Innovation and Inspiration

Innovation and entrepreneurship has been at the forefront of my mind for the past few weeks… for personal, peer and professional reasons.

Personal
If you’ve been following this blog for anytime, you know that our agency Red Sky turned a year old this spring. It’s a birthday I’m extremely proud of – and through the tough times and celebrations I’m glad for my spectacular partners and colleagues. I could never imagine embarking on such a venture on my own. I wrote about the impending journey last April in the Statesman’s Starting Up column series. A year later, it’s time to revisit Starting Up and ponder the first year – what was true, what’s been learned, and what awaits. For those fellow entrepreneurs making it through their first year (or second!) would love to hear your lessons learned.

Peers
When you hear of innovation and entrepreneurship, what industry comes to mind? Technology? But the reality is that economies are built of many small business operations, not just a few behemoths. Hitting it out of the park with the Next Big Thing isn’t the way we grow and sustain our economies – although it is an achievement to be celebrated when it does occur. However, supporting and building those small businesses which are our backbone is what will make our communities successful.

As Highway 12’s Mark Solon noted in a recent Idaho Business Review story, “Self funded “lifestyle” companies are the backbone of American entrepreneurism. while venture backed tech high fliers get the press, these are the businesses that turn the gears of our country…”

So props and congratulations to fellow female entrepreneurs Jennifer Reynolds of Slingflower, Courtney Feider of Mio Vino TV, and Shannon Paterson – embarking on a new post-TV adventure as Anchor Mommy.

Through being a part of the entrepreneur group Kickstand, I have the good fortune of being inspired regularly by entrepreneurs embarking on their journey, including the winners of our recent Startup Speed Dating:

KidCheck – A children’s security check-in product for churches, day cares and other child care providers.
Easy Office – Provides affordable finance, accounting and bookkeeping services tailored to the needs of small and medium sized non-profits.
Navitopia – A new innovation in corporate flight scheduling; improving communication between the flight scheduler, pilot and business traveler while improving efficiency and cutting costs.

And that leads me to…

Professional
Finally, two plugs – tied to innovation and entrepreneurship of course – and having a say in the future of your community. If you have an idea, a passion, a desire to create, develop and change your world – there are two dates you need to save and two events you need to explore.

IdaVation – the annual gathering to inspire innovation in Idaho – is set for May 28. The event features keynote speaker and early-stage investor Brad Feld telling us to ‘Get Out There & Innovate’, Congressman Walt Minnick on ‘Why American needs more Idaho Innovation’, and noted author Bill Wilmot on ‘Tips for Turning Idaho’s Ideas into Innovations.’

But perhaps what I’m most excited about is the opportunity to honor – and learn from – our state’s top innovators from Idaho companies including AuctionFrogs, Balihoo, CradlePoint HappyFamily, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, psiFlow, MetaGeek , WhiteCloud Analytics.

If you haven’t registered to attend yet – you will be missing out.

Another event for those interested in shaping the look, feel and future of our community is New West’s first Boise conference – Planning in the West – running June 17-18 in partnership with Boise State University (Department of Public Policy & Administration).

The conversation about our region’s future features leading planners, policy-makers, architects, developers, and landscape designers from around the Rockies focused on tracking planning and development trends, showcasing best practices, and understanding how thoughtful and place-inspired planning can help us shape our region in the most positive possible ways.

Keynote speakers include Chris Duerksen AICP, from Clarion Associates, who will discuss sustainable community development codes for the West; and Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP, Director of Metropolitan Research from the University of Utah, who will share a new perspective and stats on planning and growth trends of the Snake River Corridor and what can position us for a prosperous future.

Register Now to be part of the conversation about challenges and opportunities in planning our West, Sustainable Planning, Trends of the Snake River Corridor, Re-Thinking Transportation and Resource-Based Planning.

Share your vision, share your voice, change your future.

- Jess