Today we're thrilled to welcome Brad Feld, co-founder of Techstars and Foundry Group, bestselling author of "Venture Deals" and his latest book "Give First: The Power of Mentorship."

With over 35 years as an early-stage investor and entrepreneur, Brad has been instrumental in shaping modern startup culture through his investments in companies like Fitbit, Zynga, and MakerBot, and his pioneering work building entrepreneurial ecosystems worldwide.

In this special episode recorded at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis, Brad shares the philosophy that has defined his career and influenced thousands of founders globally.

Key Topics Covered:
• The origin and evolution of the "Give First" philosophy—helping others without expecting immediate returns
• The Boulder Thesis: Four principles for building thriving startup communities anywhere in the world
• Why entrepreneurs (and instigators) must lead with a 20-year perspective
• How Techstars evolved from "pull" to "push" and back to "pull" again—and the lessons learned
• The critical difference between having a "North Star" versus understanding your mission and continuously evolving
• Brad's four priorities approaching 60: reading, writing, running, and spending time with wife Amy Batchelor
• Why transactional relationships kill startup community momentum
• The importance of inclusivity and continuous engagement in building sustainable ecosystems

Links:
Give First: The Power of Mentorship - https://www.techstars.com/give-first
Techstars - https://www.techstars.com
Foundry Group - https://foundry.vc
Feld Thoughts Blog - https://feld.com
Startup Communities Book - https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Startup+Communities
Venture Deals - https://venturedeals.com
Anchor Point Foundation - https://www.anchorpointfoundation.org
Global Entrepreneurship Congress - https://www.gec.co

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