South Shore Innovation
South Shore Innovation is focused on developing a stronger innovation and startup community on the South Shore of Boston. This includes hosting innovation round tables, educational and learning activities, showcase events, and anything else we can think of that will promote innovation and support startups and an entrepreneurial culture in the area. A corollary to our mission is to connect innovation and entrepreneurial centers throughout the Boston area and Massachusetts. We highly value Science, Technology, Education, the Arts and anything else innovative, whether for-profit or non-profit. We promote and support small and growing business success.
We are in the process of developing the South Shore Innovation Center as an Innovation and Coworking space, which will be located off of Route 3 near Hanover/Hingham. The concept is described below.
If you are interested in supporting these initiatives, please join the LinkedIn group called South Shore Innovation.
Successful innovation and entrepreneurship does not come from an idea alone or the nature of the workspace. It stems from the passion of the idea's creator that is fueled by a whirlwind of just-right support structures. The dream environment for creating a successful business is a workspace that allows the founder(s) to draw from expertise, support and brain stimulation -- both actively and passively -- because it is all within easy enough reach to keep the entrepreneur focused on the critical tasks at hand.
Sponsorship
South Shore Innovation is actively looking for corporate sponsors who believe that innovation in the area will help the overall business community and maintain a healthy, robust economy.
Sponsors of the Innovation Center receive the following:
logo and link on center website
highlights in center publicity and other external communications
visibility at BREW (Boston Region Entrepreneurship Week), October 2010
recognition as an innovation leader
social media and inbound marketing support
internal signage at the center
ability to offer product, services and advertising specials to members
ability to leave marketing literature at the center
ability to host events at the center that are related to member activities
Select sponsors will be invited to participate in Innovation Center planning sessions.
Please contact Eric Braun at 781-982-9555 or connect via email or LinkedIn for more information on sponsorship.
Innovation Center Overview
We are currently planning for a physical innovation center. The vision for the South Shore Innovation Center is an open, collaborative co-working space located between Boston and Cape Cod with convenient access to Route 3 and MBTA transit. The intent of the center is to be a community of creative energy where entrepreneurs can flourish and develop their ideas into real businesses and benefit from working with other innovators like themselves in a supportive environment. The center gets entrepreneurs out of the home office or local cafe where there are too many distractions and not enough teamwork. The ability to focus, work with colleagues and draw from the experience of others is critical to maximizing the potential of any startup. Like a network of wheels and spokes, the collaborative center connects the residents with Cornerstone Support members who are available to assist in areas where the residents have less expertise. To provide even more opportunities for learning and support, the center is connected to the Boston and Cambridge startup communities, to Massachusetts university communities and to local communities.
Although the environment will open and unstructured to stimulate creative and collaborative thought, regular morning and after-hours events will take place to facilitate the process of making progress and maintaining an atmosphere of innovation. These events will include guest speakers and small forums on current topics that are applicable to small and growing startup ventures.
Cornerstone Support will be available for short-term advice and consultation or long-term partnering and to help focus technical teams through catalytic project management, to develop and execute marketing plans and strategies, to set up legal entities, to create financial plans and teach financial management, to support the sales cycle, to define and improve operational processes, to find seed capital and other types of funding and to find real estate for future growth plans.
Benefits to Residents will include:
Low-cost work space that is conducive to productive work
Access to others in startup mode and Cornerstone experts
Complementary business and technical services in the network
High-speed internet, ample electrical outlets, conference room
Free publicity and web advertising related to center
Free or discounted access to in-house and co-sponsored events
Coffee, food and personal services within building or walking distance
Discounted products and services from sponsors
Possibility of using other coworking spaces when traveling through Coworking Visa program
Benefits to Cornerstones will include:
All of the above
Direct-access to a new client base
Ability to provide mentoring and learn new things
Access to innovative ideas and projects
Star* Links You Do Not Want to Miss!
Reinventing America, by Ken Feinstein, CEO Cambridge Research & Development
Build Your Startup From the Heart, by Bill Warner (TEDxBoston, 2010)
Innovation In America: Opportunities and Obstacles, Video by Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion Subcommittee of U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Every entrepreneur should get funded, by Ron Conway, Angel Investor
Lead Investors, Dipshit Companies, and Funding Every Entrepreneur, by Fred Wilson, Lead VC Investor
the Secrets of Success blog (not just for women), by Deb Bailey
"Overcoming Barriers to Entrepreneurship in the United States" by Diana Furchtgott-Roth.
"Social Entrepreneurship: What everyone needs to know" by David Bornstein and Susan Davis
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