Poll: Maryland's startup climate
Alright all you techies, entrepreneurs and risk-takers here in Maryland...Now is the time to vote your peace. Do you think Maryland has the right climate for nurturing startups?
Vote here, and tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments below.
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Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:11 AM | Permalink
| Comments (7)
Categories: East Coast, Entrepreneurs & Risk Takers, Startups
Categories: East Coast, Entrepreneurs & Risk Takers, Startups
Comments
There should be a "it's starting to get there" option =)
Posted by: Paul Capestany | August 25, 2009 9:27 AM
Baltimore has the same shot as any other city, but Baltimore is not a financial powerhouse so bootstrapping is especially important and assembling the right group of people is the most difficult part of the equation.
Posted by: Gordon Steen | August 25, 2009 9:28 AM
We have the right stuff:
-Local community
-Facilities that encourage creative thought
-densely populated living
-Tech upbringing w/ systems integrators for defense contractors in the mix
-diverse population w/ real problems to address
Posted by: Chris Ensey | August 25, 2009 9:32 AM
I agree with Paul on the need for a "it's starting to get there option".... which makes Gordon's point very valid about bootstrapping being especially important.
Posted by: Brian Sloane | August 25, 2009 9:33 AM
I'd be worried about the tax and regulatory consequences of success.
Posted by: Andrew | August 25, 2009 9:38 AM
Well, *that* was a quick way to get five comments...
I think MD has a great quality of life in general, which is going to be a very strong draw to anyone starting up a business that is not dependent on location.
Balancing that out, we do have pretty high taxes.
But I would (and did) start a business here that I could have run from anywhere I had net access.
Posted by: David Hobby | August 25, 2009 10:17 AM
I think the raw ingredients are here for software businesses to succeed, but it is difficult to find developers willing to work primarily for equity or operate in a bootstrap environment. I agree with Gordon that we are definitely a bootstrap down. So we need to get some more successes in town that point the way, set an example, etc.
Posted by: Mike Subelsky | August 25, 2009 2:57 PM