Over the past two months, Higgy Ziggy LLC has had the pleasure of participating in the most AMAZING entrepreneurial competition on the planet!! This competition is the LA Startup Prize! The LA Startup Prize is a series of events meant to help entrepreneurs learn to create a successful startup, connect startups with others who can help build their business and, potentially, connect with the investment dollars they need to get off the ground! As someone who is a first-time entrepreneur, it is exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm of fellow entrepreneurs here in the Northwest Louisiana area. It is great hearing the stories, experiences, advice, and struggles of our fellow entrepreneurs. It is truly inspiring to see the business leaders in the area who have found success in their businesses come out to impart their wisdom and advice on those of us floundering through that crazy, risky, chaotic startup world.
We have learned a few important lessons at the startup prize:
1) Learn from EVERYONE you can - We have learned so much throughout the first qualifying event and the first night of the second qualifying event and that learning has come from a number of places. It has come from fellow entrepreneurs who are participating in the Startup Prize. It has come from the experience of having to tell and hone our story over and over again as we explain our ideas to the participants. It comes from the business mentors and gurus sharing their experiences on the road to success and where they have stumbled along the way. It comes from GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING and talking to our potential customers and early adopters. And it comes from the entrepreneurial exercises and competitions at the Startup Prize.
2) It is about BUILDING a COMMUNITY - Startup Communities: Building a community should be a part of every company's strategy. Building a community is about finding people who care about the issues and topics you and your company do, making a commitment to the people around you, having fun doing things you are passionate about, and furthering the shared interests of those involved in the community. You can do none of this, however, if you do not have empathy for the people in your community and only care about advancing your self-interests or propagating your product. That is why events like the LA Startup Prize are important. Because while it is a competition, its greater achievement is bringing like minds who are passionate about entrepreneurship and fostering a strong economic ecosystem and economic development here in Northwest LA. The creative energy and real dialogue that we have seen occurring at the Startup Prize events is proof that this is the beginning of a strong, empathetic business community here in Northwest LA, where a rising tide lifts all boats.
3) It is NOT EASY being an ENTREPRENEUR but it is WORTH IT - Being an entrepreneur is an incredibly frustrating and rewarding experience at the same time. You will have your peaks and you will have your values but the important thing is to learn along the way, be patient because with startups TIMING is everything. One of our favorite piece's of advice on this issue comes from Chris Dixon, a VC, when he writes on his blog, "Entrepreneurs should always ask themselves “why will I succeed where others failed?” If the answer is simply “I’m doing it right” or “I’m smarter,” you are probably underestimating your antecedents, which were probably run by competent or even great entrepreneurs who did everything possible to succeed. Instead your answer should include an explanation about why the timing is right – about some fundamental changes in the world that enable the idea you are pursuing to finally succeed." But while it is important to be patient and time your entrance into the market, there is ALWAYS something you can be doing to further your vision and the mission of your startup. You can always be doing customer development, engaging with communities and social groups that care about your industry, and be building something. Progress is important.
Higgy Ziggy LLC is honored to have participated in the GREATEST entrepreneurial experience on the planet and is excited to learn more TODAY and every day from everyone we have met through this event. Thank you for the ride, special thanks to The LA Startup Prize team. You all have done a fantastic job scheduling and running this event. Thank you to Cohab for hosting and providing the space for the event; they have continually demonstrated an ability to be a bedrock of entrepreneurship in our community.
