Conversation with Foursquare co-founder highlights HVEDC conference
More than 200 leaders in the Hudson Valley business and tech communities came together at SUNY New Paltz on June 23 for the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) Thought Leaders Master Series event, “Disrupted: The Future of the Hudson Valley Economy.”
The conference focused on the trends and technologies that are redefining how business gets done in the Hudson Valley and all around the world.
“HVEDC is pleased to continue to see the tremendous interest from our community in these events, which provide very valuable tools,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “People are now equipped with knowledge where they can read the local economy and react in appropriate ways to grow their own enterprises, which is great news for everyone in the Hudson Valley.”
It kicked off with a discussion and Q&A with Dennis Crowley, co-founder of Foursquare and founder of Kingston Stockade FC. As an early entrant to the world of web-based start-ups, Crowley shared unique insights into how disruptive technologies are born, and how they can transform to fill a need for their customers and for societies writ large.
“The general rule with a lot of this stuff is just build something that you like, you build something that your friends like, and there’s a pretty good chance that their friends will also like it and maybe their friends too, and that’s how this stuff grows and grows organically,” said Crowley.
Crowley also announced that Foursquare is looking into opening a Hudson Valley office, which would be a significant boost to the growing tech community north of New York City.
The event also featured the Disruptors Panel, a group of regional tech and gig-economy experts that included alumna Melanie Axelrod ’16 (Graphic Design). Axelrod used the opportunity to discuss her work as a freelance graphic designer where she combines her education in graphic design and engineering to find innovative solutions for her various clients.
Other panelists included: Garnet Heraman, founder of Anvil Venture Partners and co-founder of Karina Dresses; Kale Kaposhilin, co-founder of Hudson Valley Tech Meetup and co-founder of Evolving Media and Moonfarmer; and Johnny LeHane, co-founder of CLUBWAKA and Managing Partner of Hudson Valley Startup Fund.
“If we want to make a successful tech economy here in the Hudson Valley, we have to really embrace the essence of the Hudson Valley and the DNA of the people who are here,” said Kaposhilin. “That has a lot to do with agriculture, community values and social justice. The people we employ care about these issues. They want to work for a company that’s creating meaning in the world; they want their efforts to have meaning.”
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, Hudson Valley EDs & MEDs, the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance, HV Play, Hudson Valley Talent and more..