Introduction

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Wednesday, July 10 the Civic Tech Scholars had the opportunity to meet with Charlest Woodin to discuss the development of his career regarding startups in Detroit and San Antonio, getting the ultimate story on what led him to Geekdom. Having moved back and forth from Michigan to South Texas growing up, Woodin was frequently exposed to cities facing challenges in their progressions and trying to rebrand themselves along the way. He spent years in the military, followed by years at Apple, and eventually was brought to the inspiring local startup hub Geekdom.

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Background on the Expert

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Woodin grew up outside of Detroit, moving to South Texas then back to Michigan in Flint. He witnessed the identity and economic crisis of Michigan after its leading industries started to diminish. He eventually joined the airforce and became a Korean linguist and was deployed to the Middle East. The experience of being a linguist gave him a new understanding of cultural sensitivity. Later, he became a military instructor in San Antonio. After his military career, he wanted to go back to school and study engineering so he went to UTSA. His studies led to a job at Apple, where they seemed to have faith in him so he was promoted to work in consulting. Woodin says he loved Apple, and probably wouldn’t have left after just a few years unless he was reached out to by someone working at the newly formed Geekdom. The message at Geekdom automatically resonated with him because it made him remember watching Detroit's downfall, and so he wanted to prevent San Antonio from the same fate. Geekdom appealed to him by outlining three issues they planned to solve: No downtown that people actually spent time in/no urban core, no location for startups, and no developers to help the new era of companies. So, Woodin joined Geekdom, and has been working there since, helping startups uplift San Antonio.

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Key Insights and Takeaways

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As a part of the Students + Startups 2024 Intern Cohort, we all have had access to Geekdom all summer. We have had meetings and panels there, and also used it as a collaborative workspace to go to on our remote days. So, considering we are familiar with Geekdom, we asked Woodin about the resources that make Geekdom special. Geekdom offers more than a physical space and physical resources, it provides startups with a network of established bigger companies, as well as a network with each other. It provides a space for innovators to collaborate.

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Woodin, being someone with an interesting background in linguistics and military service, made us wonder how his experiences have informed his current roles and work. He said that his most important takeaway from his previous experiences is that cultural sensitivity is important. In order to help people, you need to be able to understand them and walk into every situation knowing that context and culture are important. Especially when working in innovating a city, it is important that you have a strong understanding of the city.

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Like our previous mentor sessions and panels, Woodin highlighted the importance of retention, but had a different perspective on it than others. He emphasized that having a city with physical hubs of innovation and collaboration is essential to retention. However, even though retention is important, the expansion of San Antonio companies to places beyond San Antonio is still beneficial because the ties to San Antonio will always exist.

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With a robust academic background in linguistics and a deep understanding of startup culture, Woodin identified a critical reason consumers often feel disconnected from the tech and startup world: the vocabulary barrier. This terminology, frequently filled with jargon and industry-specific language, can be alienating to those outside the sector. Recognizing this, Woodin advocates for a more inclusive approach, striving to dismantle these linguistic barriers. His strategy involves presenting his company as approachable and relatable, consciously avoiding the label of “tech” to foster a more accessible and engaging consumer experience. By doing so, he aims to bridge the gap between technology and the everyday user, promoting a broader understanding and appreciation of innovation.

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Conclusion

Thanks to Charles Woodin, we have gained a deeper understanding of the complexities and opportunities within the startup ecosystems of Detroit and San Antonio. His experiences and insights offer valuable lessons on cultural sensitivity, the importance of innovation hubs, and the power of inclusive communication. If you are interested in collaborating or participating in further developing this research with us, sign up below to learn more about how you can contribute and benefit from this ongoing research.

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