As a community-led Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO), echo was selected to
participate in Village Capital Foundation’s Regional ESO Training, a program designed to
strengthen ESOs in the Southeast by providing hands-on learning, peer collaboration, and
access to best practices for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs.
This experience was particularly impactful as the cohort’s final gathering took place in
Durham, NC, giving echo the opportunity to host a cohort learning day and an evening
networking and panel event centered on Purpose-Built Ecosystems.
Key Takeaways and Impact:
✅ Hosting a Thought-Leading Ecosystem Event – echo led a full day of learning and
connection, culminating in a high-impact panel discussion featuring key regional ecosystem builders:
● Mayor Leonardo Williams (Durham, NC) – championing inclusive economic growth
● Ben Redding (NC IDEA) – sharing insights on funding and entrepreneur support
● Ashli Sims (Build in Tulsa) – highlighting ecosystem-building for Black entrepreneurs
in Tulsa
This event underscored echo's role as a convener of meaningful dialogue and collaboration in the entrepreneurial landscape.
✅ Strengthened National and Regional Partnerships – echo leveraged its position as a host site to deepen relationships with ESOs across the Southeast, creating new opportunities for cross-community learning, resource sharing, and collaborative impact.
✅ Enhanced Capacity to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs – echo integrated best
practices in capital access, mentorship models, and investment readiness into its
Entrepreneurs Building Entrepreneurs (EBE) framework, ensuring a stronger support system for youth, immigrant, and underrepresented founders in the Triangle region.
✅ Elevating Durham as a Hub for Inclusive Entrepreneurship – By bringing national and
regional leaders to Durham for this culminating event, echo helped showcase the city’s
entrepreneurial ecosystem while advocating for purpose-built support structures that meet the needs of diverse founders.
By participating in and hosting a segment of Village Capital’s ESO training, echo further
solidified its leadership in building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and remains
committed to fostering economic resilience through entrepreneurship.
Other Entrepreneur Support Organizations:
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