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Week 2 - Ashka Stephen

6/25/2016

6 Comments

 
"Fishes swim, birds fly, startups die."

Or at least that’s what Vijay Anand,  self-proclaimed “Startup Guy,”  thinks when it comes to startups and entrepreneurship. Although a somewhat pessimistic view of startup culture, this is (sadly?) the view that some hold about the field.

Personally, I think entreprenuership is more of a mindset rather than an actual action. Think about it. When faced with a problem, the conventional (and usually smarter) approach is to look at what people with the same problem have previously done and learn from what worked (or didn’t) for them. What’s been proven is the way to go. It’s the way to ensure you won’t mess up (or at least decrease the possibility). Although this is the safer approach, it can be a monotonous and limiting one.

​That’s where entreprenuership comes in —approaching old problems in new ways. 

Entreprenuership alone isn’t generally viewed in a negative light. The buzzword “startups” may receive some negative press (if anything) simply because some view them as turbulent, profit-driven companies which will spring up and fall into oblivion at the snap of a finger. But when it comes to social entreprenuership, the public perception of the term is far from negative (although it may be because those absent from the startup scene don’t know the difference). Two key words bring in the “social” aspect of social entreprenuership —invent and improve. In my opinion, a company can be said to use social entreprenuership when and if they use entreprenuership to help better society in the long run —helping redevelop, repurpose, or reinvent. What makes social entreprenuership important is the “giving back”mentality that underlies it. Coming to Detroit and working with a company (Corktown Economic Development Corporation) which aims to help the most historic part of the city in its redevelopment and districting efforts has given me hands-on experience as to what exactly social entreprenuership is. Its an interesting mix of startup culture with an emphasis on bettering the community.

Despite the somewhat pessimistic views of general startup culture that may persist, in rising hubs of innovation (like the Motor City and Durham itself), the emphasis on the social part of social entrepreneurship can be what makes the ultimate difference in the perception of startups in the community. Rather than being seen as unstable companies that can come and go in the blink of an eye, startups with a more social approach to entreprenuership will be seen in a more positive light by community members and the world as a whole and thus garner more support in the public eye (which can lead to other benefits like a potential general increase in investment trends).

And it’s because of this that, unlike what Vinay Anand declared, startups don’t have to die. Social entreprenuership can make the ultimate difference in what makes a startup thrive.
Picture
Picture on wall at a local Mac N Brews cafe.
6 Comments
Melissa
6/23/2016 08:39:47 am

Hi Ashka!

I like that you take into consideration the various opinions regarding start-ups and entrepreneurship and realize that it is a decision to behave in way that different and unique. I work for a large tech giant; when we need to do things differently, we often say "do it like a start-up," meaning quickly and creatively. I think there is a lot to learn from organizations that behave this way.

Reply
Ashka
7/7/2016 01:55:30 pm

Thanks for your response Melissa! I completely agree. Having parts of established companies, like product development and/or advertising, take inspiration from the creativity and versatility of startups can prove essential when it comes to the viability of an organization.

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Jack
6/24/2016 09:47:06 pm

Interesting take on the multiple different types of entrepreneurship and startups! For me, I'm still kind of learning what social entrepreneurship actually is and how these companies make an impact. Silicon valley is what comes to my mind when I hear "startup!"

Reply
Sarah G
6/25/2016 03:54:01 am

Ashka,

What an interesting topic! I like your definition of entrepreneurship although I don't know if it always has to be a new way of doing something. Perhaps an entrepreneur could see a need for a service that exists elsewhere but doesn't yet exist in their community?

Reply
Sarah G
6/25/2016 04:02:58 am

I came back to elaborate further - examples could be dry cleaners, restaurants or grocery stores. Might just be a different location in an under served market, not a new way of cleaning clothes or cooking food!

Let me know what you think!

Reply
Ashka
7/7/2016 01:59:02 pm

Hey Sarah! I agree, that's an important caveat I forgot to mention. Entrepreneurs are those bringing something new to the community specifically, not necessarily a new idea. I guess a better way to describe it would be as something that builds something from the ground up --makes something out of nothing. What do you think? Thanks for the clarification!




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