Mentorship, Ecosystems, and Feedback Loops with Ian Hathaway

Give First

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Ian Hathaway, co-author of The Startup Community Way, host of Outsider Inc., and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Far Out VC, to unpack what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems actually work.

They revisit the early days of their collaboration, from Ian’s initial cold email and time in Boulder, to writing the book that reframed how founders, cities, and networks build momentum. They dive into the theory of complex adaptive systems, the power of feedback loops, and why startup success is anything but linear. Along the way, they reflect on Boulder’s influence, COVID’s inflection point, and how Techstars shaped Ian’s investing philosophy.

Plus, Ian shares why he launched Outsider Inc., a podcast dedicated to founders breaking the mold, and how he’s helping push founder-friendly policies through the Center for American Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C.

If you’ve ever wondered how movements grow, how policy intersects with startups, or how to support founders outside the usual hotspots, this conversation delivers.

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