Good question! Let’s start by laying some ground definitions per the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook 3.0 released via the EShip Summit.
Ecosystem Builders: Individuals who focus their work on building a system of support and resources for entrepreneurs in their communities or industries.
The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship is an Ecosystem Builder that works with numerous partners (also Ecosystem Builders) at the local, state, and federal levels to create opportunities for Entrepreneurs and communities across the PA Wilds.
Entrepreneurs: The makers, doers, and dreamers in our society.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: A network of people supporting entrepreneurs, and the culture of trust and collaboration that allows them to interact successfully. The speed at which talent, information, and resources move through the ecosystem can affect entrepreneurs at each stage in their lifecycle.
The Wilds Cooperative of PA is the network at the heart of the PA Wilds Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. The PA Wilds Center supports this network through opportunities related to PA Wilds licensing, PA Wilds Conservation Shop commerce platform, lifestyle marketing, professional development, connections to funding, and stewardship. Click here for more detail about those programs and services.