Over the past few years, traditional venture capital funds have increasingly moved up-market toward larger, later-stage rounds, leaving early-stage founders scrambling for initial checks. How are regional and public-private tech funds adapting to fill that widening seed-stage gap across the country? And how can ecosystem leaders balance the driving economic growth with the financial realities of early-stage tech investing?

Technical.ly publisher and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Jonathon Beschen, Managing Director of the Tech Investment Group for Ben Franklin Technology Partners for a conversation about how regional tech ecosystems can build momentum.

Recorded September 2, 2026.

Companies are getting smaller. What does that mean for economic development? The median size of American firms has been declining for years, so are there better metrics to focus on than job growth? How do solopreneurs and "necessity entrepreneurs" fit into the picture? And how will AI impact this trend?

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, venture investor Rae'Mah Henderson, Taylor Eubanks of BlendHQ and Technical.ly cofounder and publisher Christopher Wink discuss this and other trends in ecosystem building and entrepreneur-led economic development.

Recorded August 26, 2026.

Imagine two communities with nearly identical physical assets, institutions, and tax incentives, but dramatically different economic outcomes. What causes the difference? Amy Holloway believes it's trust.

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Aha! Advisors president Amy Holloway for a conversation about how to build and measure trust in your ecosystem and the importance of social infrastructure in economic development.

Recorded August 12, 2026.

Nationally, we’re seeing variation in when states are driving tech, science and entrepreneurship economic development, and when it’s primarily taking place at the regional ecosystem level. How does a state leader balance multiple ecosystems and regions with distinct needs?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Louisiana Economic Development CIO Josh Fleig for a conversation about the role for government and economic development at the state level.

Recorded August 5, 2026.

Ecosystem building is coalition work, and there can be benefits and challenges to having a larger group of stakeholders. When does it make sense to take a statewide strategy as opposed to a regional one?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Arizona Technology Council president & CEO Steven Zylstra for a conversation about what's changing about the tech council model and what's most effective about different approaches to economic development.

Recorded July 29, 2026.

Since joining the Research Triangle Foundation in 2017, Scott Levitan has overseen a transformation of the 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park including a mixed-use campus, coworking space and high-profile corporate investments. As the organization moves to implement its RTP 3.0 initiative, it announced a planned leadership transition, with Levitan set to retire in October. At this inflection point, what does the future hold for RTP, and what can other similar institutions learn from its evolution?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Research Triangle Foundation president & CEO Scott Levitan for a conversation about reflections on his tenure leading the organization and lessons for place-based economic development.

Recorded July 23, 2026.

What's really happening with entry-level workers? If it continues to get more difficult to start a career, that could create pipeline issues in the future with fewer experienced workers. Is a degree still worth it for young professionals, and what impacts are AI and remote work having on the employment landscape?

Co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, venture investor Rae'Mah Henderson, and Technical.ly cofounder and publisher Christopher Wink discuss how regions can best support their students and new grads — and how entrepreneurship fits in the equation.

Recorded July 22, 2026.

Greater Cleveland Partnership has an "All In" plan to help the region grow, bringing together private, public and philanthropic partners to achieve that goal. But what does real collaboration look like when you’re working with a variety of stakeholders who may all define success differently?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Greater Cleveland Partnership president & CEO Baiju Shah for a conversation about the org's efforts to turn its vision into strategies, actions and outcomes — and what lessons other regions can apply to their own economic development.

Recorded July 15, 2026.

Ahead of the July 4th holiday and America's 250th anniversary, it's a special edition of our monthly podcast on ecosystem building and entrepreneur-led economic development where we examine the United States of Entrepreneurship.

Our Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Taylor Eubanks of Midwest House and Christopher Wink, Technical.ly's cofounder and CEO, discuss what's notable about the startup and innovation economy in all 50 states — and how entrepreneurship is helping to shape the country's identity at this significant milestone.

Recorded June 24, 2026.

A lot of startup advice still assumes the goal is venture capital, but the funding landscape is changing for companies that want to grow but may not be chasing a unicorn-style outcome. How should founders, investors, economic development groups and entrepreneur support organizations operate when the definition of success includes profitability, founder control, job creation and community impact — not just exits and valuations?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Jeffrey Kaplan from Venture Asheville and Optimist Ventures for a conversation about what companies actually need if they're currently underserved by traditional venture capital.

Recorded June 17, 2026.