In the article An ESHIP Summit Primer: Creating an Ecosystem Building Movement, research shows that entrepreneurs and young companies are the key drivers of economic growth, and that entrepreneurship is vital to job creation and economic progress. It has become evident to a growing number that the best way to revitalize economies is through entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem building. This is especially true in uncertain times, when innovation is essential to navigating new and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

How is the health of the entrepreneur and startup ecosystem on the Olympic Peninsula? What is needed to keep it strong? More incubators? More accelerators? More training and support? More mentors? More networking? Maker Spaces and Fab Labs? Startup Weekends? More patient (and more local) capital? More affordable and accessible brick and mortar? More local markets and customers? All of the above?

CIE’s director Mike Skinner says “The article left me wanting. Missing was any mention of the human beings – the human development and human spirit, persistence, creativity and love that allows the human race to persist even in the face of a pandemic, widespread racial injustice, oven temperatures, fires, smoke-filled skies etc. Is there even a single mention of the words human or community in the article?”