By Chris Heivly, Managing Director at Build The Fort and Startup Community EIR @ Techstars

A few years ago, Jerry Colonna, co-founder of Reboot and startup whisperer to many, dropped a simple but powerful idea on me: cities have personalities. And like people, those personalities shape the behavior, attitudes, and even the dreams of the communities that live in them.

Let’s ponder that concept for a minute.

Just like your one friend who's all about structure, discipline, and morning runs at 5 a.m., some cities carry that same vibe. Take Norfolk, Virginia — a city anchored by its military heritage. There’s a sense of hierarchy, process, and duty baked into the culture. That same structure bleeds into how the startup community operates — decisions tend to lean cautious, processes matter, and leadership tends to follow clear lines.

Now swing over to Boulder, Colorado, and you’re looking at something completely different. Boulder’s personality is more “do-gooder meets nature-loving free spirit.” It’s a city that breathes impact, sustainability, and intention. It’s no surprise the startups here often aim for more than just profit — they’re tackling climate change, wellness, and community equity with purpose and passion. They’re also more likely to share a kombucha than a coffee. ;-)

And then you’ve got Cleveland and Buffalo — two sister cities that carry a shared personality I’d call “glass half empty meets chip on the shoulder.” These are proud, resilient places where people quietly wonder if the world has passed them by. It shows up in conversations, in policies, and yes, in how startup communities evolve. Skepticism runs a little deeper. Optimism takes a bit more effort. The community reflex is to question whether big ideas will really take root here. Leadership is looked upon very differently in these cities.

But here’s the thing — that personality isn’t a liability necessarily. It’s a huge reality check. It forces entrepreneurs and community builders to earn every win. It breeds a kind of quiet grit that, when harnessed well, becomes rocket fuel for long-haul resilience. 

The City / Personality Insight

Here’s the insight that matters for you as a community builder, startup founder, or someone trying to plug into a local entrepreneurial scene:

The norms of a startup community are shaped by the personality of its city. And if you ignore that personality, you’re likely to misfire.

Trying to operate a fast-moving, disruption-at-all-costs startup in a city that values hierarchy and predictability can feel like swimming against the tide. Similarly, bringing a rigid, top-down leadership style into a collaborative, values-driven startup scene might get you iced out before you even get going.

And in cities like Cleveland or Buffalo, showing up with Silicon Valley swagger and no staying power will get you politely ignored — or not-so-politely shown the door.

What This Means for You

If you’re building a startup community, you have to tune into your city’s personality first. Who holds influence? What stories get told over and over again? What do people rally around — money, mission, lifestyle, legacy?

If you’re a founder new to a city, don’t just parachute in and assume that your new city operates similarly to your old city. Spend a few months just showing up. Attend the events. Ask questions. Listen. Learn what makes this place tick. Learn how startup investments get made.

And if you’re investing in the ecosystem, understand that what works in one place (say, a Boulder-style accelerator) might fall flat in another unless you translate it into the local dialect — culturally and operationally.

Want to spark collaboration in Norfolk? Build programs with structure, clear outcomes, and top-down support. Want to launch something big in Boulder? Make it open, community-led, and wrap it in values like sustainability and wellness. Want to earn trust in Cleveland or Buffalo? Show up consistently. Share wins. Give credit. Don’t oversell. Play the long game.

Startup communities don’t form in a vacuum. They are reflections of their cities — mirrors of their past, products of their culture, and engines of their future. So, before you build, launch, or fund — get to know the personality of the place. That context will guide the “how” just as much as the “what.”

Learn more about Techstars Startup Community partnerships, a new way for you to build your thriving startup community as a member of the Techstars network.

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