Last Call: SourceLink Summit 2023

Time is running out to join our SourceLink Summit, an intimate gathering of top entrepreneurship thought leaders in San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 24-26. 

Three Compelling Reasons You Must Attend

1. Practitioner knowledge sharing from successful SourceLink affiliates across the country, including BizLink Orange, KCSourceLink, Nexus i90, Start In Wisconsin, MOSourceLink, and Sparkyard. Leaders from these networks will be co-representing a diverse set of institutions committed to successful entrepreneurship development, ranging from the non-profit sector, community foundations and trusts, economic development, higher education, to private sector organizations running ecosystem consultancies.

2. Exclusive deep-dive conversations with internationally recognized entrepreneurship thought leaders like Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Nathan Ohle, President and CEO, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Andy Stoll, Senior Program Officer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Maria Meyers, SourceLink Founder and Executive Director of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center.
   
3. Learn what it takes to create one of the most truly impactful and inspiring entrepreneurial networks in North America and the Caribbeans from our Puerto Rico partners Lucy Crespo, CEO, Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, Sofia Stolberg, CEO, Piloto 151 and Denisse Rodríguez Colón, Director, Colmena66.
   

Space is limited with preference to SourceLink affiliates.
Contact Pola Firestone to inquire about availability.

Broadband is Crucial Infrastructure to Support Entrepreneurship

Over 90% of small business owners leverage at least one type of technology platform to run their business. Affordable broadband access is absolutely necessary for effective entrepreneurship-led economic development in every community, for every size. Check out our latest blog to learn how SourceLink has been contributing expertise with the Missouri Broadband Resource Rail with meeting that need.

Celebrating American Libraries as Engines of Entrepreneurship

It’s National Library Lover’s Month and we know that they often can be unsung heroes of entrepreneurship. Many libraries provide advanced market research, free or low cost space, and even direct programing to equip innovators and business owners with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Take Action by Building Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems

As we honor and celebrate Black History Month, we challenge everyone to think about ways to make your local entrepreneurship network more inclusive and impactful. Here are a few of our favorite resources to guide your thinking:

• Learn about and champion organizations that specialize in advancing Black entrepreneurship. Among the best is the National Urban League and their network of Entrepreneurship Centers. There is also the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Minority Business Development Agency.

• Review the International Economic Development Council's Equitable Economic Development Playbook webinar for inspiration on how economic development organizations can take an introspective look at making their operations more equitable.
  
• Dr. Dell Gines' outstanding course on entrepreneurial ecosystem building  promotes inclusivity resulting in stronger, more resilient and productive economies. Listen to this podcast with Dell from our colleagues over at e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, or read the book that he wrote with Rodney Sampson (pictured above): Building Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Communities of Color.
• Last, but perhaps most importantly, go patronize a local Black-owned business, celebrate and amplify these companies in your community, and encourage all others to do the same this month and all throughout the year.

Upcoming Events

• Black History Month in February
• Library Lover’s Month in February
• IEDC Economic Development Academy, February 21-24
• Sustainability, Ethics and Entrepreneurship Conference, March 3-5
• International Women’s Day, March 8
• CityAge: How to Build the Future Workforce, March 8
• IEDC Business Retention and Expansion, March 9-10
• 2023 SXSW Interactive Conference, March 10-19
• America’s SBDC Day, March 15

Visit our Calendar of Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Events to discover more information on these events and other conversations just on the horizon.

Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

4747 Troost Ave None | Kansas City, MO 64110 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.