Local software / tech pioneer and serial entrepreneur Dan Grigsby makes a compelling case about the depth and value of Minnesota’s contribution to the software industry. According to Dan, Minnesota has a quietly innovative and expert software development work force – with major players opening development offices here like Microsoft, Oracle, etc. Dan states that Minnesotans can get the work done for about half of what it costs on the coasts (I don’t know if it’s half, but I’d agree that there is probably a steep discount).

With the weaker dollar (and even without) does it make sense for coastal businesses to outsource software development to the Midwest? Is Minnesota ready to capitalize on this movement? Are we ready to support and assist software entrepreneurs and truly foster the software industry in MN?

No, we’re not. I have not been impressed with local associations or any state agency sponsored effort to promote our software industry.

If you look closely at where future innovation and good jobs will be had in the 21st century – you’ve got to bet on the Internet and software. Yet Minnesota does not have an organization dedicated soley to moving software ahead. This has got to change.

The MHTA (MN High Tech Association) is the closest thing and it is the result of the merger of 4 organizations – the following is taken from their web site, “The Association adopted its current name in 1998 with the merger of the Minnesota High Technology Council (MHTC) and the Minnesota Software Association (MSA). Other affiliated entities have also merged, including the Minnesota Internet Services Trade Association (MISTA), and the Upper Midwest Java Council (UMJC) to create what is today known as the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA)”.

I think MHTA charter is too broad to be effective. Software is just too important right now to be lumped in with other engineering disciplines.

On a side note – compare the MHTA with Life Science Alley – Minnesota’s bio-tech organization, just a brief glance at each web site speaks volumes – both tech – one broad, one focused.

Momentum is building for an organization dedicated to promoting MN as a potential hotbed for software. The Twin Cities have active user groups and a burbling grass roots / semi-loose organization assembled around the Minnebar and Minnedemo events (if I’m missing things here please comment and set me straight).

Boys and girls – I hate to say this, but it might be time to organize. Dan fired the first shot. Let’s help him spread the word.

Tags: Development, Minneapolis, Offshoring, Organize

This entry was posted on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 5:23 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.