News

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

2013-05-16T06:50:31Z

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

2013-05-06T19:00:33Z

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!

2013-05-01T23:43:53Z

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

2013-04-30T17:30:01Z

"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

2013-04-24T20:58:00Z

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?"

2013-04-16T21:32:00Z

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?

2013-04-10T15:28:40Z

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

2013-04-09T18:59:40Z

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

2013-04-05T03:44:00Z

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"

2013-03-31T22:51:00Z

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/