Neighborhoods are a collection of houses set an intentional distance away from each other. Community is built when these neighbors begin working together, supporting each other, and sharing information. It’s not the structures that create the community but the movement in between.
As it pertains to ecosystems, Dug Song, founder of Duo Security, Michigan’s first unicorn company, and co-chair at the Michigan Founders Fund, described this as shifting emphasis from static entities (“nouns”) like companies, capital, and institutions to the dynamic actions and processes (“verbs”) that make an ecosystem function and grow.
While tangible, fixed components of an ecosystem—companies, capital, infrastructure, or even policies—are important, they are not sufficient on their own to drive the growth or vitality of the ecosystem.
Ecosystems need the energy of continuous engagement—ongoing action, movement, and interaction—to sustain and grow the ecosystem. If the focus is only on “nouns,” the ecosystem becomes static, and growth will plateau.
“Ecosystems function a lot like movements. And movements depend on the power of super connectors,” Song said.
How the system works—how ideas are exchanged, connections are made, people and resources are mobilized—is less about having the right companies or funding in place and more about how these elements are actively used to create change and foster growth.
Focusing on the “verbs” also allows ecosystem builders to measure an ecosystem’s health in terms of ongoing actions and relationships (repeat founders, sustained capital inflow) rather than just static, short-term outputs (job creation, revenue).
This mindset shift ensures an ecosystem is dynamic and capable of fostering sustained growth rather than just existing as a collection of static resources.
Super Connectors as Role Models
Super connectors, individuals or groups who serve as trusted leaders and create pathways for others to follow, are a high-frequency verb within all ecosystems. They create bridges, share resources, and are visible and accessible within the ecosystem. Super connectors often come from diverse backgrounds, making them relatable role models.
Song was one. Coming from a non-tech, non-traditional entrepreneurial family was key to his understanding of the challenges facing new founders in Detroit. His story of founding Duo Security proves entrepreneurs don’t have to be born into an established industry or have a Silicon Valley pedigree to build something meaningful.
He, and other role models like him, give others permission to believe they can succeed, too. Founders who share cultural, socioeconomic, or regional similarities with new entrepreneurs help to shift the narrative around entrepreneurship in a city. They demystify the entrepreneurial journey, making it not just a theoretical or abstract concept, but a tangible, accessible career path for many who may not have considered it otherwise.
Jamie McDonald, ecosystem builder and former CEO of UpSurge Baltimore, built upon this, saying role models help to create a culture that supports innovation and entrepreneurship by making the idea of starting a business less abstract and more accessible and helping people understand the far-reaching impact and shared, community-wide vision entrepreneurial ventures can have.
Super Connectors as Collaborators
Ecosystem building is a long-term, patient process, requiring significant cultural work and trust-building among stakeholders. For ecosystems to flourish, especially in regions with established industries, there must be a cultural shift toward thriving entrepreneurship as well as intentional collaboration across various stakeholders, including family offices, academic institutions, and government entities.
One of the challenges Song noted in Michigan was that Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing all had burgeoning startup scenes but were initially operating as silos without enough collaboration or strategic integration.
Building ecosystems is not just about fostering growth in a single city—it’s about creating interconnected geographic communities, or what McDonald calls ‘city-states.’ The collaboration between cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor is essential, but it is only possible when ecosystems can connect the dots across regions and sectors.
Song and other ecosystem builders in the region fostered a networked approach to innovation there. For example, Detroit’s tech ecosystem benefitted from the academic and research-driven talent coming out of Ann Arbor. Conversely, Ann Arbor benefitted from the commercialization and scaling opportunities in Detroit’s startup scene.
Their new model recognizes ecosystems thrive when they can share resources, learn from one another, and create synergies across sectors and regions. By connecting stakeholders, cities, and industries, Michigan is now better positioned to build a thriving, interconnected ecosystem that can compete on a national and global stage.
The Future of Super Connectors
Super connectors are crucial to the longevity and success of thriving ecosystems. They create the space for collaboration, innovation, and growth but also ensure ecosystems continue to thrive long after they have exited the chat.
It is not enough to simply build an ecosystem; the knowledge that supports the ecosystem’s success must be shared, circulated, and preserved. Super connectors are key to this flow of knowledge and distribute it across the ecosystem by making introductions, guiding new founders, and mentoring others based on their experiences. They play an essential role in circulating institutional knowledge and ensuring it doesn’t get trapped within one individual or organization.
While there is a delicate balance between legacy knowledge and new ideas, establishing mechanisms for knowledge sharing, peer networks, and fostering a culture of mentorship ensures ecosystems are self-sustaining and lessons learned can continue to shape the future of entrepreneurship.
As large and complex as most ecosystems are, the power of their success lies within the connections and movement inside. Super connectors are high utilizers and drivers of these interactions and, therefore, critical to ecosystem growth and sustainability.