This document summarizes the shift of Jacksonville, FL to an entrepreneurial economy over several ages: - The Golden Age (1998-2010) saw small businesses grow faster than large ones in employment, sales, and establishments. Entrepreneurship played a key role in economic growth. - In the Silver Age (2011-2013), entrepreneurs led through events like Startup Weekend and One Spark. Institutions changed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. - The Bronze Age (2014-2015) brought more connections through curators and technology. Entrepreneur density increased through rallies. - Now in the Heroic Age (2016), Jacksonville is nationally recognized for entrepreneurship. Feedback

1. 2016 Global Conference on Advances in Management
Thank you for creating an opportunity to share the story of our shift to an
entrepreneurial community in Jacksonville (FL).

2. Jacksonville
A cross sectional case series of
by Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Techniques for analysis
• Chronological explanation building
• Descriptive times-series analysis
• Logic model © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

3. Jacksonville
Elevation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem: A resource provider perspective
• Golden Age (Phenomenon)
• Silver Age (Context)
• Bronze Age (Context)
• Heroic Age (Context)
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

4. The Golden Age (1998-2010)
The shift to an entrepreneurial economy:
• Phenomenon of study: Entrepreneurship’s role in economic growth
• Establishments
• Jobs
• Sales
• Exploratory case study
• Empirical investigation related to correlates of growth
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

5. Smaller businesses grew at a higher rate
Small business employment grew
Small business sales volume grew
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: Edward Lowe Foundation and National Establishment Time Series (1998-2010)

6. The significance of the correlates of growth differ between National, State, and Regional populations.
• Conclusion: Entrepreneurial ecosystems are not transferrable.
• Conclusion: Entrepreneurship’s role in economic growth is related to localized business activity
• Ecosystem Implication: Be the best where you are and leverage local resources.
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: Edward Lowe Foundation and National Establishment Time Series (1998-2010)

7. Entrepreneurial
Economy
Stage 1 segment
increased sales by over
300%
Stage 1 segment shows
job growth of nearly 60k
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: Edward Lowe Foundation and National Establishment Time Series (1998-2015)

8. The Silver Age (2011-2013)
Entrepreneurs take the lead
• Meetups
• One Spark
• Startup Weekend
• Startup Quest
Leading infrastructure institutions change value system for small business and entrepreneurs
• Academic institutions, economic development agencies, and government entities accept the challenge of doing
something different.
• JAX Chamber creates new position: Senior Director for Entrepreneurial Growth
Entrepreneurial Eclipse takes place © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

9. Asset Mapping Exercise funded by City
of Jacksonville and JAX Chamber
Participants:
• Beaver Street Enterprise
• City of Jacksonville
• Edward Lowe Foundation
• Entrepreneurs
• Florida State College at
Jacksonville
• Jacksonville University
• Small Business Administration
• SBDC at University of North
Florida
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

10. JAX CHAMBER
COUNCILS
ONLINE EDUCATION
UNIVERSITIES &
COLLEGES
NON-PROFIT
CENTER of NEFL
CAREERSOURCE
FLORIDA
ASSET MAP
JAX SMALL BIZ HELP
JAXUSA REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIP
NON-PROFIT
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS &
HOSPITALS
JAXBIZ
GOVERNMENT
LINKS
ENTREPRENEURS
Nor theast Florida Entrepreneurial
Ecosystem
JAX CHAMBER
ONE STOP ONLINE PORTAL
INNOVATION CENTER
FLVEC
JAX CHAMBER
WORKFORCE
DEVLOPMENT
INCUBATORS &
ACCELERATORS
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurs are always at the core of every ecosystem

11. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: http://www.innovatenortheastflorida.com

12. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: http://www.innovatenortheastflorida.com

13. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurs take the lead 2012 to present

14. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013, 2014, 2015

15. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2011 to present

16. Entrepreneurs take the lead: 2012 to present

17. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present
Source: One Spark (2013)

18. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present

19. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present

20. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present

21. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present

22. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2013 to present

23. Entrepreneurs take the lead 2014 to present

24. The Bronze Age (2014-2015)
Emergence of curators and technology to connect with entrepreneurial stakeholders
Induced entrepreneurial density (Rallies)
Startup Community controlled by entrepreneurs
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

25. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: One Spark (2013-2015)

26. © 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

27. The Heroic Age (2016)
Jacksonville is a nationally recognized entrepreneurial community
Feedback loops
Implications
Recommendations
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

28. Makeup of clients served has changed
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: SBDC at UNF Client database (2011, 2015)

29. Needs for small business remain consistent
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: SBDC at UNF Client database (2011, 2015)

30. Needs of entrepreneurs change
Which 3 areas of your supply chain need the most attention?
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: JAX Chamber JAX Bridges program Cohorts (2014, 2015)

31. Intentions of entrepreneurs evolve
What are your top two unique maximizers or primary motivations for owning/growing your business?
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: JAX Chamber JAX Bridges program Cohorts (2014, 2015)

32. Access for entrepreneurs must expand
What is the size of the largest company you have done business with in the past 24 months?
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBASource: JAX Chamber JAX Bridges program Cohorts (2014, 2015)

33. Entrepreneurial
Economy:
Stage 1 segment created
nearly 18k new businesses
in last 5 years
Stage 1 segment
increased sales by 75% in
last 5 years
Stage 1 segment shows
only positive job growth:
Added 30k jobs in 5 years
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Data sources: Edward Lowe Foundation, YourEconomy Time Series, and National Establishment Time Series (1998-2010)

34. Backlog
Curator
Phase
Catalyse
Phase
Rally
Entrepreneurs
Immediate
Entrepreneurial
Needs
Backlog activities
ERP
Sprint
Cycle
Asset mapping
activities
Systemic
convergence of
curators
Small Business
Programs and
Entrepreneurial
Services & Events
Wireframe:
Ecosystem
Services
Business
Planning
Assets
Capital
Building
Assets
(F-T-MO)
Rallying
Assets
Product
Development
Assets
Customer
Development
Assets
(F-T-MO)
Government
Assets
Density
Building
Assets
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA
Entrepreneurial Ages Logic Model: Heroic Age

35. Jacksonville is an environment for entrepreneurial success
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA

36. Implications
• Northeast Florida has benefited from its shift to an
entrepreneurial community.
• At least four types of catalyst in an entrepreneurial
ecosystem: entrepreneurs, curators, resource providers,
and leading infrastructure institutions.
• The Entrepreneurial Ages Logic Model could serve as an
educational foundation for resource providers and
leading organizations seeking ecosystem development.
• Partnerships between Stage 0 & 1 companies could lead
to an increase in sales, establishments, and jobs of Stage
2 companies.
• Stage 1 businesses have had the largest impact on the
economic growth of Northeast Florida in the past five
years.
• Policies designed to promote and accelerate growth of
Stage 1 companies could lead to an increase in sales,
establishments, and jobs.
Future Research
• How many businesses have emerged as a result of solving
localized problems?
• What role does curation play in ecosystem development?
• Does industry play a significant role in growth rates of
stage 0, 1, and 2 companies?
• What impact does an economic contraction have on
growth rates at each stage of business?
What are the causes of stagnation of growth in stage 2, 3,
and 4 related to establishments, sales, and/or jobs?
• What external factors distinguish the Northeast business
community related to employment, establishments, and
sales.
• How do the economic growth patterns of Stage 1
business compare between regions?
• What is the value of entrepreneurial density?
© 2016 Carlton L. Robinson, DBA