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Ecosystem Building.
Field writing from SourceLink practitioners on Ecosystem Building.
Ecosystem Building
SourceLink staff join key national efforts to expand entrepreneurship-led economic development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 24, 2022 Contact: Sarah Mote, Marketing Director smote@joinsourcelink.comKansas City, MO – SourceLink, a program of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center, is proud to announce two of its employees have joined leadership positions with organizations dedicated to economic development and entrepreneurship ecosystem building. Rob Williams will be serving a two-year...
Oct 24, 2022
Ecosystem Building
Four ways to promote inclusive communities where Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs can thrive
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs' contributions to communities and local economies across the country. Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses employ millions of people and generate over $700 billion in revenue each year. They create widespread impact on society by providing jobs, serving as mentors, and keeping traditions alive, all...
Oct 14, 2022
Ecosystem Building
How your community can support microenterprise growth
By definition, microenterprises are businesses that require less than $35,000 in capitalization to start and have fewer than ten employees. Most are focused on the owner’s personal expertise—consulting, design, lawn care—and may not require a physical location. Microenterprises—both online and brick and mortar— represent about 77% of overall businesses in the U.S., and in today’s...
Jun 22, 2022
Ecosystem Building
Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship
On Thursday, April 21, SourceLink hosted Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship, a webinar on strategies for growing rural communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development. The session was moderated by SourceLink’s director of strategic partnerships, Dara Macan, and panelists included: Nathan Ohle – President and CEO, International Economic Development Council Nicole LaChapelle – Mayor, Easthampton, MA Don...
May 04, 2022
Ecosystem Building
Revitalizing Your Resource Partner Network
Spring is a season of growth and new beginnings that often leads to a renewed sense of energy and motivation. If you’re feeling like your entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement has been dormant, you’re not alone. During the pandemic, many ecosystem builders have felt challenged maintaining meaningful engagement with their network. As we enter the second quarter...
Apr 20, 2022
Ecosystem Building
3 new ways to empower your entrepreneurial community
In 2017, we shared 3 ways to empower your entrepreneurial community. While those tips are still relevant, the pandemic and heightened awareness about the importance of building equitable and inclusive ecosystems has surfaced new challenges. Here are some additional recommendations for empowering your network in 2022. 1. Make your ecosystem inclusive. Racial wealth disparity is...
Mar 30, 2022
Ecosystem Building
Strategies to sustain your entrepreneurial ecosystem
We are experiencing unprecedented opportunities for communities to evaluate how best to respond to short-term needs while building resilient solutions for long-term success. While it might be tempting to jump right in, it’s important to take the time to evaluate successful outcomes and develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Entrepreneurs are key contributors to...
Feb 23, 2022
Ecosystem Building
New Year, New Entrepreneurs: Five tips for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs
Every January, the number of people who Google “how to start a business” jumps to hundreds of searches a day. This year in particular, many of these searches are coming from the millions of Americans who quit their jobs in 2021. While starting a business is a common new year’s resolution, soon-to-be entrepreneurs make the...
Jan 28, 2022
Ecosystem Building
These blogs deserve an encore
In our commitment to entrepreneurship-led economic development, we’ve made it our practice to regularly share insights and lessons learned while celebrating success stories along the way. It is our hope that by delivering this content, we will start conversations, spark collaboration and ultimately make a positive impact in advancing equitable entrepreneurship across the country. Thank...
Jan 12, 2022
Ecosystem Building
How to Amplify Your Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Message
Creating strong inclusive ecosystems of support for entrepreneurs is key to a community’s economic success, however sharing collective impact can be challenging. In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, SourceLink’s Dara Macan and Rob Williams recruited a panel of local ecosystem builders in Fort Worth, Texas, northern Louisiana, Iowa, and Puerto Rico to share valuable communication...
Nov 11, 2021
Ecosystem Building
The entrepreneur in all of us – How COVID revealed gaps and opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape
Entrepreneurs are a hardy breed. They’re used to overcoming challenges and quickly pivoting, and at no time in recent history has the world needed those qualities more. While the circumstances of the last 20 months have been challenging, those with an entrepreneurial mindset have adapted to overcome each successive obstacle. Even large companies have begun...
Oct 26, 2021
Ecosystem Building
8 Proven Ways to Get the Word Out About Your SourceLink Network
Affiliates agree that getting the word out about their SourceLink networks to entrepreneurs and business owners is one of their highest priorities. To support our affiliates, we’ve recently held three virtual discussions on marketing in March, May and July. The basics In May, Abby Smith and Jessica Toms from CruxKC, SourceLink’s marketing partner, guided our discussion...
Jul 30, 2021