This regional pitch contest searches out promising, but very early stage startups that are not quite ready to get before investors, and in some cases even customers.
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.