Dig Deeper: How to Find a Location for Your Business
Starting a Business in Seattle: Don't be Afraid to Reach Out to the Big Guys
By virtue of the smaller size of Seattle, it is less of a beast than places like Silicon Valley when it comes to integrating with the larger companies there.
In many ways, the Seattle start-up community functions as an artery of the companies at the heart of the city. "Companies that provide specific services to the big companies that are here, often end up doing really well and growing quickly," says Hanley.
According to Hanley, Microsoft tends to be very supportive of local start-ups' products and services. "If Microsoft can get what they need from a local company, they seem to go with that," says Hanley. "They really help support the growth of local agencies."
Best had a similar experience in working with some of the big Seattle-based retail companies to build Mercent. He says one of the things that characterizes the decision makers in Seattle that isn't necessarily true of other tech hubs in the country, is that they are willing to take bets on start ups. "REI and Nordstrom were very supportive during our early stages of developments," says Best. "We worked very closely with them as early stakeholders in the business."
Without a personal contact, it can be challenging to get the bigger companies to notice you, but it's definitely not impossible. T.A. McCann, worked for Microsoft before founding Gist, an online service that helps people keep track of all their contacts in one place. His company's software is now integrated with Microsoft Outlook. McCann's advice when it comes to working with companies like Microsoft is to first do your research. Also, focus around what value your product or service can bring to a company like Microsoft. "Be very specific about what product group you want to align with because a company like Microsoft is very structured around their product groups, and you will have more success pitching directly to the right one," says McCann.
One avenue for companies looking to work with Microsoft is to go through its preferred vendor program. The program was set up so that companies have a way to reach out to Microsoft and a forum to describe and pitch their products and services. According to Hanley, whose company recently became one of Microsoft's preferred vendors, the process is very selective, so keep in mind that the application process could be rigorous. Still, Hanley says their efforts were well worth it and the experience of partnering with Microsoft has been exciting.
Dig Deeper: The Business of Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal
Starting a Business in Seattle: Be Constantly on the Lookout for Talent
The big software and tech companies continue to bring good engineers to Seattle, but a growing startup doesn't just need engineers. "A lot of companies that are based in the Bay Area like Google, Adobe, and MySpace, have also opened up large offices in Seattle," McCann says. "As a result, there is an abundance of all kinds of talent coming to this city. We don't just get great engineers, there are also HR professionals, and sales people."
Finding the right talent for your startup is perhaps one of the most important building blocks to success, and there are many ways to take advantage of the talent pool that exists in the city. Just by virtue of Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks being anchor tenants means that there will be a constant cycle of employees coming and going with the big companies.
"What those big three do is they recruit some of the most talented people from the best schools and companies in America," says Hanley. "They are making an investment in Seattle, because these are employees that typically stay in the city." As a result, many startups don't have much trouble finding qualified employees. Every company approaches hiring differently, but Hanley's advice to entrepreneurs who are looking to hire employees directly out of a bigger company is to look to those companies that are more inherently entrepreneurial. That way, you can be more certain that the candidate is committed to working in what often is a less structured environment.
Overall, among Seattle residents, there is a high satisfaction level with the type of lifestyle and professional options that the city has to offer. "There's a lot of independent thought and creativity in Seattle, and that makes it a very exciting place to be," Best says.
Dig Deeper: How to Improve Your Hiring Practices
