When I was 13 years old, the Altair 8800 appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics. By 16, I was building enough hardware and software that I achieved the Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours of competency by age 18. By 19, I founded a company that produced tax calculation software for the Kaypro, Osborne, and new IBM PC. Every week in the Silicon Valley of the early 1980’s brought a new startup into the nascent desktop computer industry.
To me, we’re in a similar era – a perfect storm for innovation fueled by several factors. Young entrepreneurs are identifying problems to be rapidly solved by evolving technologies in an economy where existing “old school” businesses are offering few opportunities.
This morning, I lectured to an entire classroom of MIT Sloan school entrepreneurs . Today the Boston Globe published articles about the Harvard Innovation Lab and the Mayor’s efforts to connect entrepreneurial students with mentors.
Tonight I’ll introduce a Harvard Medical School entrepreneurial team at the Boston TechStars event.
This pace of innovation reminds of that time 30 years ago when Sand Hill Road was just beginning its evolution to the hotbed of venture investing it is today.
Who are these new entrepreneurs and what kind of work are they doing? Tonight I’ll be introducing Lissy Hu and Gretchen Fuller.
