News

Entrepreneurs need to be courted, expert says

Speaker praises Western Virginia’s leaders for a good start, but says there’s
much to be done.

By MEGAN SCHNABEL
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Virginia Tech http://www.vt.edu/ and the New Century Technology Council are doing
a good job of encouraging entrepreneurship in the region, but more
must be done, an expert on entrepreneurial hot spots told the
technology council last week.

Patrick Von Bargen, executive director of the National
Commission on Entrepreneurship, said courting and nurturing
entrepreneurs is critical to the region’s future. Entrepreneurial
companies create at least two-thirds of all new jobs, and even
more during economic downturns when larger employers tend to
lay people off, he said. They also account for at least two-thirds of
all technological innovations.

"They really are the organism of innovation," Von Bargen told
the sold-out crowd at the technology council’s annual awards
dinner.

While other parts of Virginia historically have been more
successful in nurturing entrepreneurs, Western Virginia is moving
in the right direction, Von Bargen said. In fact, a 2000 report on
entrepreneurial hot spots by Cognetics ranked Western Virginia in
the top third of rural areas.

If the region wants to be known as an entrepreneurial zone, it’s
not enough to provide access to a quality work force or technology,
he said. Local leaders must build support networks for
entrepreneurs and celebrate their success stories. They must also
work to increase the ranks of creative thinkers, capital providers,
customers and researchers – all people who can support
entrepreneurial ventures.

Western Virginia, with the support of the technology council and
Virginia Tech, is working toward that goal, he said.

"Virginia Tech … has implemented many, many of these ideas,"
said Von Bargen, citing initiatives such as the Corporate Research
Center http://www.vtcrc.com/ and the Business Technology Center. "The only question
is, is there still more to be done?" he said.

http://www.blueridgebiznet.com/technology/news/story130108.html

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.