Insights from Our Experts

And why the communities that need the most help are often the least equipped to get it.

Using AI to Deliver More Personalized Entrepreneur Support at Scale

The shift from silo to system is the defining leadership challenge of this decade.

Top economic development ecosystems use a centralized CRM to track impact, automate reporting, and prove results to funders. Here's how they do it.

Most CRMs were built for sales. Economic developers need something different. Here's what to look for in an ESO CRM — and why Catalyzer is free.

Find the right accelerator management software to track cohorts, automate reporting, and prove impact to funders. Compare what matters most.

What separates a purpose-built incubator CRM from a sales tool with new labels. Plus real results from Velocity.

Starting your ESO without a CRM means rebuilding your data infrastructure later — the hard way. Here's why program managers set up structure early.

Learn how LAUNCH Chattanooga designs, fills, and runs cohort programs that create real outcomes for entrepreneurs.

Learn the essential metrics ESOs need to prove value, secure grants, and demonstrate real impact.

A 6-step framework to organize small business data into meaningful impact measurement

Great incubator cohorts don't happen by accident. Learn how top program managers structure intake, track milestones, and turn cohort data into funder-ready reports.

Realizing an idea needs to be paused or revised is a thoughtful decision that creates a long-term positive impact.

Trust is the foundation of successful programs. Learn 5 practical strategies for program managers to build authentic relationships with entrepreneurs.

University entrepreneurship programs struggle with generic CRMs. This post explains why purpose-built tools like Catalyzer are essential for tracking true economic impact.

Building the Next Generation of Program Infrastructure for Government and Nonprofits

Why a free, purpose-built CRM gives you more time for the mission that brought you here.

Strong relationships, simple structure. That’s the recipe for mentor programs that actually move entrepreneurs forward.

Collect less, learn more. A clean intake creates faster support for entrepreneurs and trustworthy reporting for funders.

Measure less, learn more. A focused KPI set creates clarity for teams, confidence for funders, and momentum for entrepreneurs.

The new platform empowers program managers nationwide with real-time insights, streamlined workflows, and direct-to-entrepreneur connectivity through an upcoming mobile app.

Building a statewide rural innovation network with university resources and a purpose-built software.

What to look for, what to avoid, and how leaders in incubators and universities use tech to scale.

Economic Impact Catalyst CEO David Ponraj joins IEDC’s Board of Directors to advance entrepreneurship-led development.

How generic CRMs fail program managers. They're built for sales, not for tracking the complex journey of entrepreneurs.

For years, small business support pros have struggled with generic tools. Learn how a new, purpose-built platform can address their unique challenges and workflows.

This next generation of program management tools can only be built with deep empathy for the people who use it daily. They should fade into the background, becoming an invisible force multiplier. Not another system to learn, but a true catalyst for change.

From farm-fresh eggs to software design, presentation shapes perception. Learn why EIC is refreshing its UI/UX to match its powerful platform.

How BUILD Institute is using data to center equity, track real journeys, and transform Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Why small towns may just hold the key to the future of American innovation and how Startup Space is scaling what rural communities do best.

The question isn't whether technology will replace human experts. It's how organizations can harness the unique strengths of both in a synergistic partnership where each amplifies the other's capabilities.

Communities around the country are refocusing efforts on developing and supporting entrepreneurship. One of the first steps many take is defining what their unique community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem looks like.

In this post, we share five ways an economic developer can play a vital role in building a vibrant business community in their region and become a true ecosystem convener.

Technological platforms like Catalyzer have emerged as powerful allies for economic development organizations (EDOs) aiming to bolster small businesses and elevate local economies.

Entrepreneurship and economic development are inextricably linked, as they share many goals and work together to create a cycle of community growth.

Entrepreneurship drives local job creation — but tracking that impact takes more than intuition. Here's the data, and how ESOs measure it.

This is the goal of entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED): when entrepreneurs are part of an ecosystem with support in place to grant them these invaluable resources efficiently, their businesses and the local economy can thrive.

While third places provide this level of connection and access for the community, the small business owners in charge of these locations also need a heightened level of connection and accessibility to grow their businesses. EIC provides a solution with the Startup Space platform.

CRM platforms, along with a robust program management tool, are a game changer when it comes to running programs for entrepreneurs.

I asked Chat ChatGPT what ecosystem mapping was.

Entrepreneurship-led Economic Development (ELED) is a series of steps taken to develop an economy and generate revenue for a region through new business starts and existing business growth.

One of my guiding principles—and EIC’s—is that the key to good product management is having constant communication with our clients. If our product isn’t working for them, then what is its purpose?