As much as we harp around Create WV about how "quality of place" should be a major economic growth focus for West Virginia, it's extremely exciting to find entrepreneurs and innovators who agree and bring this vision to fruition.
Air Robotics is an "aerial imaging" company that makes unmanned aircraft. Their planes are primarily for the scientific industry to enable them to take measurements at a much lower cost.Jeff Imel, Founder of Air Robotics,, decided to move himself and his small startup company from Indiana to the Charleston Area Alliance business incubator. Why? "I always said that if I could live anywhere on the planet, it would be WV. And my time came. I do love this state."
The fact is, a lot of other entrepreneurs, artists and innovators could and should be saying that. It is our belief that we as a state need to do a few things to open the flood gates:
- Let's tell people. Promote that these kinds of high-tech, innovative firms exist and can thrive in West Virginia. People really have no idea that firms like Air Robotics, bambeco.com and practicelink.com exist and are doing well here. If we aggressively recruited entrepreneurs, not just larger firms, we could be building the economic base of our future.
- Let's get social. We've been too traditional in marketing West Virginia as a business location. It's time to use the low-cost power of social media to drive word-of-mouth awareness and interest and to connect interested ex-natives or other prospects with "ambassador" entrepreneurs who live in and love West Virginia (we've blogged about many of them here).
- Let's invest in creative communities. We have to realize that economic and community development work hand in hand. It's not enough to have an industrial park or even an incubator; the surrounding community has to have the cultural, academic and social amenities that creative entrepreneurs want. We have the outdoor thing going on, which is great. Now we need to surround it the other missing pieces of the puzzle.
- Let's collaborate. Creative, entrepreneurial communities are collaborative communities. Ideas and investments get shared freely. West Virginia has tended to be a "close to the vest" kind of culture where a few folks make decisions and often compete for limited resources. Let's begin some open forums where entrepreneurs and innovators can share ideas and get matched with possible investors.
- Let's partner. Universities. Local schools. Banks. Cities. Counties. Private and public corporations. How can we break down silos and barriers and build creative partnerships that lead to a more innovative culture that builds an abundance mentality?
What other ideas do you have for sparking more start-up activity in West Virginia?
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