Three ideas from our conversation with Make Startups that every ecosystem builder should consider.
Entrepreneurship has become a priority for communities across the country. New accelerators are launching, more incubators are opening, and organizations continue investing in mentorship, founder education, networking events, and access to capital. From the outside, it would seem entrepreneurial ecosystems are stronger than ever.
Yet many entrepreneurs still struggle to navigate support, access the right resources, and grow beyond the startup stage.
So what are we missing?
That question inspired a recent conversation between Economic Growth Strategies (EGS) and Eric Parker, CEO and Co-founder of Make Startups, following the release of the 2026 State of the Industry Report. The discussion challenged several assumptions about what truly creates a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem and offered valuable insights for communities looking to strengthen their approach. Here are three ideas that stood out.
We’ve Built Activity—but Not Always Infrastructure
One of the most thought-provoking ideas from the conversation was Eric’s observation that many communities have focused on creating entrepreneurial activity without building the infrastructure that connects it. Workshops, networking events, accelerators, and startup programs are valuable on their own, but when they operate independently, entrepreneurs are often left trying to figure out what comes next. The challenge isn’t necessarily creating more support—it’s creating a system where founders can move confidently from one stage of growth to the next.
We Celebrate Participation More Than Progression
Many organizations proudly report the number of entrepreneurs served, workshops delivered, or events hosted. Those metrics demonstrate effort and engagement, but they don’t always answer the bigger question: Did entrepreneurs actually move forward? During our conversation, Eric discussed the importance of shifting from measuring activity to measuring outcomes such as business growth, founder progression, long-term sustainability, and community impact. It’s a subtle shift in perspective, but one that has the potential to redefine how entrepreneurial ecosystems measure success.
Capital Isn’t Always the First Problem
Access to capital remains one of the most common conversations in entrepreneurship, but Eric challenged another widely held assumption: sometimes the real issue isn’t funding—it’s founder readiness. Businesses with strong customer validation, market traction, and evidence of demand are in a much stronger position to pursue the right type of capital. This perspective shifts the conversation from “How do we find more funding?” to “How do we better prepare founders for growth?”—a distinction that can significantly influence long-term entrepreneurial success.
Building Healthier Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
While every community is different, one message remained consistent throughout our conversation: strong entrepreneurial ecosystems aren’t defined by how many programs they offer—they’re defined by how well those programs work together to help entrepreneurs progress. Long-term economic growth isn’t built through isolated initiatives; it comes from designing systems that are connected, intentional, and centered on the entrepreneur’s journey.
Continue the Conversation
These are just a few of the ideas we explored with Eric Parker. In the full LinkedIn Newsletter, we dive deeper into why entrepreneurial ecosystems often become fragmented, the difference between outputs and outcomes, what healthier ecosystems look like over time, and the one change Eric believes could transform ecosystem building over the next five years.
Read the full interview on LinkedIn
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