success of software entrepreneurs in pittsburgh
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Success of Software Entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh. Joe Tomlin Kanika Dua Andreas Rindler Rajiv Saxena Colleen Li Ting Shih Mindy Columbus Chris Lin. Agenda. Profile of an Entrepreneur Catalysts for Success Impediments/encouragements to entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh Growth Path - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Success of Software Success of Software Entrepreneurs in Entrepreneurs in
PittsburghPittsburgh
Joe TomlinKanika DuaAndreas RindlerRajiv SaxenaColleen LiTing ShihMindy ColumbusChris Lin
AgendaAgenda
• Profile of an EntrepreneurProfile of an Entrepreneur• Catalysts for SuccessCatalysts for Success• Impediments/encouragements to Impediments/encouragements to
entrepreneurship in Pittsburghentrepreneurship in Pittsburgh• Growth PathGrowth Path• Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
Pittsburgh EntrepreneursPittsburgh Entrepreneurs
Scott Cravencs|enlign
Evan IndianerIndianer Computer Corp.
Henry ThorneAethon, Inc.
Thomas EmersonDonald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship
What makes an What makes an entrepreneur?entrepreneur?
• Live and breathe workLive and breathe work
• Willingness to embrace riskWillingness to embrace risk
• Constant Change/ImprovementConstant Change/Improvement
• Burning desire to excelBurning desire to excel
• Courage, persistenceCourage, persistence
• Common sense business decisionsCommon sense business decisions
Scott Craven
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What were the catalysts for What were the catalysts for success?success?
• Real customers, real needsReal customers, real needs
• Be the first to do itBe the first to do it
• Universal solutionUniversal solution
• Business TeamBusiness Team
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Evan Indianer
Impediments to business in PittsburghImpediments to business in Pittsburgh
• Parochial AtmosphereParochial Atmosphere
• Unfavorable tax structureUnfavorable tax structure
• Retaining talentRetaining talent
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Evan Indianer
Encouragements for business in Encouragements for business in PittsburghPittsburgh
• Parochial Atmosphere Parochial Atmosphere (yes, it’s both!)(yes, it’s both!)
• Unique initiativesUnique initiatives
• Abundance of talent and technical Abundance of talent and technical expertiseexpertise
GrowthGrowth
• NetworkingNetworking• Word of mouthWord of mouth• Good support structureGood support structure• Attention to profit & lossAttention to profit & loss
““If you’re not growing, you’re dying” – If you’re not growing, you’re dying” – Evan Evan Indianer Indianer
Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
• Not everyone is an entrepreneurNot everyone is an entrepreneur
• Manage variability and achieve cost-savings by Manage variability and achieve cost-savings by contractingcontracting
• Technology is a tool, focus on the customerTechnology is a tool, focus on the customer
• Listen to your environmentListen to your environment
Don’t think that if you have a great idea, you are Don’t think that if you have a great idea, you are entitled to have a great business” – Henry Thorneentitled to have a great business” – Henry Thorne
Q & AQ & A