Builders Live

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.

When you hear the word "entrepreneur," what comes to mind? It can be a pretty broad term, meaning different things depending on who's using it and when. So how do orgs working to support entrepreneurs deal with those differences and how the concept has changed over time?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Maria Meyers of SourceLink for a conversation about the history and evolution of the term "entrepreneur," how to best serve entrepreneurs with varying needs, and the post-pandemic entrepreneurship boom.

Recorded October 1, 2025.

What does it take to mobilize an ecosystem around a common goal? The Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) coalition is doing just that, bringing together stakeholders from business, government, and education to drive Louisiana’s energy and economic future by powering innovation through research, workforce, policy, and technology development.

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Lacy McManus and Michael Mazzola of FUEL and Michael Butler of ExxonMobil for a conversation about the program's impact so far, how the group balances priorities, and lessons from this and other National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines.

Recorded September 16, 2025.

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Rae'Mah Henderson of Techstars and and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss how rising housing costs affect workforce, entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems.

Recorded September 24, 2025.

Post-pandemic, entrepreneurship is up by many measures. With recent changes in regulation and compliance, what's different now about how entrepreneurs are forming new businesses?

Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Kurt Simmons, Jr. and Daniel Krolikowski, partners at Withum, on how founders can navigate updates to QSBS, Section 83, accredited-investor rules and more.

Recorded September 3, 2025

Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, Brian Brackeen of Lightship Capital, Maria Underwood of TechBirmingham and and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Chris Wink discuss the challenges and opportunities of being both an entrepreneur and a parent, how parenting responsibilities intersect with professional and startup life, and broader dynamics of how the U.S. workplace treats parents, with attention to the need for supportive environments.

The recently-released 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of startup ecosystems worldwide. What are the takeaways for entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders?Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Jonathan Ortmans, Founder & President of Global Entrepreneurship Network, for a conversation on trends and insights from the report and what's in store for the future of entrepreneurship.Recorded August 20, 2024

We've seen an entrepreneurship boom post-pandemic, especially among women and people of color. How do we both acknowledge and celebrate that progress, while setting up our next goals for the economy? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Elizabeth Gore, cofounder and president of Hello Alice, for a conversation on trends in small business ownership, capital access and more.

Recorded July 16, 2025