Welcome to the Ecosystem Builder Hub Digest, your weekly roundup of ecosystem building news, articles, and resources. Read on to find out what’s come across my radar in the world of entrepreneurial ecosystem building and startup community building.

Mug.news, Resource for Midwest Startups News Launches
THE source for #startups and #entrepreneur news across the #Midwest.
Tom Chapman and his team launched MUG News in October and are starting to promote it. The project includes the “Ecosystem Builder Podcast” for leaders in the Midwest to talk about their own ecosystems and “community pages” for each state. It will also help a couple of local communities build their own tech/entrepreneurship blogs.  

Learn more

 

Ecosystem Building principle #5 Connect People Bottom-Up, Top-down, Inside-Out
In her continuing deep dive of the Kauffman Foundation’s ecosystem building principles, Anika Horn welcomed a group of ecosystem builders to explore how we might better connect people in our ecosystems bottom-up, top-down, inside-out, etc.

Read part one
Read part two

 

How has COVID-19 Changed Challenges for Entrepreneurs: Implications for Entrepreneurship Support
A new report from the Kauffman Foundation shares findings from a spring 2020 survey of 850 entrepreneurs about their experience during the pandemic, and compares them to results from a survey of more than 400 entrepreneurs in fall 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Read more

 

Small Businesses of Color Recovery Guide
The challenges faced by Small Businesses of Color (SBOCs) are systemic and entrepreneurship ecosystem building is needed to help them recover. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has created a guide focused on the short-term recovery and long-term vitality of SBOCs in the midst of a pandemic. The purpose of this guide is to help support the recovery of these businesses by providing readers with a range of ideas in the areas of small business credit and capital, education and training, policy recommendations, and community support. 

Read more

 

SCORE for Black Entrepreneurs
SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, has launched a program focused on removing the unique barriers and obstacles experienced by Black small business owners and them with access to personalized support.

Read more

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Right to Start: Pledge 5%
Join Startup Champions Network as they welcome Victor Hwang to talk about policy initiatives, including “5% to Start” which calls for 5% of government contracts, workforce training, and economic development to go towards entrepreneurs. Victor will also discuss the growing Right to Start network of Ambassadors driving change in 10 cities.
Date: February 9, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST

Learn more & register

 

National Eship Week 2021 – Libraries as Entrepreneurship Engines
Libraries support entrepreneurs, ideation, small businesses, and side gigs every day in communities across the country. EveryLibrary is proud to be the lead library organization coordinating and promoting National Entrepreneurship Week 2021 this February 13 – 20. Join EveryLibrary for great e-ship webinars throughout the week and take the Buy Local Policy Pledge to build the local economy.
Date: February 13 – 20

Learn more & register

 

National Entrepreneurship Week
National Entrepreneurship Week is a congressionally-chartered initiative founded in 2006 that takes place the third week of February annually. There are a wide range of events happening during the week.
Date: February 13 – 20

Learn more

 

Demystifying Angel Investing: An Introduction to the World of Early-Stage
Interested in establishing an angel network in your startup community? You’ll need to know the basics of angel investing then.
Date: February 17, 12:00 – 1:00p EST

Learn more

 

Building Tech Ecosystems in a Distributed World
A new event on building global tech ecosystems. Dealroom and Sifted will host leading VCs and ecosystem builders to discuss: Tech and governments’ role in navigating a “K-shaped” recovery; The rise of tier-2 ecosystems and distributed talent; A new dawn of tech optimism, or: David vs. Goliath in the age of Deep Tech
Date: February 24, 7:00 am – 10:00 am PST

Learn more

 

In Community~ A Gathering for Ecosystem Building Womyn
EcosystemsUnite is creating space for Womyn ecosystem builders to share knowledge. The goal is to leave with more knowledge than when we came and make good connections.
Date: February 24, 3:00 – 4:00 PST

Learn more 

 

RuralRISE Broadband Mini-Summit
For rural communities, access to stable and affordable broadband and wireless connectivity continues to be a challenge. Join fellow rural ecosystem builders in the conversation about rural broadband during the 2021 RuralRISE Mini-Summit.
Date: April 15, 2:00 – 5:00 pm Eastern

Learn more

 

RuralRISE Summit 2021
Mark your calendars for the 2021 RuralRISE Summit in Emporia, Kansas!
Date: September 20 – 21

Learn more

Support the ongoing work of Ecosystem Builder Hub

For as little as $1 each month you can contribute to keep this project going.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com