By Nancy Dahlberg
Until about five months ago, Rob Strandberg was a bored
semi-retired tech executive living in Central Florida, and his golf game wasn’t
improving either. His three kids were off on their own and the public companies
he had been a director of had been sold. “I realized I wanted to get back into
the business of helping tech companies,” he said.
That’s why the job at the helm of the nonprofit Enterprise Development Corporation of South Floridawas appealing to this former CEO of Xytrans, PSC Inc., and DATAMAX. EDC’s mission: to dramatically improve the chance for success of science and technology start-ups in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties by offering a wide range of valuable services.
“I have learned the hard way what does and doesn’t work and I hope to provide the type of advice and assistance I wish I had received early in my career,” said Strandberg, who started as president and CEO of the EDC in May.
The Miami Herald met with Strandberg at the C. Scott Ellington Technology Business Incubator in Boca Raton, which the EDC manages, and followed up with questions by email.
Q. What are your top goals for the EDC?
A. Our primary goal is creating successful enterprises, and in doing so, create high value jobs. To do this, we are quickly expanding the services we offer and, most importantly, the quality of these services — whether it is providing advice from strong, experienced mentors to providing broader access to business services such as legal, financial/accounting, marketing/sales, go-to-market strategies and, most importantly, provide actual assistance in fund-raising.
Q. More broadly, why does South Florida need an EDC?
A. My first answer is an easy one: In this current economic climate, any successful efforts by the EDC are more important than ever. A consequence of this prolonged recession is that there has been a creation of a whole wave of experienced technology entrepreneurs. And this avalanche of talent thankfully has occurred more or less simultaneously with the emergence of numerous exciting technologies that promise to change our lives in many extraordinary ways. The endless opportunities created by social media, mobile/wireless technologies, accelerating medical breakthroughs, big data apps, cloud computing, web enabled commerce, etc., etc., etc, is occurring exactly when our economy could really use the economic jolt from start-ups — This is why EDC is needed. We know we can help many, many entrepreneurs succeed and grow despite these challenging times; full stop.
Q. Are you planning another Emerging Technology Business Showcase this year?
A. Yes, and the date is Nov. 30. We have a growing list of some great start-ups, some of which are already raising significant capital. And our focus of panel discussions and speakers will be hearing from entrepreneurs who have had successful raises — what works, what doesn’t.
Q. What is the region’s biggest challenge right now in growing a thriving and sustainable tech ecosystem?
A. I would highlight three items: 1. Efficient access to quality, relevant business advisors. 2. Access to start-up and later stage capital. And 3. Having been a CEO and director of tech companies throughout the US and knowing Boston, New York and California tech communities quite well, we need to do a far better job of attracting corporations. I believe that we must attract many more corporations to South Florida by highlighting our world-class assets - quality of life, great educational institutions, international culture, easy access to the emerging economies of Latin America, etc. Corporations are unquestionably the best source of entrepreneurs — they provide engineers and key functional talent — the necessary raw materials for a tech ecosystem. Also, a large corporate community offers entrepreneurs career “safety nets”, should their start-up plans derail.