The Case for Optimism - Plug and Play in BusinessWeek

For the last four months or so I've been working out of the Plug and Play Tech facility in Sunnyvale as an Executive-in-Residence. Not quite the same thing as the EIRs at venture capital firms who are typically executives of prior portfolio companies looking for their next portfolio company gig, and paid by the VC in the meantime. At Plug and Play I pay rent and get no salary - but I do get a great opportunity to develop relationships with many of the 200 or so start-ups based there, leading to potential consulting, interim or advisory roles, and perhaps the next full-time situation. Oh yes - and i have to pay Plug and Play a cut on any consulting with these companies. Costly? Yes. Worth it? Yes. Great place to be; very interesting opportunities and the chance to help companies who really need it. Good blog material too!

One thing I like about Plug and Play - it is a hotbed of optimism. Everyone here - even though struggling to raise cash and find customers in the current environment - is pursuing a vision or a dream and doing whatever they can to make it happen. You have to like the energy and drive and some of the ideas are terrific.

This week BusinessWeek has published a whole series of articles titled "The Case for Optimism" and Plug and Play is prominently featured in the segment "Keeping the Faith in Silicon Valley". Nice article with a good profile of Saeed Amidi, the founder of Plug and Play. The business is his brainchild and is primarily successful in its mission as a result of his energy, vision and networking. And its a lot of fun to be there and part of it.