David C. Blivin: Crossing the Cactus and Growing Innovation Outside Silicon Valley

Joe Pardavila sits down with David C. Blivin, Founder and Managing Director of Cottonwood Technology Funds and author of Crossing the Cactus: A Blueprint for Tech Commercialization Success Outside Silicon Valley. With over 30 years of experience investing in hard science startups, David shares why breakthrough ideas don’t only come from Silicon Valley, and how communities across the U.S. and Europe can keep innovation, jobs, and economic growth close to home.

They discuss:

Why innovation hubs are emerging in places like New Mexico, Denver, and the Netherlands

The critical role of money, management, and public policy in keeping startups local

Lessons from the film industry and advanced manufacturing about building sustainable ecosystems

The differences between “rainforests” like Silicon Valley and the “deserts” where most ideas originate

Why investors need to rethink hard tech, manufacturing, and long-term impact

Blivin also explains how his approach flips the script from “money follows management” to “management follows money,” and why workforce development and policy incentives matter just as much as capital.

This conversation is a must-listen for founders, policymakers, and investors who want to grow innovation beyond the traditional tech hubs