"This is how you get the world to care about your startup," TechSTL Ex. Dir. Emily Hemingway told bizblip about the value of early stage startup pitch competitions.
Paul Riat is just this guy, trying to figure things out. A fan of Max Weber, he generally gets a kick out of the triangle between economy, society and liberty. His focus on technology startups and venture capital fits because early stage tech startups are the most dynamic and impactful elements of local economies -- improving liberty and society like a rising tide.