Ecosystem Building

Wendy supported the effort to bring the Sundance Institute to Boulder, securing a new home for the world's leading independent film festival beginning in 2027. The move is a win for Colorado jobs, cultural vibrancy, and a state that has always run on community and collaboration.

Universities hold the talent, research, and credibility that innovation ecosystems need to grow—but they don’t always connect those assets to the entrepreneurs and industries around them. From Cincinnati to Colorado, this is a look at what is possible when universities and surrounding ecosystems work together.

When COVID-19 exposed a near half-billion-dollar capital gap for underserved entrepreneurs in Colorado, a coalition of leaders came together to close it. What began as critical relief for small businesses is now a certified CDFI that has deployed $18M+ to 380 businesses across 32 counties, including 64% to underserved communities.

Cincinnati had 150 major corporations, world-class research institutions, and a scrappy startup community, but almost no connective tissue between them. Cintrifuse was built to change that: supporting 500+ startups, engaging 30+ corporations, and deploying $100M to bring venture capital to the Midwest.