A Conversation on Founder-First Leadership with Chris Heivly

In this episode of Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron Taylor sits down with Chris Heivly — Managing Director of Build the Fort, co-founder of MapQuest, former Techstars Exec, investor and startup community-builder — to break down what it really takes to lead a founder-first startup ecosystem.

Chris argues that thriving innovation communities aren’t built through hierarchy, big budgets, or recycled playbooks from Silicon Valley — they’re built through trust, connection, and relentless service to founders. He shares how ecosystem builders can earn credibility, avoid the trap of copying other cities, and focus on the simple, repeatable actions that grow real startup momentum.

This conversation is a masterclass in ecosystem leadership mindset — practical, honest, and rooted in decades of experience.

🔗 Learn More

Explore Chris’s work, books, and thought leadership at https://heivly.com — a must-follow resource for anyone serious about startup community building.