The Watercooler Episode 17: Welcome To The Weekend — I Miss Having Pizza and Beer With You
“Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance forever and a day
We’d live the life we choose
We’d fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days…”
It’s true and I happen to believe there’s nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia, whimsical sentimentality, whatever you’d like to refer to that feeling of: “Oh man…remember when..”.
Usually when it’s a phrase such as that I think of our founder community — one big moral compass. The community’s forever-early-founder in spirit style means many will be successful, most definitely memorable, and our community culture’s approach to this life we lead in startup land has always been one of unfiltered goodness and curiosity.
Additionally, I tend to think of our ecosystem on the macro level (ooh that got fancy quite quickly, sorry about that). The big picture of Boston’s startup community is that:
- It’s certainly true that a great many of us are talented, intelligent, industrious, energetic, and passionate about who we are, what we’re doing, etc
- It’s also true however that just as many of us have core values and virtues which have attracted the attention of global entrepreneurship as a whole. Our emphasis on collaboration, connection and relationship-building differentiates us and sets us apart from all the other hubs in a unique and admirable fashion.
Whenever there was a pizza and beer at an event, one could always tell who was who, who was new, and who was about to start smiling at the same thing I’d be seeing.
Our community builders were the ones opening the boxes, arranging the dining accessories, and ensuring that everyone got a slice and a drink
Our regulars were the ones happily chatting and waiting their turn.
The new ones were the hungry ones…only soon to discover that, as worried as they might be that they wouldn’t get to enjoy this tasty meal — a community member, whether a VC or a pre-seed founder would look at them and say:
“Hey? Didn’t you get anything? No? Here! Let me help you!”
I was a new one, once. Many of you were those community members who gave me a slice, cut me some slack, and took a chance on me. That is why my Why is to be your Dot Connector.
All About Elisa: Why Chloe Capital’s Managing Partner is a True-Blue Community Investor
The value of strong, capable leadership is never more apparent than during a crisis such as the one the world is currently going through. Leaders don’t just spring up, however. They’re developed over a long period of time. -Elisa Miller-Out, Managing Partner of Chloe Capital
Degrees of investment vary across levels and definitions, much like connections in and of themselves. Ranging from light to layered, what always impresses me about certain individuals like Elisa Miller-Out is their supportive capabilities. Their proof of work in terms of possessing this treasure of a character trait is clearly demonstrable:
Shoutout to Simple Startup by the way, whose course is emblematic of genuine intentions during these challenging times.
Elisa also brought my attention to Sarah Tuneberg, an individual who, as described in the article, was just plucked from her role as co-founder and CEO of Geospiza to direct Colorado’s Innovation Response Team (IRT) and immediately address the pandemic. In her interview with Tuneberg, the following takeaways were most appreciable.
Sarah’s team is focusing on four key areas:
- Ramping up local capacity to produce critical supplies like personal protective equipment
- Deploying a mass, community-based testing strategy
- Providing support such as food, internet, health care, and education to citizens of Colorado to enable them to stay at home
- Developing mobile and other technologies to help track the spread of the virus and support infected citizens.
Sarah, who was recently named a Cartier Women’s Initiative Fellow, is drawing upon her experience as a startup founder to inform her work on coronavirus response.
“Building a startup is an experience of comfort in the unknown and being able to execute quickly with little information,” says Sarah. “At the moment, I have to make quick decisions with only the information I have at the moment.”
Elisa’s dot connecting doesn’t end there however. Examples are numerous. The evidence for thought leader, community builder and, in her own words, “people keeper” is in her favour.
Level Up For Good’s Latest Episode Asks A Question: Stay Afloat Or Reach For More? Deep Dive with Quill Foundation’s Renee Wilk
Brightly smiling, Hollarhype Founder and community treasure Emily Zaccardi declared: “Ahh! There we go, we’re live!” and I couldn’t help but smile as well. For those of us who know Em personally, that smile is like a lightswitch in a dark room: It doesn’t matter what’s going on, what we might be feeling, those of us who have her in our support network simply can’t help but be encouraged by that attitude.
Supported by Introvoke, The Level Up series is an entertaining initiative with a purpose. How does this community stay dedicated, motivated, and most of all really “OK” with all that happening? Just like when she does it in real life with the people she cares about, Emily has made it her mission to ensure as much.
In the latest episode, The Quell Foundations’ Executive Director Renee Wilks shares her insights. As I’m quite interested in and committed to advancing authentic mental health knowledge and support within our community…I’ve watched and rewatched this. It’s worth a viewing — take it from your friendly neighborhood Dot Connector.
Victoria Gonzales Canalle: Spirit, Sense and Service
There’s a pattern emerging in this edition of The Watercooler my friends. Here we have yet another example of someone who is:
- In business with a purpose
- Cognizant of what’s going on in the world
- Doing the best one can when it comes to doing good in order to do well
Marmelaad. It’s not just really fun to say. It is genuine impact — not the word impact with a hashtag in front of it and nothing else.
In her own words:
Sweet — now let’s spread the word.
Fan Favourite Sal Daher’s Latest Podcasts: Most Definitely Worth A Listen
I’ll keep it short, sweet and simple…and if Sal’s anything like my dad Sal he’d probably appreciate that.
- Jinesh Patel of UpTimeHealth and Susan Conover from LuminDX, previous guests on the Angel Invest series,, are joined by Oghuzhan Oyar, founder of Metrobi. How are they handling COVID-19’s effects on their startups? Have a listen.
Sal’s take is worth an insert.
Listen to this lighthearted but informative interview. It was inspired, in part, by an excellent meal shared by the interlocutors the night before which included an outstanding paella (see photo) and some delightful wines. We talked healthcare, pivots, angel investing homeruns and flops and many other matters.
Keep an ear out for additional episodes. You’d have to be Majnun not to.
Recaps and What’s Coming Up Next: Currently Under Brainstorms
If this were a weekday Watercooler, I’d be giving you the dish on what’s coming up and by who and where and etc (these days it’s either Zoom or…one of those other ones, but probably Zoom). Instead I am posing a question:
Much as I used to, I’d really like to provide recaps to the community — however, bandwidth is limited, so here’s my ask:
Send me your recaps, your thoughts on events you’ve attended which you’d like to have mentioned. Let’s make this a community engagement effort of sorts.
I must then decide whether to pair this before or after the “What’s Coming UP Next” segment. Here’s where you can also help! Let me know what you think.
The dots connect best when we build consensus around the process.
Have a great weekend! I’ll just be over here, chilling out to this awesomeness:
