Around the world, there is a growing number of leaders working at a systems level to remove barriers to entrepreneurship, connect disconnected resources, and cultivate a more supportive environment for the makers, doers, and dreamers. Over more than two decades, these innovators and early adopters of ecosystem building approaches have developed promising ideas, programs, and pathways to foster more innovative, inclusive economies. As a result, there is a growing body of work and an emerging science regarding effective ecosystem building.

Despite this momentum, data shows entrepreneurship is still on the decline, the wealth gap in our country is widening, and more people are feeling left behind.Ecosystem builders are working to reverse these trends by removing barriers to new and growing ventures, but the most significant challenges to entrepreneurial success are deeply entrenched, especially for entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. These barriers cannot be completely removed by individuals or even small teams of ecosystem builders. They will require much broader stakeholder engagement and collaboration to unearth completely.