Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Quinn Robertson, a senior associate at NXTUS. NXTUS is a non-profit organization that connects mentors, capital opportunities, and customers in an effort to further entrepreneurial growth. As an entrepreneurship supporter, Quinn decided to leave his position in the corporate world and work with startup founders by helping them grow companies of significance. Throughout this episode, Quinn shares about NXTUS’s role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the startup scene in Wichita, and the state of the Heartland as a place for families and entrepreneurship to prosper.
Show Notes:
(0:59) Introduction to Quinn
(1:26) Quinn’s Background
(3:23) Wichita’s Startup Scene
(6:18) Comparing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
(14:42) NXTUS’s Role in Wichita’s Growing Ecosystem
(21:20) Weaknesses in the Regional Ecosystem
(23:50) What’s Next for NXTUS
(27:24) Cultivating Entrepreneurship in the Next Generation
(32:58) Opportunity Gaps in Northwest Arkansas
(39:54) Advice to Younger Self
(42:40) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“I think both of our ecosystems will press forward with money flowing in from the federal or state government and family or philanthropic areas as well…there’s this little cluster here in the Heartland that I think we’re going to see all grow together.” – Quinn Robertson, (7:00)
“We try to be a connector more than anything. Even if we’re not everything to everybody, we want to be one arm’s length away from everything so we can connect individuals to the right people from our own lane and let other people do the great work they’re better suited to do than we are.” – Quinn Robertson, (16:18)
“There’s a little bit of continually morphing and finding small injection points where we can add value, but also where we can stand back and be incredibly supportive of the work that’s going on.” – Quinn Robertson, (28:37)
“As I talk to entrepreneurs, I ask them, ‘What’s your level of success? What’s your happiness metric that you’re trying to go towards?’ As long as you have a clear understanding of what that is, then I think you can start to align things really well.” – Quinn Robertson, (41:39)
Entrepreneurship in the Heartland with Quinn Robertson
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Quinn Robertson, a senior associate at NXTUS. NXTUS is a non-profit organization that connects mentors, capital opportunities, and customers in an effort to further entrepreneurial growth. As an entrepreneurship supporter, Quinn decided to leave his position in the corporate world and work with startup founders by helping them grow companies of significance. Throughout this episode, Quinn shares about NXTUS’s role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the startup scene in Wichita, and the state of the Heartland as a place for families and entrepreneurship to prosper.
Similarities and Differences in the Heartland’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Northwest Arkansas is renowned for being a retail hub with an extensive supply chain presence. However, unlike NWA’s consumer-focused ecosystem, Wichita’s entrepreneurial scene is more concentrated on business-to-business style startups. And while both ecosystems deal heavily in technology, Northwest Arkansas additionally boasts a strong ecommerce background. Even though both ecosystems have their own identity markers, both are intentional about funneling capital into early-stage ventures.
“I think both of our ecosystems will press forward with money flowing in from the federal or state government and family or philanthropic areas as well…there’s this little cluster here in the Heartland that I think we’re going to see all grow together.” – Quinn Robertson, (7:00)
Similarly to how Walmart provided infrastructure for Northwest Arkansas’s entrepreneurial boom, Koch Industries was responsible for supporting the industry growth in Wichita. Moreover, both regions are prevalent in the aviation realm, and advanced mobility is a shared interest. Although Wichita’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is still relatively young compared to NWA’s, its competitive cost of living and innovative mindset makes its growing pipeline one to keep an eye on.
NXTUS’s Impact on Wichita’s Startups
When it comes to NXTUS’s role in Wichita’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, it has no intention of serving everyone. Its primary aim is to achieve the ‘next us’ by growing startups, strengthening the inventive culture, and developing support systems. NXTUS regularly partners with other entrepreneurial resources, government agencies, economic development groups, corporate innovators, and founders to positively advance the economy of the Midwest region.
“We try to be a connector more than anything. Even if we’re not everything to everybody, we want to be one arm’s length away from everything so we can connect individuals to the right people from our own lane and let other people do the great work they’re better suited to do than we are.” – Quinn Robertson, (16:18)
NXTUS believes that in order for the region’s startup community to thrive, there needs to be as many entrepreneurs as possible. Therefore, NXTUS is intentionally diverse to ensure that the face of its entrepreneurship reflects the make-up of the surrounding community. NXTUS is an inclusive organization committed to providing customized support to those who want to cultivate revolutionary ideas.
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