Make Startups

America is in a pitched battle for its soul. At the heart of this fight is our collective loss—and our relentless pursuit—of #EconomicFreedom. We reclaim that freedom by returning to our roots: investing in founders who dare to bet on themselves, who refuse to accept their role as mere cogs in a machine designed to enrich the few by oppressing the many. The nation we aspire to is built by those who take ownership of their future, not those waiting for permission. Join Eric Parker, AIA, . Grace Anne Belangia, and Nic Askew on April 2 for the online preview screening of The Soul of Economic Freedom. After the film, we’ll come together to discuss how we take back what was lost and restore that freedom in our communities. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eTDd7A8c #bethenode #ecosystembuilding #communityhealth #impactinvesting #workforcedevelopment #startupact #cofounderos

?? Big News for Entrepreneurs! ?? The #StartupAct was reintroduced today by Congressmen Rick W. Allen (GA-12) and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10)—a huge step toward ensuring entrepreneurs receive the same support under America’s #WorkforceDevelopment system as job seekers do. We’re grateful for their continued leadership in recognizing that entrepreneurs don’t just find jobs—they create them. What is the Startup Act? The Startup Act proposes key amendments to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to: ? Integrate entrepreneurial skills training into workforce development programs ? Authorize a three-year, multi-state study by the Department of Labor (DOL) to measure the impact of these programs and report findings to Congress Last session, the Startup Act was included in the bipartisan Stronger Workforce for America Act, which passed the House after being advanced by the House Education and Workforce Committee. ?? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e3F6aQDV

Join us next Wednesday in Atlanta for Customer Discovery + AI https://lnkd.in/ebuSV_q9

Have you taken a look at the Workforce Opportunity Calculator for your region? There’s no more efficient pathway to developing your local economy than investing in businesses started by the people who live there. Message us if you want help.

We're thrilled to be a part of #NoBoundaries to catalyze regional startups and investment. Pitch, Attend, or Sponsor at https://noboundaries.io With #CofounderOS, every startup that applies will receive in depth feedback on their application with tips on how to improve their pitch and business fundamentals.

During our recent tour of Denver and Boulder, we had the privilege of sitting down with Wendy Lea—one of America’s foremost leaders in building innovation communities. As Co-Founder & Chair of Energize Colorado, Co-Founder & Partner of TechHubNow!, a Board Member at Elevate Quantum, and a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), Wendy has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen ecosystems, drive collaboration, and expand funding opportunities for founders. In this conversation, we explore: - The key differences and overlaps between small business support and high-growth startup acceleration - The role of investment communities in scaling impactful ecosystems - The U.S. Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs initiative and its implications for regional innovation - Why small-group interactions are critical for long-term ecosystem success These are the kinds of conversations that shape the future of entrepreneurship. Read more and watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e4CKRAZ9 For those working to build stronger, more connected startup ecosystems—what are the biggest challenges you’re seeing today? Let’s discuss.

During our recent tour of Denver and Boulder, we had the privilege of sitting down with Wendy Lea—one of America’s foremost leaders in building innovation communities. As Co-Founder & Chair of Energize Colorado, Co-Founder & Partner of TechHubNow!, a Board Member at Elevate Quantum, and a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), Wendy has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen ecosystems, drive collaboration, and expand funding opportunities for founders. In this conversation, we explore: - The key differences and overlaps between small business support and high-growth startup acceleration - The role of investment communities in scaling impactful ecosystems - The U.S. Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs initiative and its implications for regional innovation - Why small-group interactions are critical for long-term ecosystem success These are the kinds of conversations that shape the future of entrepreneurship. Read more and watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e4CKRAZ9 For those working to build stronger, more connected startup ecosystems—what are the biggest challenges you’re seeing today? Let’s discuss.

We visited startup communities coast to coast to bring you a series of podcast interviews with Ecosystem Builders and the funders and founders in the startup community. Listen in and let us know what you think!

What is the role of entrepreneurship in the recovery from natural disasters? As #ecosystembuilders, whether from fires in Los Angeles or hurricanes in the Southeast, our ecosystems are increasingly under stress from these events. We repeatedly see entrepreneurs leading the charge in recovery efforts, and the research is beginning to back this up. This recent paper (originally published in Small Business Economics) explores the interplay that exists between #naturaldisasters and #socialentrepreneurship.

Yesterday the White House directed all federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance,” and any other programs that included “D.E.I., woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal.” Much of the entrepreneur support world relies on federal funds ranging from traditional U.S. Small Business Administration grants and loans to newer vehicles such as #RegionalInnovationClusters, also U.S. Economic Development Administration’s #TechHub, and National Science Foundation (NSF) #Engine grants. This could potentially even impact #SBIR. These could be trying times for #ecosystembuilders as the field seeks new and better capital stacks for the work of helping #startups build viable businesses that grow our economy and improve the quality of life in our communities. Credentialing and data standards in the field are becoming increasingly important, enabling us all to better engage with one another and directly with financial institutions. Perhaps the pause of these programs will give us each time to reflect and seek new ways to collaborate. Regardless, to all our friends and colleagues in the trenches every day, now is the time for our resilience to shine through. https://makestartups.com #entrepreneurship #policy https://makestartups.com #entrepreneurship #policy