Entrepreneurship is the start of the American economy

Philanthropy's role in economic development

What is philanthropy's role in economic development, and how can it make the most impact? Economic development has historically been government's job — incentives, tax policy, public investment. Where does philanthropy fit, and where does it overstep? Builders Live co-hosts Victor Hwang of Right to Start, venture investor Rae'Mah Henderson, Taylor Eubanks of Midwest House and Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Christopher Wink discuss when philanthropic investment in a region's economy makes sense, and what constitutes philanthropy versus government versus industry responsibilities. Recorded May 27, 2026.

Entrepreneurship is the start of the American economy

Entrepreneurship in America is at a pivotal moment. While more people are starting businesses, a small sliver are growing big and fast and far more are not growing at all, with the middle hollowing out. As AI decentralizes the ability to start a company, how can policymakers and ecosystem leaders encourage new business formation while ensuring the gains don't all go to the firms with the most data, compute and capital? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Center for American Entrepreneurship founder & president John Dearie for a conversation about how to achieve a stronger, more resilient and inclusive U.S. economy through thriving entrepreneurship. Recorded May 20, 2026.

Gen Z, AI and the new geography of entrepreneurship

As entrepreneurship becomes more accessible, the geography of where founders start companies is expanding. New data from LinkedIn shows Gen Z founder growth accelerating across nearly every major U.S. metro, often fastest outside traditional startup hubs, reflecting a move toward flexible “portfolio careers,” where networks, personal branding and digital tools are key. Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by LinkedIn Director of Data Science and Research Sharat Raghavan for a conversation about how the use of AI, shifting career priorities and evolving definitions of success are reshaping how businesses are started and grow. Recorded May 13, 2026.

Can entrepreneurship save the American soul? Live at the Technical.ly Builders Conference 2026

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, this live recording in Philadelphia takes up a big question: why does entrepreneurship remain such a powerful American ideal — and what would it take for that ideal to mean more than branding, politics or founder mythology? With voices from policy, ecosystem building and investment, this conversation explores entrepreneurship as a source of agency, ownership and civic renewal, while confronting the ways it is often diluted, co-opted or kept out of reach. Technical.ly cofounder and CEO Christopher Wink is joined by Victor Hwang of Right to Start, venture investor Rae'Mah Henderson and Hollie Mackey of the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota for this wide-ranging discussion. Recorded May 7, 2026 at the Technical.ly Builders Conference.

Inside Louisiana’s plan to build 1000 new high-growth startups

Nexus Louisiana has a goal to create 1000 new local tech startups by 2035 — but how is the org working to achieve that? What can those in Louisiana do to help, and what should other states and ecosystems learn from this start? Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Chris Wink is joined by Nexus president and CEO Tony Zanders for a conversation about what it takes to bolster entrepreneurship and when it makes sense to have local, regional and statewide goals. Recorded April 29, 2026.