When I began working at Dyn back in 2012, my out-of-state friends were shocked that I worked for a New Hampshire-based tech company. They didn’t even know that existed. My how the times have changed!
In four short years New Hampshire has developed a national reputation as a thriving tech ecosystem. This transformation is not unique to New Hampshire. It could happen in your ecosystem as well. But to achieve the success we have had we approached it in a very New Hampshire sort of way – which is to say that we rolled up our sleeves, worked together and realized the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We’ve also implemented lessons we’ve learned from working in the tech industry.
One of the old knocks on New Hampshire was its size. Our population is only 1.3 million per the 2014 census. Yet, being small and nimble allows us a certain freedom to experiment on new initiatives and double down on the things that are working while pivoting away from those that are not.
It also reminds you that you can’t get anything done alone and you must form strong strategic partnerships. We have seen that work here. As someone who works at one of the largest tech companies in New Hampshire and is also a board member of the New Hampshire High Tech Council, on the Live Free and Start advisory council and actively supports our local incubators, I have seen how well all of these organizations collaborate. That collaboration breaks down silos so we’re no longer building little tech pockets, we’re growing an interconnected ecosystem.
That efficiency of communication allows us to move quickly and actually get things done. And we have gotten things done.
Beyond gaining a positive national reputation, we are pioneering educational initiatives, like STEAM Ahead NH, and seeing a new generation of startups, like PillPack and Adored, emerge. Tech now employs over 10 percent of the workforce in New Hampshire. I see this number growing over time.
It is the result of a lot of talented people coming together and realizing they could impact their community. The success of the tech sector has led to new restaurants and entertainment venues, improving on New Hampshire’s already legendary quality of life.
I share all of this because I believe other cities could learn from our success and replicate it. To do that would be boon to the American economy and could lead to some really cool new technologies that could impact us all.
