Builders Live

Modern accelerator programs have used a variety of methods to support startups over the past two decades — but what's the most effective way to help entrepreneurs scale? How can founders know when they're getting real traction instead of innovation theater? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Heath Naquin of the University City Science Center for a conversation about how...

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Rae'Mah Henderson of Techstars and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss how different regions are approaching data centers, the environmental and community implications of these massive projects and how ecosystem builders can navigate between welcoming innovation and avoiding exploitation....

How can a founder know they're ready to pursue capital, and how can they maximize their chances of successfully finding investors? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Anthony Millin of NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers for a conversation about what it actually means to be "investor-ready" — beyond the pitch deck. Recorded October 8, 2025.

When you hear the word "entrepreneur," what comes to mind? It can be a pretty broad term, meaning different things depending on who's using it and when. So how do orgs working to support entrepreneurs deal with those differences and how the concept has changed over time? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Maria Meyers of SourceLink for a conversation about the his...

What does it take to mobilize an ecosystem around a common goal? The Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) coalition is doing just that, bringing together stakeholders from business, government, and education to drive Louisiana’s energy and economic future by powering innovation through research, workforce, policy, and technology development. Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined...

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Rae'Mah Henderson of Techstars and and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss how rising housing costs affect workforce, entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems. Recorded September 24, 2025.

Post-pandemic, entrepreneurship is up by many measures. With recent changes in regulation and compliance, what's different now about how entrepreneurs are forming new businesses? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Kurt Simmons, Jr. and Daniel Krolikowski, partners at Withum, on how founders can navigate updates to QSBS, Section 83, accredited-investor rules and more. Record...

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Maria Underwood of TechBirmingham and and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss the challenges and opportunities of being both an entrepreneur and a parent, how parenting responsibilities intersect with professional and startup life, and broader dynamics of how the U.S. workplace treats parents,...

The recently-released 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of startup ecosystems worldwide. What are the takeaways for entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Jonathan Ortmans, Founder & President of Global Entrepreneurship Network, for a conversation on trends a...

We've seen an entrepreneurship boom post-pandemic, especially among women and people of color. How do we both acknowledge and celebrate that progress, while setting up our next goals for the economy? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Elizabeth Gore, cofounder and president of Hello Alice, for a conversation on trends in small business ownership, capital access and more. Re...

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Geoff Webster of Pittsburgh Futures Collaborative and Jake Pawlak, Deputy Mayor & Director Office of Management and Budget for the City of Pittsburgh for a conversation on how civil servants and elected officials can improve outcomes through design thinking. Recorded June 11, 2025

What factors go into an entrepreneur's decision on where to live and work, and how can regions attract more founders and companies? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development, to discuss how trends in remote work, geographically-tied industry specialization and more are affecting local economies and ecosystem growth. Recorded...

What do recent exits and tech job trends indicate about Philadelphia's economic development, and how does the city compare with other regions around the country? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Scott Nissenbaum of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania for a conversation on what has and hasn't worked so far — and what Philadelphia needs to do n...

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss the role of universities in innovation, legal and political challenges facing higher education institutions, and what the current climate means for scientific progress, especially at smaller or regional institutions. Recorded July 23, 2025

Is the ecosystem building community a passing trend or a lasting change, and what's different about the climate for entrepreneurship now? Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink is joined by Rob Williams of SourceLink for a conversation on the past, present and future of ecosystem building and entrepreneurship-led economic development. Recorded May 14, 2025

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Christopher Whitaker, executive director of the Alliance of Civic Technologists for a conversation about civic tech and benefiting the public good. Recorded April 14, 2025

Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink is joined by Sherrod Davis, CEO of EcoMap Technologies, to discuss the evolution of the concept of "ecosystem building," how EcoMap's new tool can help, and what's next for economic development organizations. Recorded April 2, 2025.

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Maria Underwood of TechBirmingham and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss entrepreneurship and the American dream, including how local entrepreneurial ecosystems are shaped by regional culture, politics and resources, and the importance (and challenges) of maintaining optimism in community building and star...

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss government policies to support entrepreneurship, including guidance from Right to Start's Field Guides for Policymakers. Recorded May 28, 2025.

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Maria Underwood of Moxi, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink debate whether regions should chase capital for their entrepreneurs and how to build momentum for regional innovation, plus the importance of local engagement and support networks to create opportunities for founders. Recorded April 23, 2025.

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Maria Underwood of Moxi, and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss challenges and opportunities in rural entrepreneurship, the impact of density and urban planning on business growth, and the role of community organizers in fostering startup culture. Recorded March 26, 2025.

Co-hosts Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Victor Hwang of Right to Start, and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss strategies in local ecosystem building for entrepreneurs and technologists, plus the impacts of federal funding freezes and attacks on DEI initiatives.

The first episode of our new monthly podcast features co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Maija Ehlinger of Hypepotamus and Chris Wink, Technical.ly's cofounder and CEO, discussing the intersection of entrepreneurship and economic development, and how national trends impact local communities. Recorded January 22, 2025.

Join us for the launch and first episode of our new monthly podcast on ecosystem building and entrepreneur-led economic development featuring co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Maija Ehlinger of Hypepotamus and our own Chris Wink, Technical.ly's cofounder and CEO.