Building communities to support your tech startup

So, I'm hoping you've seen the Social Network by now. Aside from the elegant, Oscar-winning soundtrack and the superb, Aspergers-like performance from Jesse Eisenberg, it should be valuable watching for any technologist - especially those who are thinking about going maverick and launching their own startup.

One thing that came out of the movie is that building relationships, rather than database tables or system architectures, is often the hardest part for anyone trying to get ahead in technology. This is particularly true for technologists trying to turn their ideas into commercial ventures, because they need others to help them spread the word. Relationships are everything in that situation. How can you network and ask people for an 'in' if you don't already know them? 

There are a few ways to help build a community around your startup concept. Here are five tips to help get your idea from inside your head into the business world.

Use social networking

Some social networks are now emerging that can help like-minded technology entrepreneurs to leverage each other. It is possible to create or join groups on LinkedIn that serve as sub-networks of like-minded people. 

Other networks are emerging dedicated to the startup community. Fowndr is a relatively new, invitation-only network designed to connect entrepreneurs together, enabling them to share ideas and resources with each other.

Still others include StartupSpace. And then, of course, you'll find real-world entrepreneurial events via meetup.com. You can never have too many of these networks - as long as you monitor and maintain the profiles that you register, and use them effectively.

Twitter is an obvious channel, providing you keep your startup's Twitter profile focused and on-topic. Use it to point to blog posts for your startup (you have a blog, right?) and make a point of following useful and relevant Twitter users, to get yourself noticed and build up a following of your own.

Build a demo

Ideas are cheap. Execution is everything.

Have registration conversations

In west-coast self-help language, these are conversations that not only inspire your target, but which compel them to jump on board and do something to help you. It is all-to-easy to end up grovelling for someone to help you with your idea. Don't.  Instead, establish a commonality between the both of you. Find out what it is about them that interests them in your project. Explain why you're committed to your idea, and what makes you passionate about it, because without that, you won't be able to get them involved.

Ask them for exactly what you want, even if it sounds unreasonable. You'll often be surprised at the result.

Take up shared space

I'm a freelancer. I love working in coffee shops, people watching, and soaking up the atmosphere over a latte and a laptop. However, the thing about working on your own is that it makes relationship building rather difficult. 

Look for shared working spaces - telecottages, startup hubs, call them what you will. One that I'm considering taking space at here in Vancouver is The Network Hub, but similar spaces are cropping up in various cities. The advantage of these places is that they give you a healthy collection of like-minded individuals, with skills in areas that you'll need help with. Want a designer for your logo? A copywriter for your web site, or a coder to help you get your tech startup off the ground? These places have a habit of harbouring all these folks in one spot. It's like a social network in its original, physical form, that often ends up with a night at the pub.

Give your project away

This is perhaps the hardest thing for entrepreneurs to do. After all, your project is your baby, right? Sharing ownership with others feels like giving away your secrets, and letting others benefit from your hard labour. But there is such a thing as entrepreneurial karma; give something away, and it will come back to you seven-fold. By sharing your project with others and giving them ownership, you'll receive investment in time, money, and active participation. They will be more inclined to contribute their skills, and to bring other contacts in who will help to grow your community.

Follow these basic steps and you'll find yourself further along the road to success. As an entrepreneur currently building up a community for my own project, I can attest to their value.