Impact

Forward Cities is committed to the long-term work of equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem building in communities across the country.

We believe that for ecosystem building to galvanize more entrepreneurial starts and entrepreneurial successes in the long-run we need to start by rooting this work in a culture of trust and collaboration among those that champion and support entrepreneurs locally.

Building relationships requires time, dedication, and vulnerability, but it is the essential foundation for ecosystems to embark on conversations about strategic alignment and more coordinated action. Impact storytelling and tailored research are critical inputs to this process. They inform, focus minds, nurture empathy, build momentum and give voice and power to perspectives that have been sidelined for too long.

Through grappling with the stories and inequities we see in the data and people’s accounts we can define and then begin to remove barriers for under-connected communities to the necessary resources and relationships to start and grow new businesses.