Amy Beaird, PhD

Innovation Ecosystem Building Consultant

Transform your region into a more connected, inclusive and vibrant innovation ecosystem.Want to join us?
Join readers of The Ecosystem Builders Edge for tips, strategies, and resources to launch, grow, and sustain your innovation ecosystem.

Ecosystem Builder's Edge Newsletter

© Amy Beaird. All rights reserved.

Work

Hi–I’m Amy Beaird. I help innovation ecosystem builders strengthen their regions and their resolve.[ An open letter to innovation ecosystem builders]Navigating the innovation landscape is about embracing a purpose-driven journey.We approach our mission in a way that values collaboration, adaptability, and purposeful impact, and shared goals.The innovation ecosystem builder doesn't ask: “how can I gain?” They ask: “what kind of impact do I want to create?”, and then cultivates an ecosystem to amplify that impact.It’s not just about generating more solutions, revenue or jobs; it’s about fostering meaningful progress in our regions and communities.We cultivate dynamic and agile ecosystems — prioritizing interconnectedness and effective systems thinking to transform communities.Sometimes that means a hands-on approach, and often we leverage a network of specialists, collaborators, and partners to do collectively what none of us can do alone.At the end of the day, what unites us is a shared goal: Foster a culture that drives meaningful connections…and create a future where innovations abound.

About

Hi – I’m Amy. I help innovation ecosystem builders to grow and sustain their regional economies.[ My story ]
Over the last two decades, I have worked in all aspects of the innovation ecosystem from leading R&D in entrepreneurial startups to building academic incubator labs to setting strategy and scaling state-wide initiatives with multi-million-dollar budgets.
After 3 years of implementing best practice programs and incredible growth in my regional ecosystem, I've refined scalable methods to share with you.I'm taking everything I learned and boiling it down to make it easy for other ecosystem builders to create impact faster and with more intention.Now I run a small consultancy that teaches ecosystem builders how to accelerate regional innovation, develop the strategies and stories to sustain it, and restore themselves and their communities.When I'm not working, I'm an angel investor, a mentor to underestimated innovators and you’ll often find me on long walks, on park picnics with my sweet family, trying to learn pickleball and planting succulents.

Contact

Contact me or book a 30-minute discovery call

2024 Pricing GUIDE

There are a variety of ways to work with us. Please choose the options best suited to your interests and contact us with your project needs. Find me on LinkedIn or Book a 1:1 Call to discuss your project.

WEBINAR

The Ultimate Guide to
Funding
Your Ecosystem

Watch the recording

In partnership with Ecomap, we hosted an informative webinar to help you unlock strategic funding opportunities and build impactful programs that meet the needs of innovators in your community.Walk through the slides here.


SPONSORSHIP

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UPCOMING ECOSYSTEM BUILding Events

Stay connected with upcoming events where ecosystem builders gather:

EventDatesLocation
Ecosystem Building Leadership ProjectOngoingVirtual
Tuesday Impact Leaders Lab4th TuesdaysVirtual
American Manufacturing Communities CollaborativeWeekly on MondaysVirtual
SBA Innovation Ecosystem CallMonthlyVirtual
Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation Research ConferenceJune 13-14, 2024Boulder, CO
IEDC Economic Future ForumJune 16-18, 2024Spokane, WA
SBIR/STTR Spring Innovation Conference and ESO SummitJune 17-19, 2024Washington, DC
Vision 2035: An Entrepreneurial Future for Latin America + the CaribbeanJuly 15-18, 2024San Juan, Puerto Rico
IEDC Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-18, 2024Denver, CO
UEDA Annual SummitOctober 6-8, 2024South Bend, IN
Entrepreneurship Funders NetworkOctober 6-9, 2024Baltimore, MD
State Science Technology Institute (SSTI)December 10-12, 2024Phoenix, AZ