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

Let me start with a simple truth: if you want to help your startup community, help your founders. Period.

I don’t mean “help startups in general” or “help the idea of entrepreneurship” or "I support my startup community.” I mean, look a founder in the eye, ask them what they need, and do what you can to help them move forward — today, this week, this month, this year. That’s the game.

I’ve spent enough time with economic development pros to know your world is filled with metrics and mandates. Jobs created, capital raised, square footage filled. All important. But let’s be honest: those are outdated outcomes. They’re not inputs. The input — your real lever for change — is helping founders succeed.

Here’s the thing: too often, in the well-meaning world of ecosystem building, we lose the plot. We get obsessed with buildings, branding campaigns, five-year strategies, or chasing that mythical unicorn company that’ll put our city “on the map.” We get pulled into the orbit of local politics, organization defense and ribbon cuttings.

And while all that’s going on, there’s a founder out there working from their kitchen table, quietly building the thing that could be your next job engine, your next community success story, your next legacy.

But we didn’t help them. Why? Because we were too busy helping “the community.”

Helping your startup community means helping founders — every founder. Not just the polished ones. Not just the ones who show up at your events. Not just the ones who already have traction.

Every. Single. Founder.

If you want to help your startup community, help your founders.

This isn’t just idealism — it’s practical. Communities with the most vibrant startup ecosystems aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets or the flashiest buildings. They’re the ones where every founder feels seen. Where support is available, accessible, and authentic. Where showing up to a meetup might get you a mentor, a cofounder, or a customer.

It’s not magic. It’s care. It’s intention. It’s asking “what do you need right now?” and then rolling up your sleeves to help.

That’s the mindset shift: we stop designing ecosystems around outcomes and start designing them around people.

Here’s my challenge to you — economic developers, city leaders, chamber folks, and anyone else with “innovation” in your title: carve out one hour a week to meet with a founder. Ask them how it’s going. Ask them what they need. Open your network. Give first.

And when you do that consistently, something wild happens. Momentum builds. Trust spreads. Founders start showing up for each other. You build a real community — one that's founder-first, founder-fast, and founder-friendly.

That’s how you help your startup community.

Start with the founder. Everything else is just noise.

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