Boise entrepreneurs seek to create startup hub

A team of Boise entrepreneurs is seeking to create a new hub for entrepreneurs. The new organization is looking for space in downtown Boise for meetings and information gatherings.

The entity doesn’t have a formal name, though it’s called Actuate Boise on paperwork filed for nonprofit status, according to executive director Raino Zoller. He said the organization won’t be an incubator or accelerator program for small businesses and will try to work with existing organizations promoting small businesses, not replace their functions. He compared the nascent organization to a beehive or hub that could help would-be entrepreneurs connect with experts or others starting new companies.

“What we perceived is missing in Boise is a center of mass for creativity and innovation for startups in Boise,” said Zoller. “It’s trying to create that interaction among a like-minded community.”

Zoller is a former Hewlett-Packard and ProClarity executive who most recently was president and CEO of startup pSiFlow Technology, which developed mobile applications for testing water. Zoller recently joined the new organization, which was founded by three other Boise entrepreneurs, Jason Crawfoth, Faisal Shah and Karen Meyer.

Crawforth said the idea for the organization came after his work on local economic development efforts. The group was announced by Mayor Dave Bieter in his State of the City speech on June 13.

“I became increasingly frustrated that we were missing an opportunity in our community to grow our economy,” Crawforth said, saying that fostering entrepreneurs should help Boise. He said that the new organization is intended to create a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, which requires support from many individuals and companies, as well as local and larger governmental organizations.

“We’ve all grown businesses, but none of us have grown an ecosystem,” Crawforth said about himself, Shah and Meyer. The three so far have equally funded the organization, which he said could also earn money through grants, memberships and donations. Crawforth founded TreeTop Technologies as well as the Pie Hole restaurant. Shah founded MarkMonitor, First to File and AppDetex. Meyer was an executive at SafeView.

Similar support organizations exist elsewhere in the country. Zoller said the organization would be similar to a nonprofit in Chicago called 1871 that helps digital startups, and to the Brandery in Cincinnati, which is a seed stage startup accelerator. Crawforth said the goal is to create an ecosystem similar to those in Austin, Texas or Boulder, Colo., though with a unique Boise style that other areas will see as a thought leader.

“We won’t be a Silicon Valley or Silicon Forest, but we should be as highly thought of as Boulder, Colorado or Austin, Texas,” Crawforth said.

Boise already has several incubator locations that provide office space and support for startups as well as organizations that offer assistance to new companies, especially those with a technology focus. Rick Ritter, CEO of Idaho TechConnect, a statewide organization supporting tech communities that has its Boise offices at the Watercooler, an incubator in Boise, said there is room for more.

“I see it as further filling out the ecosystem,” Ritter said. “It’s clear to me that we still don’t have enough to take care of all the early stage ideas.”

The organization is looking for office space in downtown Boise. Crawforth said being downtown is important so that the entity is part of the Boise community.  Zoller said the space needs to have enough room for a meeting of 50 to 100 people. Crawforth said the space could host events like Hackfort, which was part of the Treefort Music Festival, or regular gatherings where lawyers, accountants or other professionals can offer advice to new startups.

“If you’re a first-time entrepreneur and you haven’t been part of building a team, there are a lot of landmines you want to avoid,” Zoller said.

The goal is to open the new space and new organization in January, Zoller said, though that depends on the search for a downtown space.