Build the Fort - by Chris Heivly (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

As adults, we seem to make everything harder.

We're driven to accelerate growth in our local startup communities-but in the process, we overthink, overanalyze, and overload even our simplest activities. Before long, our community goals buckle under the weight of our complex adult concerns. Our motivation dries up. Our best ideas fade away, leaving entrepreneurs no choice but to find another city in which to make their dreams come true.

The solution? Channel our inner ten-year-old...and Build the Fort.

With this simple, actionable metaphor, Chris Heivly empowers readers to replace the grown-up tendency to overcomplicate with his simple framework for effective community and ecosystem building. Energetic, friendly, and relatable, Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field Guide provides a compass to move our ideas forward more successfully and propel our cities into the upper echelon of startup communities.

Review Quotes

"Great entrepreneurs invariably come from healthy and robust ecosystems. Heivly's field guide details a mindset and a process to maximize the growth of rising startup communities."

- Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of Revolution and Co-founder of AOL

"Whether you want to understand the future of the innovation economy or seek to build it in your community, Chris Heivly has written the guidebook you need. A must-read for mayors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, economic developers, and city builders concerned with the future of communities large and small."

- Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

"Driving sustainable impact from entrepreneurial ecosystems is complex, rewarding, and always evolving. Setting conditions for entrepreneurs to start, iterate, and grow new businesses is an essential component for an economic development team focused on the future. In this book, Chris has captured the nuance and 'small wins' mindset required for communities to actively engage and participate in ecosystem development."

- Wendy Lea, entrepreneur, board member, ecosystem builder, and public/private partnership executive

"I have worked with Chris in cities across the US, and we both care about the same thing-how to inspire founders in non-traditional geographies."

- David Cohen, Chairman, Co-founder, and former CEO of Techstars