What does 2026 have in store for entrepreneur ecosystems around the US?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Sherrod Davis of EcoMap for a conversation about trends and lessons from 2025 and predictions for the new year, informed by Technical.ly's newly updated Innovation Ecosystems Map.

Recorded January 8, 2026.

Looking back on the year, what is the story of ecosystem building from 2025? What worked and what are the lessons for 2026?

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 the year in entrepreneur-led, place-based economic development across the country, and dive into highlights, takeaways and reactions.

Recorded December 17, 2025.

Many founders would not have become successful without the support of other experienced founders, but are current entrepreneurs still interested in fueling the generation that follows them? How has founder behavior changed when it comes to mentoring, angel investing or staying connected locally?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Chris Heivly of Build the Fort for a conversation about the role of giving back in maintaining a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem and the moral, economic and practical case for paying it forward.

Recorded December 10, 2025.

Healthcare and life sciences are more highly regulated than other industries, and navigating that complex landscape can pose unique challenges for entrepreneurs and investors.

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Kathie Jordan of Ben Franklin Technology Partners for a conversation about how founding and investing in healthcare companies differs from other businesses, the tension between financial outcomes and health outcomes, and the industry's impact on the local economies.

Recorded December 3, 2025.

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 artificial intelligence intersects with entrepreneurship — especially at the local and regional ecosystem level — and whether AI will empower a new generation of entrepreneurs or reinforce incumbent advantages.

Recorded November 26, 2025.

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center just released its 2025 Advancing Regional Innovation Economies report, examining how policy, practice and markets expand access to venture capital and growth finance for entrepreneurs from emerging markets.

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Nicola Corzine of the NEC for a conversation about takeaways from the report and what entrepreneurs, policymakers and economic development leaders should know about evaluating their ecosystems.

See the full report here: https://nasdaqcenter.org/arie/

Recorded November 19, 2025.

Universities have long been involved in translating research into products and companies, and that's become a large part of regional innovation ecosystems. But what can schools do better to more effectively bring discoveries to market?

Technical.ly editorial director Danya Henninger is joined by Ben Dibling of the Penn Center for Innovation and Karina Sotnik of WorldUpstart for a conversation about how tech transfer has evolved over the past few decades and the impact it has on entrepreneurship and local economies.

Recorded November 5, 2025.

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 accelerators can maximize their impact and what founders should look for when picking a program.

Recorded October 29, 2025.

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.

Recorded October 22, 2025.

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.