Your Startup Community

In this episode of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly shares 11 hard-earned “community truths” gathered from more than 15 years of building startup communities across the globe.

These aren’t tactics or five-year plans; they’re guiding principles that reveal what actually makes a startup scene thrive. From why comparing cities is a trap and why spaces are just tools (not solutions), to the difference between conveners and influencers, Chris lays out insights that challenge conventional wisdom and shift your perspective.

If you’re a founder, community leader, or city builder, this episode will help you focus on what truly drives momentum: connections, collaboration, and a founder-first mindset.

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In this episode of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly tackles a common but critical question: is there a difference between a startup community and an entrepreneurial ecosystem? The short answer, yes. The longer answer could shape the future of your city’s startup scene.

Using vivid metaphors and lessons learned from building ecosystems across 20+ countries, Chris explains why thriving communities must come before flashy innovation centers or government programs. He unpacks the key players in each stage, why the first 25 founders matter more than any ribbon-cutting, and how skipping steps can stall an entire region’s entrepreneurial potential.

Whether you’re a founder, a corporate leader, or an economic development pro, this episode shows why real startup energy starts small, grows founder-first, and only then enables the larger ecosystem.

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In the season two premiere of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly returns with a powerful reminder: startup scenes might get the headlines, but true communities build the future.

Drawing from decades of experience and his work with ecosystems around the world, Chris breaks down what a startup community really is, and what it isn’t. He explores the four ingredients of real community (connection, trust, shared norms, and contribution), outlines the key players who make it thrive, and explains why founders can't do it alone.

Whether you’re a mentor, investor, or someone just showing up to your first meetup, this episode offers a blueprint for turning your city into a place where startups don’t just start, they grow, connect, and belong.

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In the previous episode we tackled more of the concepts behind effective startup community measurement. 

In this episode we discuss some groundbreaking work done by our guest and the insights gained by their measurement techniques that you too can adopt in your community’s journey.

Join Brad, Ian and Chris as we have a very interesting discussion with Rhett Morris of Common Good Labs and formerly of Endeavor Insights as we first talk about measurement concepts.

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It is one of the most often asked questions for Chris, Brad and Ian. How do I measure progress?

Our funders demand metrics so that they can determine whether their dollars are being allocated and are meeting their stated goals.

But are startup communities like businesses with clear goals and related metrics?

Join Brad, Ian and Chris as we have a very interesting discussion with Rhett Morris of Common Good Labs and formerly of Endeavor Insights as we first talk about measurement concepts.

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It's been 1 full year since the release of their book, The Startup Community Way.

We’ve been through and continue to struggle with the pandemic and how it is shifting the entrepreneur landscape.

Chris has left Techstars and his Ecosystem Development role and is consulting, Ian is focusing more on research and angel investing and Brad has released 2 more books and writing a few new ones.

Join Brad, Ian and Chris as we have a wide ranging discussions of the state of startup communities, what we have learned so far in the first 5 podcast episodes and more importantly, each one of our favorite episodes coming next.

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More and more today, startup communities are rising to the top of city, state, regional and federal governments’ priority list as they realize that entrepreneurial economic development is a necessary component of their future economy.

With that good news comes the challenge of developing an engagement strategy with entrepreneurs, investors, existing entrepreneurial support organizations, local corporations and colleges.

One thing we know for sure, do not treat the startup community like you would when building a highway, or a new building; activities that the government is good at but do not work for a more complex system like an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Join Brad, Ian and Chris along with Bala Kamallakharan of Iceland and Gonzalo Villaran of Lima, Peru as we discuss the role of government in a startup community.

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Those of us who have been in business or government a long time develop fantastic muscles around strong management of which exhibiting a control over execution and outcomes is the standard fare.

But startup communities are different and the very thing that you desire as a leader (a detailed plan, a flawless execution strategy and a clear set of goals) are the things that will hamper entrepreneurial growth.

We call this the illusion of control and today we talk about the concept, why it is counter-productive, and share a different approach more conducive to entrepreneurs.

Join Brad, Ian and I along with Ben Milne of Des Moines, Iowa and Bob Sopko of Cleveland, Ohio as we wrestle with this critical but touchy subject.

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I know all of you know the concept of networking, but this version is different and like many concepts is best discussed when we have something to compare the concept to.  And that is hierarchy.

For this podcast, we are talking about community structures ~ how the community is connected, how members interact and most importantly the rules of engagement the community abides by.

Older, more traditional communities many times operate in a more hierarchical manner where permissions are needed and where older and/or powerful people serve as gatekeepers.

So, what is a network structure and what is a hierarchical structure and how do they influence a startup community is today’s discussion.

Join Brad, Ian and myself as we take a deep dive into Active Leadership with our guests, Connor Murphy from Dublin, Ireland and Rebecca Lovell from Seattle, Washington.

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Some stand back and wait for the right time and way to engage.  Others take a more active approach.  Great startup communities have a group of leaders who help activate new activities and drive meaningful engagement.

Can introverts be active leaders?

Does active leadership require a stage and a large audience?

Do you need permission to be a leader?

You feel inspired - great - but what do I do first?

What is it like to take an active leadership approach outside the US where culture and permissions and governmental oversight can be mitigating factors?

Join Brad, Ian and myself as we take a deep dive into Active Leadership with our guests, Lesa Mitchell of Kansas City, Missouri and Gonzalo Villaran of Lima, Peru.

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