Can You Create a Capital Ecosystem to Drive Growth and Returns?

We are proud to announce the first ever U.S. reverse trade mission for building capital "Rainforest" ecosystems! Open to all international LPs and government investors. Silicon Valley, September 15-18, 2013.

• Learn the true lessons of the Silicon Valley capital experience.
• Join the first certified trade & policy mission of its kind.
• Gain skills to create your own capital ecosystem in a hands-on workshop.

http://innovationrainforest.com/2013/05/15/can-you-create-a-capital-ecosystem-to-drive-growth-and-returns/

Innovation Leadership: The Revolution Starts With Words

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer -  Where will we find the next generation of innovation leaders, those willing and able to believe in themselves, take risks, and persevere?  Well, one place to look might just be in our university and college first-semester writing classes.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/05/06/innovation-leadership-the-revolution-starts-with-words/

We are hiring!

Job Description

T2 Venture Capital seeks a Program Associate to design, organize, and implement activities for building innovation ecosystems and fostering economic growth and entrepreneurship globally.  This is an opportunity to apply your unique experience, passion, and creativity to building programs that can benefit the world. You will help develop several pioneering projects from the ground up.

You will report to the CEO, but you will also work collaboratively with colleagues throughout a broader organizational network.  You will be based in Silicon Valley, at our Portola Valley, CA office.  Your responsibilities will include the following, but they may evolve over time:

1.  Organize and coordinate the Rainforest Architects program (www.rainforest-architects.com), a professional development course on designing innovation ecosystems.  The program intends to scale up to 2-3 workshops per month by the end of 2013.

• Develop, write, and send marketing emails, including our flagship newsletter
• Develop, write, and implement expanded website for Rainforest Architects
• Acquire marketing lists and marketing channel partners, for expanding the base of prospective attendees

2.  Overall operational, administrative, and content support for any other matters that may come up in the course of business, which may include, but is not limited to:

• Plan and organize company events and schedule meetings
• Coordinate meetings catered meals
• Manage and maintain all facilities related activities
• Manage the procurement process of ordering supplies and materials
• Handle general office duties and other projects as needed
• Assist with light accounting duties

3.  Support the creation of Rainforest Revolution, a virtual community of people who practice the Rainforest principles and seek to build innovation ecosystems

•  Assist the development of Website and manage conversations within the community to maximize engagement
• Continuous blogging/writing/publishing on news, ideas, tools, insights
• Social media content generation on behalf of the Company and the overall network: blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
• Publication of electronic newsletter for the community

4. Other relevant tasks:

• Support organizing the Global Innovation Summit, our upcoming conference scheduled for February 17 - 19, 2014
• Develop proposals for prospective clients
• Support, research, and general assistance in delivering projects for clients

Desired Skills and Expertise

- You have a passion for innovation, economic growth, and being in a firm that seeks to change the world.  

- You have an entrepreneurial mindset, an open mind when facing complex and unexpected situations, and are willing to “roll up the sleeves” to try creative and flexible solutions. 

- You can convert abstract ideas into detailed implementation and take leadership in dynamic situations. 

- You combine strong analytical skills with strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written).

- You have great attention to detail and time management, and you get things done!

- You are capable of designing web pages, using social media for marketing (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), writing and sending electronic newsletters, and managing mailing lists. 

- Graduate degree in related field, skill in graphic design, past experience with program development and management.

- Conferences and events planning experience required.

Additional pluses: 

Valid state driver’s license and reliable, insured transportation. 

How to apply: 

We are offering a starting compensation of $50,000 to $60,000 annual salary, with significant room to grow based on success, plus benefits and the future possibility of equity ownership.

Please submit a resume, short writing sample, any online links, and any relevant short samples of past work to info@t2vc.com.

Hwang and Horowitt’s The Rainforest

"The world dealt with in The Rainforest is innovation ecosystems of the type that we see in Silicon Valley. Why is Silicon Valley such an innovative place, and why do most attempts to create new Silicon Valleys around the world usually end in failure?"

http://www.jasoncollins.org/2013/04/hwang-and-horowitts-the-rainforest/

An Innovation Leadership Revolution Is Brewing

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer -  Here is a blinding glimpse of the obvious for you:  Innovation is all about leadership. There is today an emerging distinction between “leadership” and “innovation leadership,” a new vision of what it takes to become an innovative leader and a leader of innovation.  This new model of thinking requires a new way of preparing leaders, and a new way of thinking about leadership.  The rules are changing and it might not be stretching the point to say there is actually a leadership revolution brewing.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/04/24/an-innovation-leadership-revolution-is-brewing/

Innovation: Humpty Dumpty Asks "Who's in Charge?"

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer - If you take a daily run through all the media aggregators, newsletters, blogs and so on and read just one day’s worth of every single piece you run across relating to innovation, you’ll find something curious. The word “innovation” has become meaningless.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/04/16/innovation-humpty-dumpty-asks-whos-in-charge/

Are Startups Like Star Wars Or Star Trek?

Victor Hwang's new column in Forbes - Unless you’ve been frozen in carbonite for the last half year, you have surely heard the big news.  Three—count ‘em, three—new Star Wars movies are coming.  Kathleen Kennedy, the superstar producer, now runs Lucasfilm. J.J. Abrams, who directed Lost and the lastStar Trek film, is overseeing Episode 7. Michael Arndt, who won an Oscar for writing Little Miss Sunshine, is penning the script.  These talented people seriously rock. Yes, the Star Wars franchise is firing on all thrusters!  Middle-aged adolescents (that is, my peers) everywhere are rejoicing.  The forums are abuzz. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2013/04/10/are-startups-like-star-wars-or-star-trek/

Trust: The Bitcoin of Innovative Cultures

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer - Way back in 1941, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard were in their garage, working on what would become Hewlett-Packard.  During that time, they developed their “Twelve Rules of the Garage” to guide their work, their dreams and their daily environment.  Looking back, the rules are uncanny in how they anticipate the then-nascent Silicon Valley ethos and ecosystem, and they are worth revisiting today. To read full blog, follow the link:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/04/09/trust-the-bitcoin-of-innovative-cultures/

The Importance of Collaboration: Silicon Valley's Secret

The Silicon Valley is known for its success in innovation like no other place in the world. This is not for the lack of trying on part of other cities. What is a major driving force in Silicon Valley is its culture.  Besides the talent, technology, and capital, present in the region there are also a number of behavioral factors that turn out to be critical to creating major innovation. One of these factors is the idea that helping others is good, even if it is competitors. This act of helping those who need it is called ‘Paying it Forward’ and is a major factor that helps startups succeed.

http://www.gotoglocal.com/post/47091949902/the-importance-of-collaboration-silicon-valleys

Innovation: Time to Ditch "Model T Leadership"

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer: Ask yourself this question:  “Should I hire and nurture generalists or specialists to foster innovation in my organization?”  The  21^st century answer better be “Yes.  I hired one just yesterday!”

There is much debate about whether the generalist or the specialist is a better leader for innovative communities and organizations. Most of this debate is simply a waste of time. The problem is that we tend to frame the issue as an arbitrary, either/or question, an issue of specialists or generalists.  

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/03/31/innovation-time-to-ditch-model-t-leadership/

4 Ways You Can Innovate Better, According to Neuroscience

Part 3 (final) of a series on neuroscience and innovation from Victor W. Hwang's column in Forbes: Today, we finish our conversation with Janet Crawford, a leading authority on how neuroscience can enhance business success.  Follow these links to readpart 1 and part 2 of this interview.  In this part, she provides four practical steps you can follow to be more innovative in your own work.'

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2013/03/29/4-ways-you-can-innovate-better-according-to-neuroscience/

Part 2. Can Neuroscience Explain Innovation?

Victor Hwang, CEO and co-founder of T2 Venture Capital - We continue our conversation with Janet Crawford, a pioneer in applying neuroscience to improve business performance.  In today’s part, we discuss the interplay between human biology and innovation.  To read part 1 of this interview, click here.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2013/03/28/can-neuroscience-explain-innovation/

Part 1. What's Better for Business: Logic or Emotion? Answers From Neuroscience

Victor W. Hwang's new column in Forbes: "Humans are animals.  While we like to think we’re captains of our destiny, we’re far more driven by instinct than we know.  In many ways, we’re just glorified apes, even in business."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2013/03/27/whats-better-for-business-logic-or-feelings-answers-from-neuroscience/

Are You Ready to Go From Founder to Top Dog?

Victor Hwang, CEO and co-founder of T2VC, quoted in the WSJ: "Victor W. Hwang, managing director at T2 Venture Capital in Portola Valley, Calif., also looks for what he calls “coachablility,” or a founder’s willingness to learn new management techniques as his or her company grows. “A bad sign is when a founder’s insecurity or ego gets in the way, which means that he or she is no longer thinking clearly about the needs of the company,” explains Mr. Hwang. “That’s when people start to lose confidence in the CEOs judgment.” "  

 http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2013/03/22/are-you-ready-to-go-from-founder-to-top-dog/

Innovation: Five Keys to Educating the Next Generation of Leaders

Henry Doss, T2 Venture Capital Chief Strategy Officer: Blink  . . .  and ten years pass by.  It’s now 2023.  A brand new generation of business and institutional leaders is taking the reins.  The world has continued to shrink and is much, much smaller.  Technology has continued an unabated, unchecked progression; what is now futuristic has become commonplace.

www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2013/03/19/innovation-five-keys-to-educating-the-next-generation-of-leaders/

Build A Better Startup Ecosystem With Promiscuous Thinking

Victor Hwang, Co-founder and CEO of T2 Venture Capital: We know that innovation is driven by openness and intermingling, like a form of intellectual promiscuity. “Ideas having sex,” as author Matt Ridley says. Thriving ecosystems require promiscuous behavior, where people are open to experimentation, risk-taking, and sharing ideas.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorhwang/2013/03/20/sex-and-the-ecosystem/

Introductions in the Atlanta Startup Rainforest

The old saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know…” is becoming more true as we become a more interdependent community. This is especially true in an innovation ecosystem like Atlanta startup rainforest, the number of connections you have directly correlates to your probability of success. Johnson Cook

http://johnsoncook.com/introductions-in-the-atlanta-startup-rainforest

How to Build a Silicon Valley or 'Rainforest' (Part 2)

This is the 2nd article in a series on “How to Build a Silicon Valley or ‘Rainforest.’”  In the first article, we concluded that it’s the ‘software’ or culture not the ‘hardware’ (creative ideas, experienced talent, and abundant capital) that explains the success of Silicon Valley and Israel and is the key to the development of a thriving startup ecosystem. David Carman

http://www.builtinchicago.org/blog/how-build-silicon-valley-or-rainforest-part-2

Learn how to build your own innovation ecosystem!

 Join the Rainforest Architects, April 22-24! Check out our latest press release here:

https://www.prbuzz.com/business-entrepreneur/102008-silicon-valley-venture-firm.html

UCLe - Building the rainforest and making things happen and open positions

"UCLe's aim for the coming year is not just to improve the society, but also to build a “rainforest” (originally from here). Before getting deep into ideas and positions, we believe it is important to share what we mean by rainforest." To learn about UCLe's ideas, events, and open positions, visit:

http://ucle.co/2013/03/apply-2013/