Entrepreneurship in Atlanta and Georgia

Some interesting facts about Entrepreneurship and Atlanta.

* Georgia was among the 10 states with highest entreprenurial activity in 2007: Idaho, the District of Columbia, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wyoming, Vermont, Montana, Georgia and California.

* Among the 15 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, the highest entrepreneurial activity rates were in Phoenix, Riverside-San Bernardino, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Miami.

* The age groups 35-44 and 45-54 experienced increases in entrepreneurial activity.

From the Kauffman Index Entrepreneurial Activity report.

The Inc magazine features the fastest-growing private companies in the country.

Among the Inc 500 Georgia ranks as the third state with 31 companies, after California (78) and Texas (43).

It is good to be in Atlanta.  

January Meeting Moved to Sat Jan 17th, 2009

The January meeting of the Entrepreneurs Lounge was moved to Saturday January 17th.

Remember to keep working on your goals, post an entry in this blog, and start developing your Gang of 5 groups.

See you Saturday Jan 17th.

-AG

Why Joining a Networking Group in Entrepreneurship

Many people probably don't need convincing why they need to be part of a networking group, yet many of us don't exercise what we know or even what we preach and become part of one. This blog and the 7515 Entrepreneurs Lounge networking group is all about making that good advise a reality - Becoming part of a networking group to grow in the exciting world of Entrepreneurship. So, why joining a networking group in Entrepreneurship? Let me give you a few reasons based on the little experience I've had as an aspiring Entrepreneur.

• Collaboration: In the past few weeks I have been exploring many different ideas for creating a new venture; I have tried doing it alone, with some friends, with family, etc. but whether you do it alone (hopefully not) or with a few more people, you still need a great deal of help and support from other like-minded people to run your ideas by, to get ideas from, or to collaborate. I have spent many hours doing research, that would only take a few minutes or 1-2 hours to discuss with someone that has the expertise I lack and that is willing to share the information with me. Most of the times they will give me an answer that is better than my half-baked research. Now, multiply that the number of different disciplines you will need when developing your venture, and this is a huge time saver. Think that you will be doing the same for them, so everybody wins here.
  


• Expand your reach:  Who doesn't have an account in linkedin or facebook, or any other social networking sites.  Have you noticed the number of second and third level contacts you have?  It takes you to hundreds or thousands.  Well, that tells you a lot about the power of virtual networking; but why not becoming part of a 'real', or in-person network that gives you similar potential (perhaps not at the same scale) but definitely more tangible and effective.  If you are looking to learn or to do a new venture, what can be better than a group that can give you immediate access to dozens of real contacts that can do something for you; again, chances are you can do something for them anyway.
  
  
• A good use of your time:  I have heard from some of my classmates that among the many changes graduation will bring to their lives, is the fact that they will have a lot of free time that was occupied by school work and classes. Why not spending the time in a constructive activity with the same level of intellectual challenge.  Spend the time identifying and idea for a venture and building on it; then join a networking group to make your endeavour more effective and successful. If you don't have an idea, join the networking group so you can develop one with the help of other aspiring entrepreneurs. 

In actuallity there are many reasons why you can benefit from a networking group like this; all you need to do is join one and discover them for yourself.

You can post comments about your expectations, what you like or not, ideas to improve the group or this site.  Anything (appropriate) goes.

In the Beginning

The 7515 Entrepreneurs Lounge is a simple idea generated from the '7515 Management - Entrepreneurship' class in the Evening MBA program in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.  Its main purpose is to serve as a medium to support a network of people interested in Entrepreneurship at any level, from those of us who want to become Entrepreneurs, to those who are experienced Entrepreneurs and are kind enough to share their vast experience, knowledge, and time with us, the aspiring ones.

If you are reading this entry, chances are you are in my Entrepreneurship class in which case I am inviting you to join and contribute your talents to this network, to continue learning, and why not to be serious about entrepreneurship.

There is a lot to gain, and little to lose. I believe there is a great chance that your talents can be matched with someone else's to be able to create something.

If you find this posting because someone passed it on to you, or simply found it on the web, chances are you are interested in this topic anyway.  You are also welcome to join us; there is much to be learned and shared.

I hope to hear from many of you.  We will be meeting regularly in a place to be determined in the Atlanta metro area.  If you can't make it, just keep in touch and contribute through this blog.