The first month of the Make Startups Executive Fellowship has been a whirlwind! Seventeen ecosystem leaders, dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in their region, came together united by a shared mission to create opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.

Most of our tour stops are focused on learning about established startup ecosystems, ever wondered what it takes to launch one? In this episode we meet with Steve Justice, former Director of the Georgia Centers of Innovation and Aerospace Engineer, who came out of retirement to launch, Launch Fayette.

Our latest stop on the Ecosystem Tour took us to Sacramento, CA, where we learned about a startup community in transformation. The city is transitioning from a government-centric economy to one that thrives on innovation, particularly in health, agriculture, and clean technology sectors.

Our first stop on the Make Startups Ecosystem Tour is Reno, NV. Like many cities in America, Reno’s past isn’t necessarily how Reno defines itself today. Learn with us as we discover how building a startup community has helped redefine the city.

Join us in celebrating a year of policy achievements for Startups in 2023!

Starting a business is one of the primary ways to create generational wealth. This legislation will level the playing field by helping those facing generational poverty and unemployment to receive the support they need from our workforce development system. - Eric R. Parker, Cofounder & CEO

“I give Make Startups credit for making my dream a reality,” says Cobb.

At the Startup Champions Network Policy Summit, we joined over 80 leading practitioners in the field of entrepreneur support gathered in Washington D.C. to advocate together for continued change.

“It all comes back to food.”

“Make Startups reinforced what I knew was possible. It’s reassurance, ‘No, you’re not crazy, girl, you’re not dreaming too big.’ It reminds me it’s all possible.”

“I truly recommend anyone who is serious about starting a business to invest in themselves first by taking this course”

 “Before, I might not have understood something, but I was too embarrassed to ask. The Make Startups environment made me feel safe enough to be vulnerable.”

“Make Startups gave me confidence. It helped me to understand business, and not to be afraid to take the money.”

“I didn’t know how to create a real, sustainable business out of my passion.”

“The problem Make Startups solved for me was the confidence and ability to start my business and get my first client,”

“With Make Startups, I came to the realization that I didn’t really know what I didn’t know,”