Columbus entrepreneur creates "startup community" blog network

In the true spirit of entrepreneurialism, Ryan Mapes started The Go BIG Network to invite entrepreneurs to connect with other startups in the business community. The network is intended to provide a central location to find resources crucial to every startup business (i.e. funding, employees, partners, etc).

GoBig arrived in the blogosphere Sept. 2004 and is promoted mainly by word of mouth. They invite visitors to request a particular resource from the site, which they then broadcast to others in the startup community who may be able to help you.

Founder Mapes says, "Many successful entrepreneurs and investors have a large rolodex of contacts that they chose to invite to benefit from the resources on Go BIG. We currently have a reach of approximately 10,000 individuals with the highest concentration located in Ohio (we're in Columbus).

They can't yet say exactly how many funding deals, jobs, etc. have been established through the site. The idea of the network is to introduce two parties who might not otherwise have met and let them do the rest. Ryan says they get a lot of feedback from "successful encounters and solid click-through rates on many of the Requests that are sent out (implying successful connection)."

The mission of this startup sounds similar to the stated purpose of several high-profile organizations headquartered in Cleveland that operate with government and community grant funds. It'll be interesting to see what a privately funded profit-making model can accomplish. Check 'em out.