Our Strategy
Why entrepreneurial ecosystem building?
Entrepreneurship creates opportunity, innovation, and community prosperity by creating jobs and wealth. But entrepreneurs don’t thrive alone—they need strong, supportive communities around them. These ecosystems can’t be bought; they must be built. When nurtured intentionally, they form a foundation for inclusive economic growth.
Our Mission
Advance entrepreneurial ecosystem building as a valued practice, a trusted profession, and as a model for economic health and community wellbeing in the United States.
Our Vision
Expand entrepreneurial opportunities for all, making local, regional, and national economies more resilient, equitable, and vibrant.
Who benefits from
stronger entrepreneurial
ecosystems?
Entrepreneurs can access the knowledge, resources, and support they need, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Communities thrive when entrepreneurs succeed, resulting in empowered residents, improved living standards, and increased jobs, wealth, and innovation.
Entrepreneurial ecosystem building practitioners are a diverse and growing group of professionals from many sectors and backgrounds who work to build communities where entrepreneurs can thrive. As connectors, conveners, and catalysts, they help entrepreneurs access resources, build networks, and navigate systems. Whether civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, educators, investors, government officials, community builders, or entrepreneurs themselves, they share a commitment to collaboration and long-term, bottom-up, community-led change.
We’re at a tipping point.
Ecosystem building is the next wave of economic development – an inclusive, community-driven strategy to transform local economies. With growing momentum and resources nationwide, we’re at a tipping point for broader impact. Yet without shared standards, common language, better metrics, proven practices, and stronger infrastructure, this approach won’t achieve the widespread impact it promises.
To unlock its full potential, we must build our professional field as intentionally as we build the ecosystems themselves.
Building a network of networks.
ESHIP Alliance uses an Impact Network approach to
unite individuals and partner organizations under a shared identity and common goals, creating a collaborative platform where everyone contributes resources and works together to solve challenges that no one can tackle alone.
Guided by shared goals.
The ESHIP Goals serve as a framework to help us prioritize, organize, and collaborate as we work together to improve the effectiveness of ecosystem builders everywhere.
Through a multi-year, year-round, participatory effort, hosted by the Kauffman Foundation and centered around the ESHIP Summits (2016-2020) more than 2,500 participants created, refined and ratified the ESHIP Goals Framework.
Learn more at kauffman.org/eshipgoals.
