What You'll Learn:
- Why startups, not corporations, create nearly all net new jobs — and how to capture this impact locally.
- The 5-step rule (Identify --> Educate → Activate → Accelerate → Scale) that governments, chambers, and cities can use to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- How to quantify entrepreneurial potential using data-driven insights from 16+ years of research.
- The key entrepreneurial traits (curiosity, perseverance, self-reliance) that drive success, and how to develop them in your community.
- How regions can leverage their unique strengths instead of trying to be “the next Silicon Valley.”
- Why early-stage support and mindset development matter more than skills training alone.
- How to activate new funders and capital sources to sustain ecosystem growth.
About the Speaker:
- Jonathan Greechan - Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute - Jonathan Greechan is the Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, he has grown and scaled the organization to chapters in over 200 cities and 100 countries, producing over 8000 portfolio companies with nearly $2B in venture funding. In his long career in tech and marketing, Jonathan has advised thousands of startups on marketing, growth, and product strategy and has spoken at startup conferences on four continents.
Who Should Attend?
This session is designed for Economic Development Officers, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations, and City Leaders who want actionable strategies to create jobs, retain talent, attract investment, and take visible credit for regional growth.
About Founder Institute:
The Founder Institute partners with governments and economic development agencies to activate grassroots entrepreneurs, build credible deal pipelines, and turn local ecosystems into engines of sustained economic growth.
Learn more at
https://fi.co/government