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Questions for Small Group. DEFINITION: What’s the opportunity? CAPACITY: What do we have – to build on? BENEFICIARIES: Who could benefit? Which businesses? (4) OBSTACLES: What stands in the way? Policies? Laws? Money? Organization? Technology?
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Questions for Small Group • DEFINITION: What’s the opportunity? • CAPACITY: What do we have – to build on? • 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 • DEFINITION: Web Platform, but “scope creep”. Current and credible. • CAPACITY: County’s coordinated funding model, similar model to bring together diverse businesses and capital sources. • 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 • DEFINITION: Muni bonds. • CAPACITY: Many existing bond programs that touch on what we’re doing. Need to expand. • 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 • DEFINITION: Invest locally and sustainably. • CAPACITY: Local investment initiatives – farms funds. Need to make a public list. • 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 • DEFINITION: Web Portal to aggregate opportunities. Ombudsman…human screen. A place for aggregated help, and ultimately crowdfunding portal. • CAPACITY: Existing org’n or nonprofit could lead. Many busjiness networks, small businesses, interested people • 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 • DEFINITION: Community foundation focused on investment in Stage II companies. • CAPACITY: Strong VC and Angels. Endowments with universities. Lots of talent. • 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 • DEFINITION: Build more awareness locally for more local action. • CAPACITY: Knowledge base and government. Many people waiting to help. Social media, community for a. • 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.