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Thx for asking the Q @AaronBirkby on current state of the Queensland ecosystem. Been a recipient, leader, and researcher for a PhD, do not feel an expert but more of an informed opinion.
It's evolving and a long game. /1 https://twitter.com/AaronBirkby/status/1351979784759242753
It's evolving and a long game. /1 https://twitter.com/AaronBirkby/status/1351979784759242753
The Qld ecosystem was founder-led early on 2012, stronger Government role from 2016 post federal program. An explosion of hubs and programs created system growth, new actors, and dependencies. /2
Over four years, the Qld ecosystem added over 68 hubs and spaces, 6 hackerspaces, 45 accelerators, and 7 investment vehicles. Ideas. Boom. These new businesses were learning while helping new businesses learn. It was exciting, messy, and noisy, with good and bad actors. /3
Also to acknowledge that Qld is the most geographically distributed state, with 50% of businesses, population, and GRP located outside greater BNE. Compared to ~30/70 for other large states. So ecosystem infrastructure investment needed to spread. /4
Ecosystem leadership is facilitative, supportive, entrepreneur at centre. Best way to get this is 'recycled' entrepreneurs giving back. Lacking those, rely on proxies of Uni, Gov, Corporate, other philanthropy/foundations. Each has culture conflicts with the ecosystem. /5
With government support and volunteer leaders, appetite and energy for both can wane. Burnout was prominent. Government can also create 'permission-based entrepreneurship'. And you need to ask who is not participating or stepping up based on government involvement. /6
Early days was a 'movement'. Exciting to be a part of but also inherent 'in' and 'out' crowd with risk of elites. Exclusive language and uniform. Funds dedicated to new entrants requiring existing roles to act the part or miss out. /7
Programs added but exposed work needing to be done at the 'ecosystem' level to build community cohesion. Result was a land grab and money spent on outcomes without building community capacity to deliver those outcomes. /8
Also acknowledge growth and natural attrition. Leaders moved from running programs or spaces to scaling their businesses, working on policy, embedded in Uni, deeper research, depending on interests or life impacts. Can wane without central support or succession planning. /9
Easy to say it is not like it was, but like a 'mining boom' or company growth, it was a period of initial capital expansion. Some things we should leave behind, some keep, others new. The leadership and culture that got us here will not be the same for the next stage. /10
And re: comparisons to other ecosystems, Australia is unique in high fear of failure, strong belief in capability, and world-leading intrapraneurship. We can apply lessons from other ecosystems, but needs to acknowledge and work with the local context. https://research.qut.edu.au/ace/gem-australia-regions-aps/
Top of mind thoughts on what's next?
- State and national leadership bodies
- Government supports but does not control
- Centralised support for data
- Collaborative bodies established at community level
- Local bodies globally leveraged, locally adapted and owned /11
- State and national leadership bodies
- Government supports but does not control
- Centralised support for data
- Collaborative bodies established at community level
- Local bodies globally leveraged, locally adapted and owned /11
The ecosystem is built on personal relationships and networks but needs to be sustained by structural support aligned with the necessary culture.
I am working on part of it. There are amazing leaders doing great work. Good to be a part of the conversation. /12
I am working on part of it. There are amazing leaders doing great work. Good to be a part of the conversation. /12
PS. 99% of ecosystem efforts are done with good intent. It is tempting to critique in retrospect with current awareness. We were collectively doing the best with what we had in an emerging field. Not to gloss over learning opportunities, but there is a lot of grace for all. /13
