(Bonus) "Who Owns the Narrative?": Storytelling in Startup Communities (From the Technical.ly Builders Conference)

(Bonus) "Who Owns the Narrative?": Storytelling in Startup Communities (From the Technical.ly Builders Conference)

Recorded live from the Technical.ly [http://Technical.ly] Builders Conference in Philadelphia, this bonus episode of Ecosystem, Scale! explores an increasingly important layer of startup community infrastructure: Narrative. Joined by Chris Wink, cofounder and CEO of Technical.ly [http://Technical.ly], Aaron Taylor examines how storytelling, media, and ecosystem identity shape the trajectory of startup communities. Throughout the conversation, Chris argues that startup communities are not simply built through programs, capital, or institutions alone — but through the ongoing process of helping communities understand themselves and communicate that identity outward. Together, they explore how startup communities often generate significant activity without developing the shared narrative needed to make that momentum legible to founders, institutions, and capital. Using Philadelphia as a case study, the conversation examines storytelling as a form of ecosystem infrastructure — one shaped through media, openness, founder density, and ongoing community participation rather than centralized control. The episode also unpacks the tensions between traditional economic development and ecosystem-building, why this work still struggles for institutional legitimacy, and why startup communities ultimately operate as an “infinite game” requiring continuous coordination, visibility, and reinvention. About the Speaker Chris Wink is the cofounder and CEO of Technical.ly [http://Technical.ly], a media organization focused on connecting and strengthening startup and technology communities through journalism, events, and ecosystem storytelling. For nearly two decades, Technical.ly [http://Technical.ly] has examined how entrepreneurial ecosystems emerge, evolve, and communicate their identity across regions. Connect with him here: https://www.christopherwink.com/ [https://www.christopherwink.com/]; linkedin.com/in/christopherwink [http://linkedin.com/in/christopherwink] Resources: https://technical.ly/ [https://technical.ly/]

(Bonus) Meet the Host: From Builder to Architect

This bonus episode of Ecosystem, Scale! is a step out of the usual. Instead of a structured conversation, this is a more open reflection — on the season, the patterns that emerged, and the shift from building within startup communities to thinking more deeply about the structures that shape them. Aaron sits down with guest host, Alexandria Taylor, to share his journey in ecosystem work, what he’s been learning through these conversations, and the evolving lens he’s bringing to the field. It’s less about answers . . . and more about how the questions are changing. If you’ve been following along this season, this episode offers a more personal look at the thinking behind Ecosystem, Scale! — and where it may be heading next. Thank you to all of our listeners for a momentous Season 1!!!!! About Our Host Aaron Taylor is a startup attorney, ecosystem architect, and the host of Ecosystem, Scale! — a platform at the intersection of founders, institutions, and the systems that connect them. Aaron’s work spans legal advisory, venture engagement, and startup community-building, where he has led initiatives, advised founders, and worked alongside institutions to strengthen how startup communities function and produce outcomes. His approach is rooted in identifying the structural gaps that limit progress and designing the infrastructure mechanisms that allow ecosystems to operate more effectively. Through Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron is contributing to the emergence of ecosystem building as a field — surfacing patterns, translating across stakeholders, and helping define the frameworks that allow startup communities to function with greater clarity, alignment, and impact. Connect with him here: linkedin.com/in/aaron-d-taylor [http://linkedin.com/in/aaron-d-taylor] Connect with guest host Alexandria Taylor here: linkedin.com/in/alexandria-taylor-2ab815199 [http://linkedin.com/in/alexandria-taylor-2ab815199]

Winning the Field: An Eagle-Eye View of Ecosystem-Building

In the Season 1 finale of Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron Taylor sits down with Andy Stoll, founding Executive Director of the ESHIP Alliance, for a wide-angle conversation about the emergence of entrepreneurial ecosystem building as a field of practice. Over the past two decades, ecosystem builders across the country have been quietly working to strengthen the environments where founders turn ideas into reality. What began as scattered community efforts is now beginning to organize into something larger: a professional field with its own practices, leadership models, and support structures. Andy offers an eagle-eye view of this movement zooming out to examine the national landscape of ecosystem building while also reflecting on the culture, relationships, and leadership required to make these communities thrive in practice. At its core, ecosystem building is a team sport a collaborative effort to move knowledge and resources from the people who have them to the entrepreneurs who need them at the right moment. This conversation closes the first season of Ecosystem, Scale! by zooming out to ask a bigger question: What happens when the builders themselves begin to organize into a field? About Our Speaker Andy Stoll is a serial social entrepreneur and the founding Executive Director of the ESHIP Alliance, a national initiative working to advance entrepreneurial ecosystem building as a recognized profession and coordinated field. Over the past two decades, Andy has co-founded multiple social change organizations and helped pioneer community-driven approaches to entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development. Previously, Andy served as a Senior Program Officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he helped advance entrepreneur-led economic development and ecosystem building as an emerging practice. His work focuses on participatory, network-based approaches to social change that combine entrepreneurship, storytelling, culture-building, and community leadership. Andy is a sought-after speaker and facilitator who has appeared at SXSW, TEDx events, universities, and conferences around the world, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Connect with him here: linkedin.com/in/andystoll [http://linkedin.com/in/andystoll] Resources: https://www.kauffman.org/ecosystem-playbook-draft-3/eship-goals/ [https://www.kauffman.org/ecosystem-playbook-draft-3/eship-goals/] https://eship-commons.mn.co/spaces/18645947/feed [https://eship-commons.mn.co/spaces/18645947/feed] https://www.startupchampions.co/ [https://www.startupchampions.co/] https://www.seedthesouth.com/ [https://www.seedthesouth.com/] $50 off code for Seed the South Capital Summit: STS26-CEDAR-50

Signaling Scale: Tools and Frameworks for Ecosystem Architecture

In this episode of Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron Taylor is joined by Amy Beaird for a deep dive into the tools, language, and systems thinking shaping the future of ecosystem architecture. Drawing on her background in engineering and decades of startup R&D leadership, Amy brings a practical lens to one of the field’s biggest challenges: making the invisible work of ecosystem-building visible, measurable, and defensible. Together, they explore the concept of signals — evidence of strategic progress that shows when ecosystems are moving beyond activity toward real capability and alignment. The conversation unpacks how frameworks like the Ecosystem Edge scorecard help regions understand their stage of development, align stakeholders, and communicate long-term value to funders and partners. Amy also shares insights on governance, shared leadership, diverse funding strategies, and the ongoing tension between organic emergence and intentional architecture. This episode is for ecosystem builders, funders, institutional leaders, and practitioners who want to move from reactive programming to durable systems — and who are looking for practical ways to strengthen alignment, storytelling, and long-term sustainability in their communities. About the Speaker Amy Beaird is a systems-oriented ecosystem builder and co-founder of Ecosystem Edge. With a career spanning engineering, startup R&D leadership, and regional ecosystem strategy, she focuses on developing practical tools and frameworks that help practitioners measure progress, align stakeholders, and build sustainable innovation infrastructure. Amy is also an active contributor to the broader field through initiatives like the ESHIP Alliance and her work supporting regional innovation strategies across the country. Connect with her here: linkedin.com/in/abeaird [http://linkedin.com/in/abeaird] Resources https://ecosystem-edge.com/ [https://ecosystem-edge.com/] https://engine.xyz/ [https://engine.xyz/] https://eship-commons.mn.co/spaces/18645947/feed [https://eship-commons.mn.co/spaces/18645947/feed]

Beyond the Spark: Building Sustainable, Socially-Rich Ecosystems

In this episode of Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron sits down with Jess Edwards for a conversation that explores how relationships, trust, and lived experience shape the way innovation ecosystems actually function for sustainable ecosystem design. Jess shares insights from her work across multiple communities, offering a “tour-guide” perspective on how ecosystems evolve, what strong social capital looks like in practice, and why sustainability requires more than programs and new funding cycles. Together, they examine how ecosystems move from connections to structure — and how intentional design can turn momentum into lasting impact. This conversation is especially relevant for ecosystem builders, funders, and community leaders seeking to better understand how human relationships become the infrastructure that allows innovation to thrive over time. About the Speaker Jess Edwards is a project-based innovation ecosystem builder and systems thinker known for her work connecting entrepreneurs to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to grow. She has been recognized for her ability to build and leverage relational (social) capital to strengthen entrepreneurial communities and increase ecosystem interconnectedness across the globe. Connect with her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardsja/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardsja/] Resources: https://www.jessedwards.com/ [https://www.jessedwards.com/] https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/ [https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/] https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/?s=entrepreneurship [https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/?s=entrepreneurship]