Ecosystem Building Everywhere: Art Installation in GEN Village

Session Description

This year at GEC 2025, GEN and the ESHIP Alliance (formerly EBLN) are teaming up to launch a groundbreaking initiative: The Ecosystem Building Everywhere project — a curated, interactive display of leading ecosystem models and frameworks from around the world.

Located in the Village during the duration of GEC 2025, the Ecosystem Building Everywhere Art Installation will function as both a gallery and a conversation starter — an “art installation” where attendees can engage with the field’s most influential ecosystem thinking, offer feedback, and help shape what comes next.

This project tackles one of the field’s biggest challenges: the lack of shared models and language in ecosystem building. Together, we're creating space to reflect, compare, and advance how we work.

Learn more about this installation in this short presentation that will serve as your GEC guide of featured models, frameworks, and community commentary. 

ECOSYSTEM BUILDING EVERYWHERE
Advancing the Conversation on Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Models + Frameworks
 
Entrepreneurship can thrive anywhere. We've seen it happen, and it's powerful.
 
Entrepreneurship ecosystems connect founders, investors, policymakers, ecosystem builders and other startup champions in communities around the world – democratizing opportunity, driving economic mobility, growing economies, and creating the conditions for transformational change and solving the world's greatest challenges. All through the power of entrepreneurship.
 
On the walls to your left and right, the ESHIP Alliance, IU Innovates and Global Entrepreneurship Network have begun to visualize some of the dynamic and interconnected models of ecosystem building worldwide. 
 
This is just the beginning of an initiative to advance the ecosystem-building field by fostering meaningful discussions, generating field-wide consensus amongst practitioners and researchers, and laying the groundwork for more effective entrepreneurial ecosystem-building efforts everywhere. 
 
Please go explore the “art” installation in GEN Village throughout GEC, scan the QR codes and share your thoughts. 

Speakers

Jonathan Ortmans

Founder + President
Global Entrepreneurship Network

Andy Stoll

Founding Executive Director
ESHIP Alliance