Ben Spigel
@benspigel.bsky.social
He/him. Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College. I study entrepreneurial ecosystems, how firms grow, and why kittens are the best form of cat.
In writing up my annual review I've looked at 8 different bibliometric analyses of the entrepreneurial ecosystems liturature. Please stop writing these for the next decade. We have enough.
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
In writing up my annual review I've looked at 8 different bibliometric analyses of the entrepreneurial ecosystems liturature. Please stop writing these for the next decade. We have enough.
Reposted by Ben Spigel
The first two hours this morning
January 5, 2026 at 11:21 AM
The first two hours this morning
Reposted by Ben Spigel
My university, Queen's in Kingston, Canada, has announced its portion of the Canadian government's 'poach American scholars' program if anyone is interested.
www.queensu.ca/vpr/sites/vp...
www.queensu.ca/vpr/sites/vp...
December 19, 2025 at 11:16 PM
My university, Queen's in Kingston, Canada, has announced its portion of the Canadian government's 'poach American scholars' program if anyone is interested.
www.queensu.ca/vpr/sites/vp...
www.queensu.ca/vpr/sites/vp...
Reposted by Ben Spigel
‘Tis the season.
December 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM
‘Tis the season.
Ahh, the hype cycle.
*There must be somebody somewhere who is actually doing this every day
December 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Ahh, the hype cycle.
I recall someone (maybe Dean Dad from IHE??) saying that if a rich philanthropist really wanted to make a epoch-defining gift to higher education, they would pay for a free-to-ues ERP system for universities that actually do what universities need to do.
December 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I recall someone (maybe Dean Dad from IHE??) saying that if a rich philanthropist really wanted to make a epoch-defining gift to higher education, they would pay for a free-to-ues ERP system for universities that actually do what universities need to do.
Finally, someone doing the important research on entrepreneurial personality! Full study at link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Finally, someone doing the important research on entrepreneurial personality! Full study at link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Ben Spigel
The workshop began by tackling less fraught issues: How founders look and smell. Each attendee received a gift bag containing a comb, 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, mouth wash, a lint roller and a discount card to Wilkes Bashford, a local high-end clothing boutique.”
Tech bros head to etiquette camp as Silicon Valley levels up its style
As Silicon Valley grows in power and prominence, some insiders say it’s time for the tech industry to remake its slobby image. An etiquette camp for founders showed how.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The workshop began by tackling less fraught issues: How founders look and smell. Each attendee received a gift bag containing a comb, 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, mouth wash, a lint roller and a discount card to Wilkes Bashford, a local high-end clothing boutique.”
Love this edition of God Emperor of Dune
December 2, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Love this edition of God Emperor of Dune
I'm doing page proofs for a paper that just got accepted, and the copy editor only found 4 errors. That means I worked way to hard proof reading it. Should have just shoved it out the door earlier.
November 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I'm doing page proofs for a paper that just got accepted, and the copy editor only found 4 errors. That means I worked way to hard proof reading it. Should have just shoved it out the door earlier.
I was afraid of getting a job. So I kept on going to school till they started to pay me.
November 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I was afraid of getting a job. So I kept on going to school till they started to pay me.
Reposted by Ben Spigel
"Before I left the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board back in 2022, I created (along with Dan Iwrey and Rob Casimir) what might be the greatest municipal ethics-law-based D&D one-shot module ever conceived… or at the very least the ONLY municipal ethics-law-based D&D one-shot module ever conceived."
www.nyc.gov
November 21, 2025 at 5:09 AM
"Before I left the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board back in 2022, I created (along with Dan Iwrey and Rob Casimir) what might be the greatest municipal ethics-law-based D&D one-shot module ever conceived… or at the very least the ONLY municipal ethics-law-based D&D one-shot module ever conceived."
That's how I watched all of ER and cleaned 11,000ish job titles, employers and descriptions from a LinkedIn dataset.
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
That's how I watched all of ER and cleaned 11,000ish job titles, employers and descriptions from a LinkedIn dataset.
This is what I call couch work: find a long series on Netflix and just do some data cleaning every night without having to think about it.
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This is what I call couch work: find a long series on Netflix and just do some data cleaning every night without having to think about it.
Booo! Hope you come back soon!
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Booo! Hope you come back soon!
Is there anything posted yet about the Newton talk?
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Is there anything posted yet about the Newton talk?
Reposted by Ben Spigel
The edge we had relative to China on research was free and open inquiry—fewer resources and a surveillance state will be toxic for US science.
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The edge we had relative to China on research was free and open inquiry—fewer resources and a surveillance state will be toxic for US science.
Christaller's Central Place Theory finally getting its due! I mean, sure it was used to plan Generalplan Ost, but who keeps track of those things. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
November 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Christaller's Central Place Theory finally getting its due! I mean, sure it was used to plan Generalplan Ost, but who keeps track of those things. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
Reposted by Ben Spigel
Joyce Carol Oates sitting across a desk from Kendrick Lamar:
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
Personally, I will be trying to avoid the notice of Joyce Carol Oates and Kendrick Lamar for the rest of my natural life
I need Joyce Carol Oates to be mean to me online so I can get my life together
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Joyce Carol Oates sitting across a desk from Kendrick Lamar:
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
Reposted by Ben Spigel
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Ben Spigel
such good acoustics!
October 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
such good acoustics!
Reposted by Ben Spigel
"Tzefardea Tzedek" (Frog of Righteousness)
As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)
As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)
October 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
"Tzefardea Tzedek" (Frog of Righteousness)
As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)
As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)
One of the things I love about babson is that, frankly, the amenities aren’t amazing. That means the students are coming here for what they can learn. Not our lazy rivers to cheerleaders ratio or whatever
I'm quoted in this Wall Street Journal piece on High Point University, which has gone all-in on amenities (a $40,000-per year housing and dining plan!) to attract modest-achieving, high-income students.
How a Small North Carolina College Became a Magnet for Wealthy Students
As Trump slashes funding, schools are trying to attract the limited pool of higher-end families. High Point University is a blueprint.
www.wsj.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
One of the things I love about babson is that, frankly, the amenities aren’t amazing. That means the students are coming here for what they can learn. Not our lazy rivers to cheerleaders ratio or whatever
They have Trainspotting walking tours.
Critics say Edinburgh drug consumption room plan risks damage to tourism
Critics say Edinburgh drug consumption room plan risks damage to tourism
Plans for a £2.5 million drug consumption room in Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site city centre have provoked anger.
dlvr.it
October 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
They have Trainspotting walking tours.