The startup community way how to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that thrives

 by Brad Feld + Ian Hathaway

The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway is a timely and insightful book that explores the dynamics and challenges of building vibrant and sustainable startup ecosystems around the world. The authors draw on their extensive experience and research to provide a comprehensive and practical guide for entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders who want to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration in their communities.

The book builds on the concepts and principles introduced in Feld’s previous book, Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City, which advocated for a bottom-up, entrepreneur-led approach to creating startup communities. The Startup Community Way goes deeper into the theory and practice of complex systems, which are at the core of entrepreneurial ecosystems. The authors explain how complex systems are composed of interacting parts that produce emergent outcomes that are unpredictable and often surprising. They also show how complex systems are adaptive, evolving, and self-organizing, and how they can be influenced by feedback loops, network effects, and power laws.

The book argues that understanding and embracing complexity is essential for anyone who wants to participate in or support startup communities. The authors warn against the common mistakes of trying to control, plan, or optimize complex systems from the top-down, or assuming that they can be replicated or scaled up easily. Instead, they suggest that participants should adopt a whole-system view, experiment and learn from failure, and collaborate with diverse and inclusive actors across different domains and levels.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of the complex systems framework and its relevance for startup communities. The second part delves into the seven domains of startup communities: leaders, feeders, frameworks, culture, capital, talent, and institutions. The third part offers practical advice on how to measure and evaluate startup communities, how to navigate the different phases of their evolution, and how to deal with common challenges and opportunities.

The Startup Community Way is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the nature and dynamics of startup communities and how to improve them. The book is rich with examples, case studies, data, and tools that illustrate the key concepts and best practices. The book is also engaging and accessible, written in a clear and conversational style that reflects the authors’ passion and expertise. The book is not only informative but also inspiring, as it showcases the potential and impact of startup communities around the world.

The Startup Community Way is a must-read for anyone who cares about entrepreneurship and innovation in the 21st century. It is a book that will challenge your assumptions, expand your horizons, and empower you to take action.