Influencing with Purpose: Cameron Cushman of HSC Next

We started “Influencing with Purpose” to shine a spotlight on local social media influencers who use their platforms for more than just advertising themselves. For our local business issue, who better to profile than Assistant Vice President of Innovation Ecosystems at HSC Next and podcaster extraordinaire, Cameron Cushman?

Madeworthy: You are the Assistant Vice President of Innovation Ecosystems at HSC Next. First, what is HSC Next? And what is an innovation ecosystem?

Cameron Cushman: Great question! HSC Next is the innovation arm of the University of North Texas Health Science Center. We advance solutions for a healthier community by guiding innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and others in the community to success.

Just like in biology, an ecosystem exists around the many parts… that are required to bring new innovations to market. This collaborative work… helps improve our world by enhancing the environments, cultures, and mindsets to increase the chances of success for game-changing innovation to thrive.

MW: And what does the Assistant Vice President of Innovation Ecosystems do?

CC: I consider myself an “innovation evangelist.” There is so much cool stuff happening in Fort Worth, and most of the people in our city have no awareness of it. The problems our neighbors are trying to solve through creative new products, services, and solutions are truly remarkable, and I work every day to increase that awareness and improve their chances of success.

MW: How does your podcast “Innovate Fort Worth” tie into your job at HSC Next?

CC: Bringing an innovation to market… is extremely difficult. We believe that with a broad group of people and resources working to help these innovators, we can increase their chances of success… Our podcast tells their stories at the earliest stages of their development before they get press in other publications.

MW: How and why did you become interested in entrepreneurialism?

CC: It started during my time in Washington… I saw the role that innovation… played in economic growth and job creation. I saw that policymakers didn’t understand this and that no one was advocating for these drivers of wealth creation that were solving some of the toughest problems in our society. And I was hooked.

photo credit: Jill Johnson

MW: Why do you think Fort Worth has become an entrepreneurial incubator?

CC: Fort Worth has a long history of innovation going back to our founding. We’ve created the ice cream drumstick and hydraulic fracturing and [are home to] influential companies like Radio Shack, Mucinex, and Alcon. Fort Worth’s tremendous growth over the last few decades has brought new talent and capital that have contributed in important ways. Fort Worth has a diverse population in a large metro area that is ripe for testing ideas and taking products to market successfully.

MW: You’ve been involved in the Fort Worth entrepreneur scene for a long time. How has that landscape changed?

CC: We’ve improved the understanding of the value that innovators and entrepreneurs bring to our economy. They are job creators, wealth builders, and problem solvers. Helping entrepreneurs is, at its core, economic development.

MW: What positives and negatives do you see for Fort Worth entrepreneurs?

CC: A positive is our tremendous growth and our robust universities. A negative is our lack of early-stage capital that can help get these promising ideas and research off the ground.

MW: Are there particular types of startups that seem to do better here?

CC: Everyone knows that Fort Worth is a good place to build companies in the real estate and oil and gas industries, but we also have an emerging concentration of biotech companies. In a five-year span starting in 2017, we had five biotech startup companies sell to established companies for millions of dollars…

MW: Where do you see Fort Worth entrepreneurship heading, short-term and long-term?

CC: Fort Worth is ripe for a tremendous explosion of entrepreneurial activity… as a part of the larger Texas-wide economic expansion. In the long term, I think you will see a tremendous number of new startup companies that are going to raise significant capital and make a huge impact on society.

In the short term, we have to find more ways to connect budding entrepreneurs to the capital they need to grow… Our ability to shift investment dollars from extracting resources from the ground to investing in what’s new and next will have a significant impact on our future.

Photo courtesy of HSC Next

MW: What are some of the promising innovations or ventures that you can talk about?

CC: One of our top researchers at HSC is working to release one of the world’s first blood tests for Alzheimer’s Disease. That could be on the market later this year and will be a game changer…

MW: Fort Worth has expanded rapidly in the last decade. Do you see that trend continuing?

CC: Absolutely. Austin is full. Dallas is too fancy, and Houston is, well, Houston. Economically speaking, Texas is hot. Fort Worth is hot. We’ve got lots of land to build and all the ingredients to make this the epicenter of a new entrepreneurial renaissance in the state.

MW: Is now a good time for entrepreneurs to consider entering the market with a new product, service, or software?

CC: Yes! It is cheaper and easier to start a company now than ever. If interest rates continue to decline this year, borrowing and investing will get less expensive, increasing the probability of success.

MW: How does HSC Next help Fort Worth entrepreneurs achieve their goals?

CC: Our team runs a variety of programs that can help entrepreneurs, particularly those in biotech, along their journeys. We are closely tied to Tech Fort Worth, the oldest startup incubator in the city. We run a program that helps funnel federal research dollars directly to startup companies. We also host about a dozen companies in our labs on campus… And we run lots of events to connect and educate entrepreneurs and innovators.

MW: If someone has an innovation they are working on, how do they get on your radar?

CC: Call. Email. Send me a DM. Carrier pigeon. Whatever! We want to hear about what you are working on. And we can connect you to resources for free that can save entrepreneurs lots of time, capital, and heartache. Start at HSCNext.com and go from there.

MW: What is 1 Million Cups (1MC)? How did it start and and how is it going?

CC: 1 Million Cups is a weekly educational program for entrepreneurs that started in Kansas City at the Kaufman Foundation about 10 years ago. It’s now in 100+ communities around the country. It’s a simple, friendly way for startup companies to inform their community about what they are working on and provides them a platform to get feedback from others about their business or idea. It’s based on the idea that if we can drink one million cups of coffee with our local entrepreneurs, then we can fundamentally change the trajectory of entrepreneurial-led economic development in our city.

The Fort Worth chapter of 1MCC died after COVID, but we are planning to bring it back soon. Stay tuned!

MW: What are the requirements and process for someone to get involved with 1MC?

CC: We’re looking for people with ideas and early-stage businesses who want to share what they are working on with others in the community and are seeking feedback on a problem they are facing or want to know how to maximize their chances for success. This is not for multi-level marketing folks, bankers, or franchise owners, but for those who are staring down their path as entrepreneurs. Everyone in the community is welcome to listen and pitch in. I’ve been involved in 1MC for a decade and always learn something new!

MW: Tell us about Global Entrepreneurship Week. Did you get this started in Fort Worth?

CC: Yes… The goal is to shine a light on all the great things happening in our entrepreneurial community for a full week. It is a great way for anyone to engage… It has now expanded all over North Texas. Mark your calendars for November 18-24, 2024!

And now it’s time for the Lightning Round! What are your Fort Worth favorites?

• Coffee shop – Ampersand on Bledsoe
• Breakfast/brunch place – Snooze A.M Eatery
• Hangout with friends – Taco Heads on Montgomery
• Place to relax and recharge – University Little League
• Artist or musician – Grady Spencer and the Work
• Yearly event – Global Entrepreneurship Week!
• Boutique – Morgan Mercantile
• Best bartender/cocktail – Fuzzy’s margaritas
• Hamburger joint – JD’s Hamburgers
• Barbecue – Heim BBQ
• Mexican restaurant – Uncle Julio’s