Apparently, New Enterprise Associates managing general partner Peter Barris agrees with the "Pooh v. Tigger" assessment of the Chicago startup scene in my last post. According to last Monday's Tech Matters column by Brad Spirrison in the Chicago Sun-Times:
"Barris appreciates a “less-faddish” and more meat-and-potatoes approach to building new businesses. He says Chicago is a place where profitability is more important than novelty."
Unfortunately, Barris' comments also reinforce the stereotype that Chicago is not the best place to start a new business:
Barris compared area entrepreneurs to grapes in Napa Valley that manage to persevere through "rocky, inhabitable soil". He added: "They have to work at it. The process of working at it is what gives the grapes that distinct quality."
Funny. Chicago's "rocky soil" has many great supportive organizations for the tech community such as the ITA, ITDA and Tech Cocktail; several entrepreneurial centers; great universities; (Fast Company's U.S. city of the year); experienced lawyers; and a huge financial community. There are plenty of Chicago tech success stories - Spirrison lists three in his article. Aircell, based in Itasca, just closed a $265 million round of financing.
So why the bad rap? Does it really matter anyway? Here in Chicago, we just get da job done.
