About the author: Erica Wassinger is principal of erw public relations, a boutique firm based in Omaha. She works with a handful of e-commerce startups and venture capitalists. She is also a mentor for Straight Shot, Omaha’s first tech accelerator program.

Nick Bowden speaks July 31 at the Straight Shot Mentor Dinner, a private event part of the tech accelerator.

Setting up shop in Omaha (or Midwest for that matter) has been the one decision questioned regularly by many of our coastal counterparts. But the many startups that have successfully built, launched and attracted major investment dollars right here in the Midwest know that no matter the location, if you’re the best—relentlessly the best—success will follow.

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Nick Bowden, founder of MindMixer, joined more than 40 Straight Shot mentors and issued a challenge: make Omaha even more attractive to and conducive for startups.

His challenges were poignant yet simple.

1. Success doesn’t give a sh–t about what road you take to get to their doorstep. 
When you are the best, it doesn’t matter if you’re from San Francisco, New York or Omaha. Investors, partners and customers flock to compelling ideas, people and brands—regardless of their office address. As a community, let’s put more effort on becoming the best in our class. Success will follow.
2. Formal entities need to play their part in creating an environment that allows companies to focus on being successful. 
Organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, the City Council and the like, need to proactively deal with the factors that make it easier, and more fruitful to do business in our region. The support and engagement of formal entities will propel the startup community, which has proven to have a ripple effect on the region as a whole. (Read how Washington DC’s formal entities, stalwart companies and budding startups are collaborating.)
3. Talent development isn’t a “me” problem; it’s a “we” problem. 
Creating a more satisfied, fulfilled workforce is good for our community’s business. Let’s stop considering an individual’s development as a challenge only for their companies. Establishing a strong mentor network and engaging local professional development environment is critical to keeping startup talent in the Midwest.
4. Stop trying to be someone else.
 Enough said. We are Omaha. We are the Midwest. There’s a long list of reasons it is great to live and work here. So, why are we consumed with becoming the next [insert city du jour here]. Let’s own it and stop being so humbly apologetic for who we are, because we are fantastic.

Although Omaha and our region as a whole have made a great effort to attract and retain exceptional startups, there’s always more to be done. Bowden shared a hard lesson he and his team have learned since founding MindMixer is that consistent effort is a consistent challenge. That lesson rings true for our region.

Share ideas on how to improve the startup community on EngageOmaha.com, a City of Omaha and MindMixer site.