By John Machacek, Techstars Startup Digest Fargo Curator

I surprised myself the other day when I made the realization that I have been curating our “Fargo” version of Techstars Startup Digest for 10 years now. It’s hard to believe I went from being initially hesitant about being a curator to now having produced hundreds of editions.

I was hesitant because I was worried about the time commitment and if the process and timelines were rigid. I had a call with Techstars, and they explained that much of the content style and frequency is up to each curator.

In hindsight, I now know the time commitment is minimal, especially as you get a good system down. I am so glad I had that call and decided to give curating a shot, as the digest has become a valuable resource for our ecosystem. I’m not just tooting my own horn because I’m the curator, but I consistently get appreciation feedback on the digests. Here are a couple of examples of positive comments I’ve received in some emails:

"Your curation of the digest helps keep the whole Fargo ecosystem connected and informed about meetups, opportunities, and others building ambitious companies. And you back it up by being ever-present at community events and by making valuable connections each and every day."

- Peter Chamberlain, Founder & CEO of WalkWise (Techstars 2019)

"Thanks for taking the time to curate the Startup Digest. It’s a valuable resource for me and a must-read every edition."

- Shayden Aakson, Head of Investments & Innovation, North Dakota Department of Commerce

In addition, the act of curation has also made me a better economic developer and ecosystem builder. The process of keeping my eyes and ears open for potential content has basically trained my brain to notice and make note of various resources, and the organizations or people behind them. Upon seeing those resources or articles, I may decide to sign up for their newsletter or follow them on social media, which then enables me to continue to see more helpful content going forward. All this adds to my knowledge base, which then makes me a more valuable resource to others in our ecosystem.

Also, while our company website is full of information about entrepreneurial programs and resources, this is primarily static information. My biweekly digests complement this website information by allowing me to share other resources that are less static by nature, such as open application periods, events/webinars, and stories about area startups.

If starting up a new Startup Digest for your community or niche is of potential interest, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any ideas and feedback on my curation process.

Interested in becoming a Techstars Startup Digest curator for your local startup community? Apply now.

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