Stagnant economy and low valuations and “right-sizing” of VC industry… oh my! 2010 could have seemed like just another tough year for entrepreneurs. But there are always glimmers of light and this year, those glimmers were more like fireworks. What’s more, the fireworks aren’t going to die down anytime soon, and I think they reflect a new momentum in America that will only grow bigger over the course of the next several years. Here’s my list of the top 10 reasons that made it so:
10. Investment dollars are coming back. The year isn’t finished yet, but in Northeast Ohio, venture capital investment will have almost doubled from last year’s lackluster investment levels. Nationally, venture capital investing is up over 30%, with a particular focus on companies creating transformational innovation in medical devices, social media, cleantech, cloud computing, and biotechnology. While we still have a long way to go for all the worthy, venture-backable companies to be able to access the capital they need, it’s encouraging to see activity bouncing back from the most dismal of years.
9. Entrepreneurial education has never looked so, well, entrepreneurial. Like entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial education has expanded its wings to provide students with exposure, contacts, and skills beyond general entrepreneurial studies. Interested specifically in Digital Entrepreneurship? Check out the degree program at Neumont University near Salt Lake City. Interested to start your own non-profit? Check out Social Entrepreneurship programs at Duke, Stanford, or Babson, among other B-school heavyweights. Regardless of your entrepreneurial interest, there are now over 1,000 entrepreneurial studies programs at colleges and universities across the country to provide educational tools and more importantly, confidence.
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Author: Cathy Belk
