Why are entrepreneurial ecosystems so important for a city’s economy.

In this episode of Winning Strategies Playbook, James and Megan are joined by Cameron Cushman, Innovation Ecosystem Assistant VP at UNT Health Science Center. Cameron has dedicated the last 5 1/2 years to building the start-up ecosystem in Fort Worth, TX.

Cameron shares his journey of identifying a gap in innovation around entrepreneurial ecosystems and creating accelerator programs. He talks about the importance of building a strong ecosystem to support startups and provide practical steps for entrepreneurs to succeed without spending a lot of money. He also discusses the “Fort Worth way” and the need to break down gates to information to increase entrepreneurship in minority communities.

Cameron also shares why he’s so passionate about bringing more programs like TechStars to Fort Worth, and how cities and its residents can benefit in the long-term from more start-ups. He also discusses why although the city has come a long way, there’s still a long way to go.