All Cities Send a Message: Boston support networks for entrepreneurs

I’ve just finished reading an-old-but-great-essay from the inimitable Paul Graham about the messages cities send and how that affects enterprise culture.

He makes the point that you need to live in a city and really understand it before you can fully decode its culture, but for a new girl in town like me, the most obvious sign of a thriving start up culture is a rich network of support groups. These are pretty fundamental for what they say about a city’s attitude to enterprise, as Paul explains:

‘No matter how determined you are, it’s hard not to be influenced by the people around you. It’s not so much that you do whatever a city expects of you, but that you get discouraged when no one around you cares about the same things you do.’

Boston’s support groups definitely care and I’m sure that’s part of the reason that one of the messages Boston sends is ‘welcome – let’s get stuck in.’

Here’s some of the best ‘local heroes’: if you’re an entrepreneur living in Boston, you should definitely check these guys out. They have been consistently welcoming and supportive to Business of Software and we’re very greatful:

• Greenhorn Connect. Greenhorn Connect’s mission is to help build connections within the Boston entrepreneur ecosystem through increased awareness of opportunities. The GreenhornConnect.com web portal connects Boston startups and enthusiasts with the many resources, events and jobs in the region as well as educational and informational content.The Greenhorn team is passionate about the Boston startup scene and is committed to helping build a more vibrant and integrated startup ecosystem. Their Greenhorn Connect newsletter is a vital resource to stay in the loop on all things startup-related.
• Boston Product Management Association. The mission of the Boston Product Management Association is to enhance the professional development of product management and product marketing professionals in the Greater Boston area by offering skills training, job resources, mentoring, educational seminars, and networking opportunities. They offer members opportunities to learn new and latest skills, connect with other product professionals and engage in lively discussions about the latest trends to help advance their careers.
• Venture Fizz. This is a one stop destination website , looking at everything that’s buzzing in Boston’s technology sector. Info on jobs, companies, deals and events – essentially all the news you need on Boston’s technology sector, established companies as well as start ups.

If you are local to Boston and know other great networks or media organisations that support the tech industry, let us know your favourites.