Entrepreneurs cannot be grown by others; they can only grow themselves

Silicon Valley is legendary as a world center for entrepreneurship and business startups (and failures). So much so that conversations about making technological advances and money will frequently be summed up by saying “like Silicon Valley”. Attempts at cloning are underway across the world. The question remains, cloning what?

Perhaps it is the infrastructure, including transportation systems, schools and arts facilitates that attracts the startup crowd.

Perhaps it is a system which will encourage the accumulation of great wealth including an accommodating tax regime and a sympathetic patent system.

Perhaps it is the availability of professional services such as legal, accounting, investment banking and tax management

Perhaps it is the availability of capital for all stages of the enterprise.

Perhaps it is the availability of skilled people.

Perhaps it is the presence of universities that harbor excellence in research and graduates who are able to provide related talents.

Perhaps it is a covey of like-minded people all looking to create products and services and build successful businesses around them.

Perhaps it is education programs and mentors, helping to lower the inevitable barriers to success.

Perhaps it is the opportunities that are available, allowing for existing technology to be adapted to new applications.

Perhaps it is a culture that embraces the creative spirit, tolerates individuals who are not   compliant and who are disdainful of the status quo.

The conundrum remains, why are some people so creative and entrepreneurial? Research continues. Insight remains in short supply.

More likely than not an entrepreneur cannot be grown; he or she will grow themselves. What is possible is the provision of helpful circumstances to enhance the process. Prepare the potato patch and the potatoes will grow themselves.