CROSSING THE CACTUS

A manual for launching a startup outside the usual economic hubs.

Blivin’s business guide probes a topic that’s often ignored in the startup canon: how to launch and scale hard-technology companies in American regions without the capital, management, or dense networks of hubs like Silicon Valley and Boston. In Section 1, Blivin begins by laying out the “three key ingredients” for commercialization—great ideas, great people, and capital—and argues that good ideas are abundant everywhere, but management and funding deserts prevent them from growing. Section 2 offers a pragmatic blueprint for building an ecosystem in resource-limited environments: identifying clusters, attracting talent, raising capital, and navigating political barriers, all illustrated with ample real-life examples. Section 3 grounds these principles in case studies of success and failure, showing patterns that work (and don’t work) beyond the coasts. Blivin draws on decades of experience managing venture funds in the Southeast U.S., New Mexico, and Northwest Europe, showing how injecting early-stage capital, convening ecosystems, and targeted recruitment can catalyze lasting regional impact. He emphasizes that by securing two of the three ingredients—most accessibly, ideas and capital, though throwing in a ski trip might not hurt, either—hinterland regions can then attract experienced management. Engineering the right conditions works better than waiting for Silicon Valley–magic to migrate. Blivin’s writing is a clear, informed, and well-organized. He avoids jargon without oversimplifying, making the material accessible to economic developers, investors, and founders. The book’s regional-development focus might narrow its direct applicability for those in established hubs. But the case studies are all-around practical, offering sober takes on why companies falter and how ecosystems stall. At times, the “three ingredients” mantra can feel reductive, but it reinforces the core takeaway: commercializing a startup outside Silicon Valley is possible but requires its own playbook.

A useful addition to the entrepreneur’s bookshelf, especially for those intent on making innovation bloom in the desert.