on this link: JumpStart: IdeaExchange Blog » Blog Archive » Inspiration Coming From Success in Pittsburgh
Author: Cathy Belk
