Across Twitter, the blogosphere and professional media, there is an obvious consensus: the MassTLC unConference was a resounding success. Everyone has been talking and tweeting about the energy and enthusiasm that permeated the event. I believe everyone left with a renewed feeling of optimism for entrepreneurship in New England and a new set of contacts that will be helpful in whatever ideas, ventures or initiatives they are pursuing.
I have no doubt that, on an individual basis, everyone will greatly benefit from the unConference. However, the greater question is what larger goals may now be possible because of it. A list of action items were created during Scott Kirsner and Tim Rowe’s session called, “Turbocharging the Entrepreneurial Culture in MA.” These items require a diverse group of people in the community to come together to address issues big and small.
Being a “greenhorn” in the community, I’m not sure how I can help in some cases, but I want to do my part. I look forward to launching the site being built by myself and some colleagues to help young entrepreneurs by providing a consolidated source and aggregate for events, resources and other pertinent information. In addition, if anyone needs any young entrepreneurs to aide in any of the tasks through man power or just a different perspective, I am certainly willing and I believe I know quite a few others who would gladly get involved as well.
So, my question for you, reading this right now, is how, in any way big or small, are you able to help tackle these action items?
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I also wanted to use this entry to summarize and consolidate everything that happened at the unConference. As I’ve been reading, listening and watching the reactions to the event, I’ve compiled those all into one place. Below, you will find every piece of content I know of on the internet (sans individual tweets praising the event) that has been generated as a result of the awesome unConference. If I missed anything, please comment with the link and I’ll update the list.
Links related to the event itself:
unConference website
MassTLC Website
The Pre-Event Session Wiki
The Sessions Listing Wall
MassTLC Blog
Pieces by the Professional Media:
Mass High Tech
Scott Kirsner’s Friday 5
NECN Coverage
NECN Reporter, Scott Montmimy
Blog Entries on the overall unConference:
Bill Warner’s Blog/Photo essay of opening of event
Bill Warner’s Video of the Event
Bill Warner’s collection of 83 Photos
Brough Turner’s Blog
Specific Session Contemt:
“Starting a Company with no Money”:
Session Audio
“PR Improv”:
Session Summary, Session Audio Part 1 & Part 2
“Music 2.0”:
Session Audio
“TurboCharging the Entrepreneurial Culture”:
Session Summary, “The List”, Photo 1, Photo 2
“Firing Founders is VC-101: How to Keep Your Founder Job”
Session Summary
“Build a Community, Not a Network”:
Session Summary, Photo
“Dodging Bullets that Kill Startups”
Session Summary, Lean Startups Meetup Group, Lean Startups Google Group, Steve Blank’s Book & Blog, Eric Ries’s Blog & MIT Event, and another blog
Quote of the day:
Based on number of reTweets:
“Some of you are so smart that you take something that should be an instant failure & turn it into a 4-year failure.” -Bill Warner
Based on importance to improving our community:
“Why are we going up against Silicon Valley as ‘Boston’ & ‘Providence,’ not New England?” -@ Pistachio