STARTUP CHAMPIONS NETWORK AND FORWARD CITIES BRING TOGETHER TOP ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS IN THE FIRST EVER REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS SUMMIT

  • The Startup Champions Network (SCN) Spring Ecosystem Builder Summit will be held April 4-6 in Triangle, North Carolina, at Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative.

  • Together with Forward Cities and other summit partners, SCN is taking both a regional and equity based approach to summit content, offering insights on effective entrepreneurial ecosystem building strategies that prioritize inclusion and economic mobility.

  • The summit will convene ecosystem builders from across the country — many who work for organizations recently funded by SBA grants — and will be supported by some of the country’s top Ecosystem Builder Support organizations.


Triangle, North Carolina; March 15, 2022; U.S.-based entrepreneurs have been fighting to come back from the global pandemic that shocked the economy over two years ago. As entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country look for new ways to revitalize their communities — with an eye towards equity — Startup Champions Network (SCN) prepares for its Spring Ecosystem Builder Summit. This year, the organization has convened a strong coalition of Ecosystem Builder support organizations to share ideas and solutions towards a path forward. Championing sponsors include: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Title Sponsor), NC IDEA and Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Platinum/Presenting Sponsors), Forward Cities (lead summit host), EcoMap, Assure, and CO.STARTERS.

“The Kauffman foundation champions bold ideas to change futures because, like our founder Ewing Kauffman, we believe every person should have the opportunity to be uncommon and take risks to achieve their goals. We first listen to the communities we serve, seek to understand the problems and dream big with partners like Startup Champions Network to build innovative programs that drive results,” says Wendy Guillies, President and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. 

The 2022 Spring Summit will be held April 4-6 in North Carolina’s Triangle Metropolitan Area. This year’s summit hosts include Fay Horwitt (Forward Cities), Krista Covey (First Flight Venture Center), and Anika Horn (Social Venturers). 

The Triangle represents the communities of Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Research Triangle Park - each one with its unique qualities.

  • Durham holds a proud legacy as one of America's Historic Black Wall Streets and has experienced a spirited resurgence fueled by collaborative leadership. 

  • Chapel Hill is home to the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise, an internationally renowned think tank that leverages entrepreneurship as a lever for economic prosperity across the state. 

  • Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the nation, houses hundreds of companies from tech firms to academic institutions and nonprofits. 

  • Raleigh, as the state's capital, stands as the center of government and equitable policies that we know are vital for entrepreneurs to thrive.

This diverse, eclectic, and increasingly connected region is, in many ways, a microcosm of American society and entrepreneurial ecosystems - thriving, yet working hard to address deeply rooted economic disparities and cultural divides. As ecosystem builders from around the nation are seeking tangible solutions to rebuild better in their local communities, Triangle is the perfect backdrop for the summit’s timely theme: "Building Together: Catalyzing Regional Inclusive Prosperity.”

This will be the first time SCN takes a regional approach to its Summit content. The summit will also focus on equity, offering attendees three different tracks by which equity should be infused in every ecosystem: tech, economic development, and asset-based ecosystem building.

“Many of our members were awarded Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Navigator and SBIR Catalyst Grants this year to continue their work of supporting historically excluded entrepreneurs - especially entrepreneurs who have faced setbacks due to the Covid19 pandemic. We are proud to bring together many of these ecosystem builders to share ideas and best practices for moving the needle forward.” - Tom Chapman, SCN Board Chair

“The Triangle has been quietly emerging as the nation’s hub for equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem building expertise. There is a unique confluence of experts in the region that are studying and/or pioneering new theories and frameworks at the intersection of equity and entrepreneurial development,” says Fay Horwitt, President & CEO of Forward Cities .”As Forward Cities prepares to build a national learning and action network to catalyze inclusive prosperity headquartered in Durham, we couldn’t think of a better way to jumpstart those efforts than partnering with our talented colleagues at SCN and creating a unique opportunity for shared learning between local, regional, and national practitioners.”

Registration is open to ecosystem builders and champions looking to network, learn, and be in the community. Learn more about the Spring Summit and register here.

### 


About SCN

The mission of Startup Champions Network is to provide builders of entrepreneurial ecosystems the connections, resources, and professional development they need to cultivate thriving and inclusive communities. The organization believes that thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems should exist in all communities in order to drive economic opportunity and independence for all.

About SCN Summits

SCN Summits are at the heart of the organization’s programming and bring together some of the world's top entrepreneurial ecosystem builders and national ecosystem support organizations to network, learn, and share best practices. Each summit location is chosen based on members who wish to sponsor within their city. While every summit is unique to the ecosystem host, every summit has three ways it supports entrepreneurial ecosystem builders:

  • Connecting them to peers and resources

  • Sharing best practices in the field

  • Developing mission-critical skills