Startup Champions Network Summit
2018-04-03 - 2018-04-05
Twice annually, Startup Champions Network members meet in-person to connect, share knowledge/experiences, and take a deep, behind-the-scenes dive into the local host ecosystem. CO.STARTERS is hosting the Spring 2018 Summit in Chattanooga. If you are interested in learning more about the Startup Champions Network and how you might participate in this event, details can be found here.

Hometown Summit
2018-04-11 - 2018-04-14 | Charlottesville, VA
The Hometown Summit is a forum to advance resilience and thriving in America’s small cities. Launched in 2017 with over 450 changemakers from 76 US cities, the Summit returns this April for three days of insights and fellowship across geographies and sectors. Addressing national challenges with local solutions, the theme of 2018’s Summit is “Own It.”

InBIA International Conference on Business Incubation
2018-04-22 - 2018-04-25
This year, InBIA’s 32nd International Conference on Business Incubation will be held in Dallas, Texas, and they are inviting everyone who works with an entrepreneurial support organization (ESO) to join them at this year’s conference. The agenda will feature more than 30 educational sessions (including one on ecosystem building by our very own Enoch Elwell), powerful keynote speakers, and several unique opportunities to meet, connect and collaborate with peers from around the globe. Come hang out with us at this event!

Rural RISE Summit
2018-05-14 - 2018-05-16 | Canaan Valley Resort, 230 Main Lodge Rd, Davis, West Virginia
How do we empower the leaders, doers, and innovators in rural communities? Rural RISE is the inaugural summit for rural leaders fighting to answer that question in their communities, co-hosted by CO.STARTERS. Spend some time with the CO.STARTERS team as we work with others to bridge the gap for underserved entrepreneurs in rural communities. Go here to register.

CO.STARTERS May Community Call: Engaging Community Partners
2018-05-17 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Sometimes it’s challenging as one organization to provide everything your starters need. How do you create collaborative community partnerships with other support organizations to better support your starters? Join MORTAR Cincinnati, ETC Baltimore, and others to discuss how they have leveraged other existing resources in their communities to provide a continuum of support.
If you are not currently a CO.STARTERS member and would like to join the call, reach out and let us know.

Image Credit: Startup Week Chattanooga, a great example of community partnership

ESHIP Summit
2018-07-11 - 2018-07-13 | Kansas City Marriot Downtown, 200 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO
Launched in 2017, the ESHIP Summit is a three-year initiative designed to bring early adopters of entrepreneurial ecosystem building together to collaboratively create the tools, resources and knowledge the field needs to more effectively do the work of creating inclusive communities that empower entrepreneurs. For more information visit www.eshipsummit.org.

CO.STARTERS July Community Call: Ongoing Support for Alumni
2018-07-19 16:00 - 17:00
How do you keep alumni engaged and continue to support them on their startup journeys? On our July Community Call, learn about some valuable new programs coming from CO.STARTERS that will help with ongoing support for alumni. We’ll also hear a few stories from members of the community about how they support their alumni well.
If you are not currently a CO.STARTERS member and would like to join the call, reach out and let us know.

36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival
2018-08-29 - 2018-08-30 | Nashville, TN
Against the exciting backdrop of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, thought leaders nationwide convene for this two-day, high-impact event that offers the knowledge, connections and capital that are crucial to maintaining a competitive position in today’s globalized marketplace. Learn more and register for the Southeast’s premier gathering of founders, investors and ecosystem builders here.

e.Builders Forum
2018-09-17 - 2018-09-18 | Detroit, MI
This fall, CO.STARTERS will be partnering with InBIA on the second Ecosystem Builders (e.Builders) Forum. This two-day event in Detroit will combine InBIA’s seasoned practitioners, local industry leaders, and some CO.STARTERS flair as we share tools, resources, and success stories that highlight work being done in underserved communities. We’ll provide special ways for our CO.STARTERS community to connect with one another at the event, so be sure to join us! Learn more here.

CO.STARTERS September Community Call: What's Next?
2018-09-20 16:00 - 17:00
A question we’ve been hearing a lot from our CO.STARTERS community is “What’s next?” What’s next for our starters? What’s next for our local community? What’s next from CO.STARTERS? We’ve realized that the answer is not a one-size-fits-all approach. As CO.STARTERS changes and grows, part of that change is developing new ways to support you better on the local level. In our September Community Call, we’ll be sharing some of the ways we’re evolving (including our entire philosophy of how we engage communities), as well as new supports for current programs we’ll be rolling out in the coming months. We also will have an opportunity to hear from you—our community—to learn what you want from us.

IEDC Conference
2018-09-30 - 2018-10-02 | ATL
2018 Annual Conference
September 30 – October 3, 2018 | Atlanta, GA
In communities across the globe, there is a shared dream – one where every person has the opportunity to reach their fullest productive potential regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, income, background, or geography. Indeed, we are surrounded by neighbors who are facing significant barriers from fulfilling their dreams. How can we do better in helping all of the people living in our communities who would like to participate in the surrounding economy find a means to do so? How can we as economic developers work with our other community partners in helping to address these barriers? And how can we be more intentional about developing, recruiting, and expanding economic activities that would enable a community’s people to participate in those activities in their backyards?
Share cutting-edge ideas and engage your colleagues at the premier event for economic development practitioners.

SOCAP
2018-10-23 - 2018-10-26 | San Francisco
http://socialcapitalmarkets.net/
Dedicated to Accelerating a New Global Market at the Intersection of Money + Meaning.

ESHIP Goal #3 Shared Vision: Monthly Working Group Check-in Call
2018-11-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2018-12-06 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom, details below
The ESHIP Community exists to collaboratively establish the Ecosystem Building approach to economic development.
This monthly working group check-in is focused on supporting initiatives related to ESHIP GOAL 3: Shared Vision (Establish shared outcomes and a common lexicon for our work.)
To register for this call, use this link:
https://kauffman.zoom.us/meeting/register/d7f73278ebfefb707510d14dfea9e911
(After registering, click “add to calendar” to have the call info automatically added for all future calls)

ESHIP Goal #5 Quantified Methods: Monthly Working Group Check-in Call
2018-11-01 16:00 - 17:00 | zoom, details below
The ESHIP Community exists to collaboratively establish the Ecosystem Building approach to economic development.
This monthly working group check-in is focused on supporting initiatives related to ESHIP GOAL 5: Quantified Methods (Define the methods and metrics for evidence-based ecosystem building.)
To register for this call, use this link:
TBD
(After registering, click “add to calendar” to have the call info automatically added for all future calls)

ESHIP Goal #4 Connected Networks: Monthly Working Group Check-in Call
2018-11-06 15:00 - 16:00 | zoom details below
The ESHIP Community exists to collaboratively establish the Ecosystem Building approach to economic development.
This monthly working group check-in is focused on supporting initiatives related to ESHIP GOAL 4: Connected Networks (Build field-wide communication channels to connect ecosystem builders across networks.)
To register for this call, use this link:
https://kauffman.zoom.us/meeting/register/e31baac11ea489c066858a512be5123a
(After registering, click “add to calendar” to have the call info automatically added for all future calls)

Forward Cities
2018-11-07 - 2018-11-09
Twice a year, Forward Cities hosts national conferences to deepen connections, strengthen opportunities for collaboration, and advance our understanding and commitment to inclusive innovation and shared prosperity in our communities.
The fall conference attracts 400+ leaders from over sixty cities from around the world. It is an unparalleled, high energy opportunity to make new connections and foster existing friendships within a robust learning environment. Every session is designed to provoke and provide practical ideas to advance inclusive innovation in the community. Tours integrated into the experience allows opportunities to see cutting edge ideas in action and to explore the host city. This fall’s conference is scheduled for Miami, November 7-9, 2018. Go here to learn more and register.

Global Entrepreneurship Week
2018-11-12 - 2018-11-18
Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.

ESHIP Goal #1 Inclusive Field: Monthly Working Group Check-in Call
2018-11-13 13:00 - 14:00 | zoom, details below
The ESHIP Community exists to collaboratively establish the Ecosystem Building approach to economic development.
This monthly working group check-in is focused on supporting initiatives related to ESHIP GOAL 1: Inclusive Field (Ensure ecosystem builders from diverse perspectives lead our field.)
To register for this call, use this link:
https://kauffman.zoom.us/meeting/register/3e1b2debdd9fc9d67510d14dfea9e911
(After registering, click “add to calendar” to have the call info automatically added for all future calls)

ESHIP Goal #2 Collaborative Culture: Monthly Working Group Check-in Call
2018-11-13 17:00 - 18:00 | zoom, details below
The ESHIP Community exists to collaboratively establish the Ecosystem Building approach to economic development.
This monthly working group check-in is focused on supporting initiatives related to ESHIP GOAL 2: Collaborative Culture (Strengthen the culture within our field.)
To register for this call, use this link:
TBD
(After registering, click “add to calendar” to have the call info automatically added for all future calls)

RuralRISE Action Session Webconference
2018-11-15 14:00 - 15:00 | zoom details below
Zoom Details: Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +16465588656,,4347467077# or +14086380968,,4347467077#
Or Telephone: Dial: +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) or +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) Meeting ID: 434 746 7077

CO.STARTERS November Community Call: Microlending
2018-11-15 16:00 - 17:00
Many businesses need capital in order to thrive. However, for many starters, traditional means are difficult to access. On our November call, learn how members of our community are using microlending to get their startups the funds they need. We’ll hear from a wide array of organizations – from an insider perspective on working with lending institutions to tips on creating your own microlending program.

SSTI: Navigating the New Innovation Landscape
2018-12-03 - 2018-12-05
SSTI’s 2018 Annual Conference is December 3-5, 2018, in the growing innovation arena of Salt Lake City, Utah. Along with our host partner — the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) — SSTI is looking forward to showcasing the elements that have earned the region the reputation as a burgeoning technology hub.
Join us to focus on Navigating the New Innovation Landscape as we learn how the region’s success was achieved and USTAR’s role in helping build the state’s innovation economy. Discover the elements that are driving the growth while you reconnect and network with other leaders in the field. And learn more about the role of R&D, capital, workforce, and public/private partnerships in building a successful technology-based economy from the panels of experts and thought leaders that will gather at the conference.
Go here to learn more and register.

RuralRISE Action Session Webconference
2018-12-20 14:00 - 15:00 | zoom details below
Zoom Details:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/4347467077
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +16465588656,,4347467077# or +14086380968,,4347467077#
Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) or +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 434 746 7077

CO.STARTERS January Community Call
2019-01-24 16:00 - 17:00
Getting Starters Unstuck
If you’re a community leader supporting entrepreneurs, we’re pretty sure you’ve experienced it. Someone comes in looking for help, which you are happy to offer. However, it takes over an hour to even begin understanding what their business is, let alone identifying their issue and pointing them in the right direction. On this month’s community call, our founder Enoch Elwell will share his structured technique on how to quickly and efficiently get starters unstuck and provide greater value—in 30 minutes or less.

SOCAP365
2019-02-11 | Impact Hub Seattle, 220 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, USA, 301 2nd Ave S, United States
Social Capital Markets (SOCAP), the premier conference at the intersection of money and meaning, returns to the Pacific NW for a full-day convening to deepen the conversation, expand the community and activate financing to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. A final agenda with confirmed speakers will be published one week before the event.

National Entrepreneurship Week
2019-02-16 - 2019-02-23
What is National Entrepreneurship Week?
Founded in 2006, National Entrepreneurship Week (“NEW”) is a congressionally-chartered week dedicated to showcasing entrepreneurship “eship” throughout the United States. From rural towns to urban cities and large corporations to micro businesses–entrepreneurship and innovation starts with just an idea and an entrepreneur.
When is National Entrepreneurship Week 2019?
NEW 2019 takes place on February 16-23, 2019.
To help engage a range of communities across the U.S., NEW 2019 will be highlighting a daily theme on February 18-22. This year’s themes focus on:

Monday, Feb 18 Entrepreneurship Education
Tuesday, Feb 19 Libraries & Incubators
Wednesday, Feb 20 Entrepreneurship for All
Thursday, Feb 21 Rural Towns & Urban Cities
Friday, Feb 22 Federal Support for Entrepreneurship

SCN Spring Summit
2019-03-19 - 2019-03-21 | Portland, OR, USA, United States
Twice annually, Startup Champion Network members meet in-person to connect, share knowledge/experiences and take a deep, behind-the-scenes dive into the local host ecosystem. This personal interaction is a critical part of the member value-proposition as well as an important commitment all members make — to celebrate each other.
These 2.5 day intimate gatherings bring together the nation’s top ecosystem builders and national ecosystem support organizations to convene conversations, gain insight from real world case studies, and explore and experience new communities, against the backdrops of some of the nation’s top emerging ecosystems.
We’re looking forward to spending time again with our growing network of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building professionals this Spring in Portland, Oregon. Sign up for our summit here.

2019 Rural Development Conference
2019-03-20 - 2019-03-21 | Murfreesburo, TN
Hosted by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), USDA Rural Development (RD), and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), we partner to bring together local leaders from across rural Tennessee to encourage, inspire, and learn from each other. We strive to gather expert Speakers from across the nation with sessions to cover a broad range of topics important to rural communities from economic and community development strategies to leadership development.
Conference begins at 1:00pm CDT Wednesday, March 20, 2019 with registration opening at 11:00am, and ends at 12:00pm CDT Thursday, March 21, 2019.

Main Street Now Conference
2019-03-25 - 2019-03-27 | Seattle, WA, USA, United States
Main Street Now attracts professionals in preservation-based, economic development and community revitalization, including both experienced and new downtown and neighborhood Main Street directors, volunteers, architects, planners, economic development professionals, public officials, volunteers, and consultants.
People from urban neighborhood business districts, small and rural towns, suburban communities, and large and midsized cities will all benefit from ideas, solutions, issue discussion, and networking opportunities that only we offer.
– Three full days of learning and networking opportunities
– Daylong Main Street Approach® training;
– Mobile workshops where attendees learn from revitalization successes and challenges in our host city and surrounding Main Street communities;
– Expo Hall filled with product and service providers specializing in commercial district revitalization; and
– Opportunities to network with colleagues who are experiencing similar successes and challenges in their communities.
