When we started Tribeca Flashpoint Academy a few years ago, one of the most frequently asked questions we heard was “Why build a new digital media arts college in Chicago?” This week with all of the buzz surrounding our newly-installed Mayor and City Council and with Governor Quinn’s announcement (from our new TFA broadcast stage at the Merchandise Mart) of the launching of Start-Up Illinois, I think we have put that question permanently to rest.
If there’s a better, more exciting and more vibrant city in the country right now than Chicago, I don’t know what it would be and it’s this environment – of massive change, unlimited possibilities and big dreams – that makes the City and the entire State of Illinois such a fertile place to build and launch the new types of products, services and businesses that will determine the economic future of our state and our country. And equally important is the attitude of consistent support, cooperation, and collaboration that is the heart of the entire Midwest. In a word, “teamwork is what makes the dream work”.
From our own selfish perspective at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, it’s both exciting and challenging to think that virtually every single one of these new enterprises will be driven by the digital skills, powerful work ethic and technologies of tomorrow that are central to the new type of team-based, cross-disciplinary, hands-on training and education that we provide at TFA and that many of these new businesses will be started and eventually run by the cyber-athletes and digital marines that we create at Tribeca Flashpoint.
Entrepreneurs need many things to be successful, but nothing in my opinion (I almost said “humble opinion”, but we all know better than that) is more crucial than three things: (1) to be surrounded and supported by your peers and others going through the same very painful and very exciting process; (2) to see all around you concrete models and examples of successes built from the same simple beginnings and through the same commitment to hard work that is central to all these enterprises; and (3) to have direct and continuous access to smart mentors and other resources that are beyond valuable and frankly that no amount of money can buy. Giving back is a big part of how we all ultimately move ahead.
I know all of this to be true – not simply because I’ve been an entrepreneur all of my working life – but because I have the privilege of seeing it happen every day right in our own facilities at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy where we are lucky enough to be incubating several start-ups (including those like Tap.Me! created by some of our own recent graduates) and - let me just tell you – that the atmosphere throughout the place couldn’t be more alive and electric.
It’s happening all around us and Start-Up Illinois will be another dose of steroids which I expect to only accelerate and strengthen the tremendous organic new business growth that we have been seeing for the last several years right here in Chicago and throughout the state. It won’t all happen overnight and it won’t be easy, but we know for sure that it won’t happen at all if we don’t get started and Start-Up Illinois is a great start of which I’m excited and proud to be a small part.