One thing TechColumbus founder Ted Ford has learned since founding the central Ohio technology advocacy organization is that you can’t plan an entrepreneurial economy.
“You can’t do a five-year plan on doing an entrepreneurial economy,” Ford told the Columbus Dispatch in a wide-ranging interview that looked back on his tenure. “We need to be willing to broadly fertilize the region and find the most interesting and compelling ideas. You have to create the conditions, provide the support and then surprises happen — and that’s a good thing.”
TechColumbus has helped develop several healthcare startups that include surgical products company Minimally Invasive Devices and MRI-compatible treadmill company EXCMR.
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Ford singled out for praise a technology transfer and commercialization program from Columbus-area health system OhioHealth.
“One of biggest surprises was how strongly OhioHealth has been embracing technology commercialization,” he said. “What we didn’t anticipate was the number of doctors and nurses who had ideas that turn into companies.”
(Read MedCity News’ profile of OhioHealth’s commercialization program here.)
Ford announced his intention to resign from TechColumbus in October. TechColumbus’ vice president for membership and marketing is acting as temporary CEO while the organization looks for a permanent chief.
