A Founder's League

What is is....what does it mean?

Last week, we posted a link to our first show with a RI-based business accelerator, Betaspring.  Right after that we received their notice of helping to form a new founder's league in RI, and thought it would be of interest to our global audience as a model for what is possible, in any city or country, in assembling teams and resources to help entrepreneurs.

Here's part of the announcement.  You can find the rest at the Betaspring web site:

Introducing the Founders League!

The Founders League isn't something brand new hatched in our heads. Thanks to our friends at theCambridge Innovation Center, we have borrowed many ideas on how to build a strong, resiliant startup community. I read every email that General Assembly sends out and keep track of the programs we know we can, and should, emulate. The Founders League is lucky, not only to be within driving distance of these two very cool platforms, but to have the luxury of learning from their successes.  So....Here's the official announcement we made today. We'll be back soon with updates and opportunities to get involved! 

“Founders League” Will Strengthen Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Expand Programs for High Growth Start-ups and Entrepreneurs Betaspring, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Brown University and the University of Rhode Island partner to launch next-gen entrepreneurial platform in Rhode Island

Thanks to a catalytic partnership between Betaspring, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, University of Rhode Island and Brown University, Rhode Island will soon have a new resource to help start-ups, students and aspiring entrepreneurs connect, learn and build high-growth ventures.

Guiding principles for the platform include:

--An iconic physical nexus. Place matters. Creating synergies and circulation are among the most important components of successful entrepreneurial communities and their support platforms. Physical consolidation will make it easier to create a “critical mass” of activity that bolsters programmatic efficiency and social connectivity for entrepreneurs. The long term vision is to build an “entrepreneurial campus” of interconnected services and resources.

--Co-working community. Co-working communities provide entrepreneurs with access to a strong community of peers and a physical space to work that is conducive to entrepreneurial success. Incubation also helps move entrepreneurs and new ventures through a pipeline of programs, supports and services that can significantly increase success for a new venture.

--Attract and connect students. Students represent an important resource and a key asset in Rhode Island’s effort to build a strong entrepreneurial community. Students are attracted to programs that meet and reflect their needs.  The Founders League will build on current efforts to offer a special track for students that adapts and responds to their needs, interests, and social behaviors. 

--Self sustaining business model. The Founders League will transition to a self-sustaining business model within three years.

--Enhanced programming. Building on the foundation laid over the last three years at the Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Founders League will offer a robust continuum of programming and services to match the spectrum of needs within Rhode Island's entrepreneurial and start-up community. 

--Engage more entrepreneurs. There are many steps to creating a venture and people need different entry points and supports along the way. The Founders League will place strong emphasis on creating a dynamic and activated environment that attracts and meets the needs of a diverse community of entrepreneurs. The platform will be geared towards high-growth entrepreneurship and offer multiple channels to serve experienced entrepreneurs, as well as those who are just beginning to explore their entrepreneurial aspirations....