This past week in Augusta, Georgia, I had the chance to join ecosystem builders from across the country at the Startup Champions Network Summit — my first one — and I left with both a full heart and a notebook overflowing with ideas.
These gatherings serve as reminders that, while this work can be challenging, messy, and often nonlinear, it’s also deeply rewarding. Building ecosystems isn’t about instant wins — it’s about people, trust, and the slow, steady work of connection.
The Spirit of Augusta
Augusta is a city of paradox and potential — a place where world-class golf meets deep-seated inequity, where James Brown’s rhythms still echo through downtown, and where federal investment in cyber, medical, and nuclear innovation is shaping the next generation of opportunity.
As the 92nd largest metropolitan area in the United States, Augusta’s metro region is home to more than 650,000 residents, while the city itself has a population of about 201,000 — large enough to drive growth, yet small enough for collaboration to truly matter. What makes Augusta special isn’t just its industries — it’s its people
theClubhou.se — once a makerspace and coworking hub — has grown into a true community anchor, helping founders and dreamers find their footing. The benefits of “being in the club” go beyond workspace access; it’s about belonging, learning, and being seen as an entrepreneur, even when you’re just starting out.
Local leaders shared what’s worked for them: bootcamps that demystify the first steps of entrepreneurship (like forming an LLC or finding your first customer), personal development programs that build confidence, and access to capital that helps people take that all-important first leap.
Yes, And — The Culture of Creation
Throughout the Summit, I kept coming back to its central theme — Open Invitations — a powerful reminder of what happens when we make space for others to create and contribute.
It’s the idea that entrepreneurship thrives when we say “Yes, and” instead of “No, but.” That innovation grows when doors stay open — when people feel invited to create, to try, to fail forward.
Augusta embodies that. It’s big enough to hold complex systems — from real estate to agriculture, tech to creative industries — and small enough to break barriers that keep people from building the things they dream about.
Together We Build
At the Global Entrepreneurship Network, our 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) theme is Together We Build. This week in Augusta reminded me how true that is — and how essential collaboration is to progress.
Each conversation at the Summit was a small act of building together: swapping ideas, celebrating wins, and sharing failures. It was a reminder that the ecosystem isn’t just a network — it’s a community of people choosing to invest in possibility.
An Invitation to Act
So here’s your invitation: As we head into Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 17–23), find a way to build together.
Host an event — no matter how small.
Share a resource — even one that helped you personally.
Engage someone new — especially those who may not yet see themselves as entrepreneurs.
Because the truth is, we’re all entrepreneurial. We all build things — ideas, connections, futures. And when we open our doors, when we invite others in — together, we build something lasting.