Questions for Small Group
(1)DEFINITION: What’s the opportunity?
(2)CAPACITY: What do we have – to build on?
(3)BENEFICIARIES: Who could benefit? Which businesses?
(4) OBSTACLES: What stands in the way? Policies? Laws?
Money? Organization? Technology?
(5) STRATEGY: How might the obstacles be overcome?
(6) MOVING FORWARD: Who should do what when?
BE SURE TO PICK A RAPPORTEUR!
Government Initiatives I
(1) DEFINITION: Web Platform, but “scope creep”. Current and credible.
(2) CAPACITY: County’s coordinated funding model, similar model to bring together diverse businesses and capital sources.
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Link LOIS buz’s with LOIS investors. Later expand into nonprofits.
(4) OBSTACLES:
(5) STRATEGY: County host a web site and convene players. Formulate the input and partners. Bring in financial professionals. SPARK platform could be expanded…
(6) MOVING FORWARD:
Government Initiatives II
(1) DEFINITION: Muni bonds.
(2) CAPACITY: Many existing bond programs that touch on what we’re doing. Need to expand.
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Non-tech businesses not benefited now. Non startups
(4) OBSTACLES: Govt deficits.
(5) STRATEGY: How to repay the bond? Credit card fees from banks. Other fees from banks. Refocusing SPARK on types of business we want.
(6) MOVING FORWARD:
Grassroots Investing I
(1) DEFINITION: Invest locally and sustainably.
(2) CAPACITY: Local investment initiatives – farms funds. Need to make a public list.
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Everyone in the local economy
(4) OBSTACLES: Small people…Whole Foods can’t buy from individual small farmers. Need leadership, know-how.
(5) STRATEGY: Let people know about value of investing locally. Which local alternatives are available.
(6) MOVING FORWARD: Show people that there is another way.
Grassroots Investing II
(1) DEFINITION: Web Portal to aggregate opportunities. Ombudsman…human screen. A place for aggregated help, and ultimately crowdfunding portal.
(2) CAPACITY: Existing org’n or nonprofit could lead. Many busjiness networks, small businesses, interested people
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Existing businesses> startups. Local investors. Community at large
(4) OBSTACLES: Segregations between creatives and moneyed people. Absence of a single champion. Funding.
(5) STRATEGY: Network within this group…find a champion, bring them to the funding. Tech. support. Sharing of key people.
(6) MOVING FORWARD:
Investment Pools I
(1) DEFINITION: Community foundation focused on investment in Stage II companies.
(2) CAPACITY: Strong VC and Angels. Endowments with universities. Lots of talent.
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Local stage 2 companies.
(4) OBSTACLES: Transaction costs. Regulations. Bringing together stakeholders.
(5) STRATEGY: Bring under an existing foundation. Due diligence…investment review. Identify home (AA community foundation?).
(6) MOVING FORWARD: Convene stakeholders…Incubate and discuss…
Community Education I
(1) DEFINITION: Build more awareness locally for more local action.
(2) CAPACITY: Knowledge base and government. Many people waiting to help. Social media, community for a.
(3) BENEFICIARIES: Anyone but WM. Tool for retaining talent.
(4) OBSTACLES: So many diverse, separated pops. How do design for the many who don’t use the internet. Balancing technology. Dig down in the conversation. Consistent communication. Who’s the champion?
(5) STRATEGY: Begin the education process. Get buy in with real-life stories.
(6) MOVING FORWARD: Preliminary groups need to be identified.Meet again in one month.
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