Andrew Button - MashUp Lab

I first metAndrew Button fromMashUp Lab over the phone. He was inquiring about the national conference the organization I was working with, Community Futures Ontario, was hosting and how he could become a speaker. That was in the throes of the pandemic.

Andrew and I caught up again recently to chat about how he’s supporting entrepreneurs in rural Canada (and the US), what is missing for many rural communities and some of the opportunities they have at the start of a New Year.

After a 15-year career working in rural communities with various innovation, businesses, and economic development organizations, Andrew founded Mashup Lab in 2014.

Mashup Vision: A world where EVERY person in a rural place has the opportunity to unleash their full potential.

Identifying a gap in resources and a need for support in his community, Andrew has since launched a community of 3 co-working spaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs and independents in the south shore under the brand WorkEvolved.

Andrew is from a small rural community in Newfoundland and married a girl from a small rural community in Nova Scotia that they now call home with their two boys

Summary

Andrew Button from Mashup Lab discusses the challenges faced by rural and remote communities in Canada and the US. He highlights the importance of addressing equity and systemic barriers and shares his personal growth journey in understanding and addressing these issues. Andrew also talks about the role of co-working spaces in rural communities and the potential of social innovation and social business models. He emphasizes the need for open-mindedness, collaboration, and taking small steps to create positive change in rural communities. The conversation explores the importance of taking the first step and the potential for surprising ourselves with what we can achieve.

Takeaways

• Addressing equity and systemic barriers is crucial for supporting entrepreneurship in rural and remote communities.
• Personal growth and learning are essential for understanding and addressing these challenges.
• Co-working spaces can play a significant role in fostering entrepreneurship and collaboration in rural communities.
• Social innovation and social business models offer opportunities for solving social challenges in a sustainable and profitable way.
• Open-mindedness, collaboration, and taking small steps can lead to positive change in rural communities. Success stories often start with one person taking the first step.
• Opportunities arise when we take action without expectations.
• We can achieve more than we think in a short period of time.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mashup Lab

03:01 Challenges Faced by Rural and Remote Communities

06:33 Equity and Systemic Barriers

10:53 Personal Growth and Learning

13:41 Healing Communities through Personal Growth

16:25 Barriers and Opportunities in Rural Communities

20:21 Co-Working Spaces in Rural Communities

27:22 Understanding Social Innovation and Social Business Models

33:17 Bartering and Mutual Aid in Entrepreneurship

40:18 Progress in Rural and Remote Communities

44:25 Goals for 2024

46:06 Finding Opportunities in Your Community

48:28 Taking the First Step

49:03 Surprising Ourselves