CEO letter

letterfrom our CEO

Eleven years ago, a lifetime ago it seems, a group of students and faculty came together to create something incredible. They came together with the purpose of finding ways to support people beyond themselves and their immediate peers - but to set up a place for innovators to come together. Innovation and entrepreneurship are innate in the Northeastern community, and if a program like IDEA was to form anywhere, I believe it only makes sense that it could have been formed in the exact circumstances that arose in that conference room in Boston in 2008. Over the years, other organizations followed suit and developed - with visions to support more than just themselves, and exist to create opportunities for those who need only ask. A true ecosystem has evolved in the last 11 years, supporting thousands of founders and successful ventures, and educating hundreds of students who strove to support as many community members as possible. Award winning work and awardwinning ventures were coming out of Northeastern, and much of the credit could be thanks to the dozens of students and student leaders who ran these programs. This year was our ecosystem’s first true test. This was our wildfire, our flood, and our volcanic eruption. But the thing about tests though, and other tough situations - is that the world doesn’t stop spinning.

People keep moving, lives keep happening, and ideas keep coming. The 16founders you will see here are all examples of people who were tested,

and success didn’t come immediately. More than 200 Ventures have joined IDEA since last March, and every single one has faced their own wildfires and floods and everything else. Those who have been on this journey for years have hit roadblocks, and those who are new, couldn’t even find a hand-hold. This has been one of the most challenging times in modern history, but one thing I can be proud of, is that in all of the insanity and troubles, and complex issues - we found the helpers. And we found the ways to support one another and be kind and welcoming. CEO We did what a community is meant to do, and we helped. Even when - especially when - it got hard. I have considered the 11th year of IDEA, to be our year to “re-rig” the program - not to break anything down and start from scratch, and not to just leave everything the same and batten down the hatches. The one good thing about a storm, is that it can help the crew find flaws in the ship, before it brings it down. This year - we optimized, found the intention behind the program, and found what we need to do to function at our best. Even if it wasn’t to keep moving full steam ahead. I have frequently referred to IDEA as a perfect representation of the Ship of Theseus paradox. There was a famous ship sailed by the hero Theseus in a great battle, but as time went by some of the wooden parts began to rot and were replaced by new ones; then, after a century or so, every part had been replaced. The question then is whether the “restored” ship is still the same object as the original. The IDEA program is our Ship of Theseus. With 11 years, and 11 CEOs, and 11 Teams, and thousands of ventures moved through the program, and modifications made with each of those ventures in mind - there are very few things left from the initial year of the program. The only things that remain in fact are the intention and the sheer desire to support founders as they move forward - and a desire to learn and improve. The only true constant is change, and the only bit of IDEA that remained is the desire to evolve and innovate. If I can leave anything behind here, as my mark on this program is this - be good. Be good at what you do, and be good to those around you. Be intelligent, be intentional, most importantly - be kind. Whether you work with IDEA as a venture, a coach, a student, or more - I hope you have found a resource here and while the challenges are difficult, and the storms might be rough, I hope that we might weather them together. IDEA was a product of circumstance and so is everything else we do in life. Take the chance and enjoy it. Elizabeth Cavallo Altschuler-Meyer CEO of IDEA Venture Accelerator