Your Startup Community

It's been 1 full year since the release of their book, The Startup Community Way. We’ve been through and continue to struggle with the pandemic and how it is shifting the entrepreneur landscape. Chris has left Techstars and his Ecosystem Development role and is consulting, Ian is focusing more on research and angel investing and Brad has released 2 more books and writing a few new ones. Join Brad,...

More and more today, startup communities are rising to the top of city, state, regional and federal governments’ priority list as they realize that entrepreneurial economic development is a necessary component of their future economy. With that good news comes the challenge of developing an engagement strategy with entrepreneurs, investors, existing entrepreneurial support organizations, local cor...

Those of us who have been in business or government a long time develop fantastic muscles around strong management of which exhibiting a control over execution and outcomes is the standard fare. But startup communities are different and the very thing that you desire as a leader (a detailed plan, a flawless execution strategy and a clear set of goals) are the things that will hamper entrepreneuria...

I know all of you know the concept of networking, but this version is different and like many concepts is best discussed when we have something to compare the concept to.  And that is hierarchy. For this podcast, we are talking about community structures ~ how the community is connected, how members interact and most importantly the rules of engagement the community abides by. Older, more tra...

Some stand back and wait for the right time and way to engage.  Others take a more active approach.  Great startup communities have a group of leaders who help activate new activities and drive meaningful engagement. Can introverts be active leaders? Does active leadership require a stage and a large audience? Do you need permission to be a leader? You feel inspired - great - but what do...

Brad and Ian introduce to many the word “topophilia” in The Startup Community Way.  The origin of topophilia is revealed and then we explain what it means with regards to your startup community. Secondly, what the heck does topophilia mean for you and me as a community leader.  We found two people, Crystal Vann Wallstrom of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Ben Milne of Des Moines, Iowa to talk abo...