Planting the Seeds (...44)

I don't intend for this post and it's title to have a contrived, cloying tone.  I know what I'm about to write will come across that way...but it's only by accident.  To plant a seed means to do something that will develop more in the future.  That's what today was about.  Today I did this, literally, with flower seeds, bought at home depot.  And tonight I did this, but figuratively, with the biz venture. 

The flower seeds...

Step 1: open seed packets and read instructions...

Step 2: add potting soil, drop in seeds, more soil, and water, then wait... 

The biz venture...

It's amazing what interacting with the right people can do for your development!  My partners and I attended a fantastic event tonight at "Critical Mass" in the Cambridge Innovation Center, a meeting area set up to help provide space and structure for small companies.  About 50 entrepreneurs gathered tonight to meet, network, ask questions, and connect with many of the local VC companies, lawyers, and developers.  The event was sponsored by Highland Ventures as part of a program they run to provide founders with resources for their startup initiative.  We went to the event hoping to make connections with a few people who could help us take the next steps we need to make with our company. We did! We also gained a lot practice pitching our idea and answering questions about our business model.  We learned what questions we need to be able to answer and what funders will expect to see before considering a investment.  We also learned about helpful, free services, some companies offer to startups as a way of building relationships with budding businesses (notice cloying reference to my title).  It was a great experience, great practice for us, and very useful info, all in a couple hours.  It's energizing and motivating to rub shoulders with others who want to work on their own new ideas.  Lots and lots of work ahead, but the seeds of our idea are firmly planted.