Join EcoMap CEO Sherrod Davis and leading ecosystem builders, Morgan Allen from the State of Indiana, Taylor Overton, from the State of Kansas, and Chad Renando from Queensland, Australia, for a deep dive into how they're leveraging ecosystem mapping to connect entrepreneurs with the support they need. This isn't just theory; it's a look at how real-world data and strategic visualizations are driving tangible results.
Through these exclusive case studies, you'll gain practical insights into:
Mapping for Connection: See how these regions approached comprehensive ecosystem maps to ensure no entrepreneur or resource is left undiscovered.
Data in Action: Learn what key metrics these leaders track and how they translate data into compelling stories for funders, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Driving Impact: Understand how improved connectivity directly leads to stronger entrepreneur support and accelerated economic growth.
As a special takeaway, all attendees will receive a free ecosystem mapping data plan and a companion data research template to kickstart or enhance their own initiatives back home.
Walk away with a clear roadmap for leveraging ecosystem intelligence to foster a more connected and thriving entrepreneurial community.
(AI-generated session recap made available by Google NotebookLM)
Brief Summary
This session featured a lively discussion with ecosystem building experts from Indiana, Kansas, and Australia, moderated by Sherrod Davis of Ecomap Technologies. The panelists, Morgan Allen (Indiana Economic Development Corporation), Taylor Overton (State of Kansas), and Chad Renando (GEN Australia), shared their diverse experiences in mapping and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems. The conversation highlighted the evolution of ecosystem mapping from static spreadsheets to dynamic tools, the importance of intentionality, addressing systemic biases, and the critical role of human navigators and collaborative efforts in connecting entrepreneurs with the right resources.
Outline
• Introduction of Panelists: Each panelist introduced themselves and offered one word describing their approach to ecosystem building (Accessible, Systematic, Ready).
• Challenges and Outcomes of Ecosystem Mapping: Discussion on early challenges encountered in Australia, such as the assumption of maps needing to be perfect and the importance of identifying the custodian of data. Mapping is seen as a facilitator of conversation, not the outcome itself.
• Indiana's Approach and Motivations: Indiana's investment in ecosystem mapping was catalyzed by challenges during COVID-19, aiming to move beyond stale data and create one accessible place for resources for both Main Street and innovation businesses.
• Alignment and Collaboration in Kansas: Kansas focused on formalizing existing mapping efforts, providing tools, resources, and funding, and strategically aligning with existing regional structures like tourism teams to foster collaboration and accountability.
• Identifying and Addressing Gaps: The mapping process revealed infrastructure gaps in Kansas, particularly being a CDFI desert, prompting efforts to leverage visibility to address these needs.
• Metrics and Measuring Success: Discussion on measuring ecosystem success, moving beyond just jobs and investment to focusing on enabling conditions like clarity, connection, capability, capacity, collaboration, advocacy, and promotion. The challenge of measuring impact, such as the fruitfulness of connections, was noted. Indiana developed a publicly available scorecard leveraging existing data sources like Census, BLS, and SBA loan data, broken down by county.
• The Ecosystem Navigator Program (Indiana): Detail on Indiana's program of 10 human navigators embedded within the SBDC network, acting as entrepreneur concierges and providing support to Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) who may not know each other. The program aims to be a single front door for entrepreneurs.
• The Role of Technology (Ecomap): Ecomap's philosophy is enabling speed and transformational conversations by rapidly identifying, organizing, and updating assets using AI/machine learning. The technology aims to get customers 80–90% of the way there, with human intervention critical for the remaining 10–20%.
• Addressing Bias and Inclusivity in Mapping: Acknowledging the risk of embedding systemic disadvantage and overlooking communities when mapping. The importance of human intervention, drawing from rich data pools, enabling users to add data, and intentionally including diverse organizations like libraries, schools, and churches was discussed.
• Mapping in Rural Areas: Strategies for mapping sporadic ecosystems in smaller communities include showing up, inviting diverse community members (not just formal organizations), providing technical assistance, using frameworks like Actor Network Theory and Appreciative Inquiry, and using local language instead of jargon.
• Collaboration vs. Competition ("Cooperition"): Discussing how communities can both compete for businesses/population and cooperate by sharing resources and data transparently, emphasizing the value proposition of collaboration.
• University Role in Ecosystems: How universities can better support local ecosystems by aligning on terminology, understanding community needs, measuring the impact of their entrepreneurship initiatives, and ensuring internal communication about their activities.
• Innovative Use of Mapping Tools: Kansas's use of Ecomap's job tool to map bid solicitations across sectors, creating visibility for opportunities and encouraging localized purchasing.
Notable Quotes
• "The map is not the outcome. The conversation is the outcome you're after. The map is only there to facilitate value." – Chad Renando
• "We were getting phone calls asking for support. We didn't know who to send them to. And we had this epiphany of like, oh my gosh, there is nowhere that people can go to find these resources. Everything was living in our brains and in a stale Excel spreadsheet that was immediately wrong a day later." – Morgan Allen
• "It's not necessarily the knowledge and information. And what's stopping them isn't because they can't find the information. It's because something in here is stopping them." – Chad Renando
Key Takeaways
• Mapping is a Means, Not an End: The true value of ecosystem mapping lies in the conversations and collaborations it enables, not just the creation of the map itself.
• Human Connection is Crucial: Despite technological advancements, human navigators or "concierges" are essential for providing personalized support, facilitating transformational conversations, and connecting disparate parts of the ecosystem.
• Intentionality and Inclusivity are Key: Actively work to include diverse organizations and populations in mapping efforts to avoid embedding systemic disadvantages and ensure the map reflects the whole community, especially in rural or overlooked areas.
• Leverage Existing Structures and Data: Align mapping and ecosystem building efforts with existing community structures (like tourism teams or SBDC networks) and utilize available data sources to build upon what's already there.
• Define and Measure Enabling Conditions: Focus metrics not just on end outcomes like jobs or investment, but on the underlying conditions (clarity, connection, capacity, etc.) that foster a healthy ecosystem.
Resources Mentioned
• Ecomap Technologies: A platform using AI/machine learning for ecosystem mapping.
• Indiana Scorecard: A publicly available online tool leveraging existing data to measure ecosystem success on a county basis, based on Indiana priorities.
• Ecosystem Navigator Program (Indiana): Program embedding human concierges within the SBDC network.
• ESO Maturity Model (Kansas): A practical framework (available as a free Excel template) to assess the capacity and maturity level of Entrepreneur Support Organizations across 12 dimensions.
• Ecosystem Mapping Templates & Ecosystem Intelligence Survey: Free resources available via QR code mentioned during the session.
• Actor Network Theory, Appreciative Inquiry, Critical Realism: Frameworks mentioned by Chad Renando for understanding and engaging with communities.
• SBDC Network: Small Business Development Center network (mentioned in context of Indiana's Navigator program).
Action Items
• Check out the Indiana Scorecard: It is publicly available online to see how one state is inventorying and leveraging existing data.
• Utilize the ESO Maturity Model: A free Excel template is available to help assess and develop Entrepreneur Support Organizations.
• Explore Free Mapping Resources: Templates and a survey mentioned are available via a QR code.
• Connect with Ecomap: Reach out to Sherrod via email or find the Ecomap team ("champions of Ecom externally, not paid") if interested in learning more about their platform.
