Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field Guide

by Chris Heivly

As adults, we seem to make everything harder. We’re driven to accelerate growth in our local startup communities—but in the process, we overthink, overanalyze, and overload even our simplest activities. Before long, our community goals buckle under the weight of our complex adult concerns. Our motivation dries up. Our best ideas fade away, leaving entrepreneurs no choice but to find another city in which to make their dreams come true. The solution? Channel our inner ten-year-old…and Build the Fort . With this simple, actionable metaphor, Chris Heivly empowers readers to replace the grown-up tendency to overcomplicate with his simple framework for effective community and ecosystem building. Energetic, friendly, and relatable, Build the The Startup Community Builder’s Field Guide provides a compass to move our ideas forward more successfully and propel our cities into the upper echelon of startup communities.

Genres: Entrepreneurship

218 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2023

Reviews

[Chris Heivly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very biased (as the author).

[Lisa Hagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have known Chris for about 8 years now and read his first book right when I was starting a new company, in which he guided me to avoid quite a few of what could have been disastrous pitfalls.

There are so many unknowns when starting a new company, Chris guides you through with excellent and often humorous advice that I still use to this day. He helped me to stop second guessing decisions and to take the big leaps necessary to grow my business. One of his best pieces of advice was on letting go of what is not working. Not to hold on to an issue and feel like I have to fix it. That was incredibly freeing.

His years of experience are all encapsulated here in a concise and accessible way. He is a smart guy and I’m glad I paid attention and used his invaluable knowledge. My business continues to grow and I still love what I do. Thank you, Chris!

[James Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was quite bland. I would liken it to what I imagine gumming on dry chicken would be like…and ultimately I believe that says more about the kinds of books I like to read than the quality of this one. Anyway, now I have slightly more appreciation for entrepreneurship.

There is no startup CEO, only startup tribesmen.

[James Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, insightful, useful (above all else), and a pleasure to read.