2.Ohio

We all dream.  We dream for ourselves and we dream for the greater good.  Making those dreams reality requires the coordination of many details.  For the technology community in Columbus Ohio, one of those requirements - encouragement and advice - occurred on October 10, 2008.   At 2.Ohio, the tech community heard from Reid Hoffmam, Judy Estrin, Mike Nelson and Craig Newmark.  The community received not only specific advice on how innovation occurs but how technology policy impacts innovation.   We also received ideas on how we, as a local tech community, can work towards establishing ourselves as a recognized tech city.

Judy Estrin discussed the big picture of how innovation occurs, all the pieces that are necessary for it to occur and how there is not currently a fertile environment for innovation.  Her comments spoke to the community and to individuals.  They spoke to what each entrepreneur must do to ensure success while also speaking to the issue of a region creating an environment in which tech entrepreneurs will flourish.

Dang, I was exhausted.  But it was completely worth it.  2.Ohio was a super success.  Over 200 in attendance.  Positive comments all around.  And we pulled it off completely with volunteers.  Amazing.  We, the volunteers, wanted to see Columbus hold an intellectual discussion around tech innovation and our current presidential election.  We wanted it so we made it happen.   

When I sent the thank you to the speakers - Reid Hoffman, Judy Estrin, Mike Nelson and our honored guest Craig Newmark -  I told them they had energized the local tech community.  Energized us to a) not only pay attention to tech policy but to engage in tech policy discussions and b) provided us very specific ideas on how Columbus can elevate our tech industry.  

Excitement is building around 2.Ohio, taking place tomorrow evening (Friday, October 10). 

Quotes:

Judy Estrin, author of Closing the Innovation Gap:Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy and former CTO of Cisco:

"The future of our economy and our quality of life will depend on our ability to create a culture that supports and promotes our ability to innovate. The nation faces major challenges - energy independence and climate change, national security and healthcare – each of which can provide opportunities – if we give innovation the attention it deserves," says Judy Estrin, entrepreneur and Author, Closing the Innovation Gap. "We need national leadership that has the vision, courage, and commitment to foster the right environment for innovation through wise funding, smart policy and the ability to inspire the nation and bring out the innovator in each of us.  Obama exemplifies this type of leadership."

Angela Siefer, Lumifi VP of Business Development: “Some tech jobs may be going overseas but tech innovation is very much American grown.  It can and does happen in any U.S. state and with encouragement will happen more frequently.  I love my state.  Obama's technology platform will elevate non-Silicon Valley regions like ours. There is no reason why a tremendous amount of homegrown innovation cannot happen here.  When I am asked why Hoffman and Estrin are coming to Ohio I always respond ‘Because we are a battleground state.  And because we asked."