2025 was a tough year for anyone who runs an ESO, nonprofit, or supports equitable entrepreneurship. Our members felt it. Our sponsors felt it. And we felt it, too.

But do you know what’s amazing? The spirit and resiliency of people who are passionate about creating change in their ecosystems. We also felt it in every member interaction, across social media, and in the emails exchanged.

This year, as an organization, we …

  • Celebrated every new and returning member

  • We welcomed new board members

  • We hosted 2ish Summits

  • We explored the Las Vegas ecosystem

  • We went back to normal and convened 100+ practitioners in Augusta

  • We made headlines

  • We held Coffee Roulettes

  • We celebrated member successes

2025 Summits

Our Spring Summit in Las Vegas didn’t go exactly as planned, but we pivoted and took an intimate group of members and board members on an ecosystem tour, where we learned about the work of the first-ever Office of Entrepreneurship in the country.

Thank you, Shaq Cruz and the team at Nevada Governor’s Office of Entrepreneurship, for the warm welcome. The Las Vegas Ecosystem Tour was an unforgettable look at the city’s entrepreneurial renaissance—from historic revitalization projects to cutting-edge innovation hubs. A few fun things we experienced were:

  • Our first ecosystem roast

  • A Tech Alley “Mastermind” event where entrepreneurs support each other with quick rounds of problem-solving

  • The Launch of the Nevada Business Hub, powered by EcoMap

  • Meeting Dave Burlin, the Las Vegas Global Entrepreneurship Week coordinator, who organizes weekly Vets in Tech events to bring the Veteran entrepreneurship community together

  • A tour of Black Fire Innovation, where major hospitality brands test cutting-edge technologies

  • A tour of the Historic Westside

“There’s a real renaissance happening here. Founders are hitting Series A raises and setting records for investment. It’s a signal that we’re producing capable, visionary leaders—and building something real.” - Shaq Cruz

Our Fall Summit brought together 100+ ecosystem builders in Augusta, Georgia, for a summit centered on “Open Invitations.” We talked about the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting what can happen when both sides of the river collaborate. We explored what it really means to show up, stay in it, and build community. We also got a deeper look at the work of Make Startups. Some firsts were:

  • Teeing off on a historic golf course for Golf with Locals

  • Hearing TEDx style talks in a historic theater

  • Welcomed a Mayor AND a state Senator

  • Taking a boat ride to another state

We also made the news!

New Board Members

We are so excited to welcome new board members to the SCN team! Each new board member brings a unique perspective to ecosystem building. We can’t wait to see how their contributions and leadership help shape the future of our organization.

Looking Forward

We're the community that celebrates the culture and the people behind the work, takes seriously the professional development of ecosystem builders, and believes thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems should exist everywhere—not just in traditional startup hubs.  Looking into 2026, we are…

If you’re not already a member, we invite you to learn more about our network, consider joining our guild, and help us continue building a future where entrepreneurship is truly accessible to everyone, everywhere.