Puts & Calls: Note to the Allegheny Conference -- Get out of the way
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But I have been observing technology communities for a while --in the Silicon Valley, where I grew up and worked; in Boston, where I lived before I moved to Pittsburgh; and in Western Pennsylvania for the last seven years. I have some strong intuitions about what happens here. My conclusions incorporate some anecdote and some speculation. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. I believe strongly that Pittsburgh needs more risk-taking. So who am I to hold back?
If I were invited to address the Allegheny Conference, then this is what I'd say:
"Good evening, ladies and gentleman, guests and visitors. It is an honor to be asked to address this group.
I have one message, and one message only: Go home. The future of Allegheny County and the Western Pennsylvania region don't depend on your involvement. The future depends on your getting out of the way.
What do I mean by that?
The economic future of this region depends on building jobs. Jobs require new businesses to supply them. And new businesses need at least four things. They need ideas, money to build companies around those ideas, people to run those companies and the ability to move those ideas into companies, where the money and talent can go to work.
Pittsburgh has no shortage of ideas. There are two world-class research universities located in Oakland, generating incredible research in computer science, engineering and the life sciences.
Pittsburgh has no shortage of money. Don't get me wrong: Our venture capital and banking resources don't match what you'll find in Menlo Park, New York, or Boston, and we could always use more, but money is not our weakest suit.
Pittsburgh falls short, though, in the other two areas.
First, Pittsburgh doesn't have a critical mass of managers. These are people who are willing to step in and carry the ball in early-stage companies, growing them until they succeed or fail or get bought out. We have what seems to be an endless number of brilliant researchers and a fair number of "serial entrepreneurs."
First Published November 6, 2005 12:00 am
