Startup Bucks cofounder Jon Mercer is stepping back from his role as president and executive director, with Det Ansinn taking over as the nonprofit's new president.
The organization, launched in 2019 to support startups in Bucks County, will conduct a search for a new executive director to run day-to-day operations.
Ansinn moved into the president's role on Oct. 1, and Mercer will remain on the board of directors with the title of president emeritus. Startup Bucks has been a catalyst for the growth of the Bucks County startup ecosystem, advising hundreds of entrepreneurs, providing them with resources and helping them secure capital. Mercer had led the organization since its inception, introducing concepts like a weekly online forum for entrepreneurs called Founder's 30 and the Bucks Built Startup Fund, which deploys capital to startups in cohorts of 10.
Ansinn, a founding board member of Startup Bucks, is the CEO of BrickSimple, a product development firm based in Doylestown that he founded in 2002. The Drexel University alum also previously served as council president of Doylestown Borough and president of the Bucks County Boroughs Association.
Mercer said he decided to hand over the reins of Startup Bucks because it was "time to let it go to the next phase with a lot of good things in the pipeline." He's now based in Philadelphia and is exploring various ventures, including consulting for startups. Mercer said the growth and impact of Startup Bucks is more than he envisioned when the organization was founded.
"I didn't expect that, but once it started going it didn't take too long to see this could become what it has and more. That's part of me saying, 'Let's get the next regime in,'" Mercer said. "I'm looking forward to seeing where they take it."
There's not a tight deadline to fill the executive director position, Mercer said, and as a member of the board he will be involved in the search. In terms of what a successor would like, Mercer said it will likely be someone with an entrepreneurial background — either someone who has worked with startups or founded their own company. They don't have to be from Bucks County originally, but should be based there.
"Someone who has had an exit or two would be good, and if not that, someone who has experience fundraising," Mercer said. "Not just charitable fundraising but funding for the startups. Someone who really understands how to help, how to work with entrepreneurs, what they need."
Another trait likely to benefit the Bucks County startup ecosystem is the ability to strike partnerships. In reflecting on his tenure, Mercer pointed to partnerships with entities like Bucks County Industrial Development Authority, Penn Community Bank and Bucks County Community College as key to growing the Startup Bucks community and impact.
"Seeing that and the elevation of the profile of Bucks County to a place where there is startup activity and a lot of good support for startups too [have been highlights of my tenure]," Mercer said. "And it all started with an event in 2019 where we wanted to get some people together."
