web02.fireside.fm Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:14:12 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Startups” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/startups Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. en-us episodic Actionable economic development strategies and stories Dane Carlson Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. no econ dev, economic development, ed Dane Carlson show@econdevshow.com 198: Dane With Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast https://podcast.econdevshow.com/198 7efd108f-8276-4a9a-beba-60539a32417d Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 198 Dane With Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast full Dane Carlson Talking Sitehunt, small towns, and staying persistent 26:41 no On this special crossover episode, Dane Carlson joins Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and the power of AI to help rural and small-community economic developers compete at scale. In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why feedback matters more than features, why execution beats ideas every time, and why even the smallest communities need a modern website, a plan, and the willingness to pivot. Dane also unpacks how child care, housing, and workforce shortages have become the new pillars of competitiveness, why AI is best thought of as a “dim-witted but persistent intern,” and how rural leaders can use technology to take back the information advantage from site selectors. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Treat AI as an intern, not an oracle. Feed it data and context to get useful answers. Launch before you're ready. Iterate in public and let real feedback drive improvement. Build a website that sells your community. Clear contact info and photos matter more than fancy graphics. Use LinkedIn as your industry newspaper. Learn from and connect with other EDOs daily. Start a local podcast. It's the best modern BRE tool and a non-threatening way to engage businesses. Plan but pivot. No plan survives first contact with reality; stay nimble. Address child care and housing head-on. They're workforce issues now, not social ones. Prioritize execution over ideas. A mediocre idea well executed beats a brilliant idea untried. Save cash for the long haul. Entrepreneurs fail more often from running out of runway than from bad concepts. Ask for feedback early and often. It's how both products and communities get better. econdev, economic development, eco devo, ai,economic development,sitehunt,rural communities,entrepreneurship,child care,housing,workforce,planning,feedback,innovation,small towns,technology,execution,startups On this special crossover episode, Dane Carlson joins Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and the power of AI to help rural and small-community economic developers compete at scale.

In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why feedback matters more than features, why execution beats ideas every time, and why even the smallest communities need a modern website, a plan, and the willingness to pivot.

Dane also unpacks how child care, housing, and workforce shortages have become the new pillars of competitiveness, why AI is best thought of as a “dim-witted but persistent intern,” and how rural leaders can use technology to take back the information advantage from site selectors.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat AI as an intern, not an oracle. Feed it data and context to get useful answers.
  2. Launch before you're ready. Iterate in public and let real feedback drive improvement.
  3. Build a website that sells your community. Clear contact info and photos matter more than fancy graphics.
  4. Use LinkedIn as your industry newspaper. Learn from and connect with other EDOs daily.
  5. Start a local podcast. It's the best modern BRE tool and a non-threatening way to engage businesses.
  6. Plan but pivot. No plan survives first contact with reality; stay nimble.
  7. Address child care and housing head-on. They're workforce issues now, not social ones.
  8. Prioritize execution over ideas. A mediocre idea well executed beats a brilliant idea untried.
  9. Save cash for the long haul. Entrepreneurs fail more often from running out of runway than from bad concepts.
  10. Ask for feedback early and often. It's how both products and communities get better.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> On this special crossover episode, Dane Carlson joins Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and the power of AI to help rural and small-community economic developers compete at scale.

In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why feedback matters more than features, why execution beats ideas every time, and why even the smallest communities need a modern website, a plan, and the willingness to pivot.

Dane also unpacks how child care, housing, and workforce shortages have become the new pillars of competitiveness, why AI is best thought of as a “dim-witted but persistent intern,” and how rural leaders can use technology to take back the information advantage from site selectors.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat AI as an intern, not an oracle. Feed it data and context to get useful answers.
  2. Launch before you're ready. Iterate in public and let real feedback drive improvement.
  3. Build a website that sells your community. Clear contact info and photos matter more than fancy graphics.
  4. Use LinkedIn as your industry newspaper. Learn from and connect with other EDOs daily.
  5. Start a local podcast. It's the best modern BRE tool and a non-threatening way to engage businesses.
  6. Plan but pivot. No plan survives first contact with reality; stay nimble.
  7. Address child care and housing head-on. They're workforce issues now, not social ones.
  8. Prioritize execution over ideas. A mediocre idea well executed beats a brilliant idea untried.
  9. Save cash for the long haul. Entrepreneurs fail more often from running out of runway than from bad concepts.
  10. Ask for feedback early and often. It's how both products and communities get better.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 101: Entrepreneurs are Transforming Economic Development with Courtney Zaugg https://podcast.econdevshow.com/101 19cf866e-dd5c-4b14-81ef-6fd4e9121edf Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 101 Entrepreneurs are Transforming Economic Development with Courtney Zaugg full Dane Carlson In this episode, Dane Carlson talks with Courtney Zaugg in a profound conversation about the intersection of entrepreneurship and economic development. The discussion centers on systemic change, entrepreneurial ecosystems, limitations of traditional venture capital, and the potential of innovative partnerships. 45:21 no In this riveting episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, host Dane Carlson chats with Courtney Zaugg, an industry expert in entrepreneurship and economic development. The two kick off their conversation with an exploration into the unique mindset of entrepreneurship, particularly the necessity of adaptability and the acceptance of failure. As they delve further, the discussion uncovers the limitations and inaccessibility of traditional venture capital for the majority of startups. Courtney offers insightful solutions, emphasizing the role of local banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in helping startups become bankable. The conversation also takes a turn towards economic development, where Courtney expresses optimism about the industry's evolution and advocates for systemic change, particularly in distressed and rural communities. She further discusses potential partnerships between philanthropy, economic development, and entrepreneurship, introducing 'impact funds' as an innovative funding vehicle. Courtney insists on the importance of creating a well-structured entrepreneurial ecosystem and suggests practical steps communities can take to foster this development. The episode concludes with a discussion on the evolving landscape of higher education, and a reflection on Courtney's journey in pushing for systemic change. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Courtney Zaugg. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, Venture Capital Limitations, Startups, Bankable Businesses, Systemic Change, Philanthropic Partnerships, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Impact Funds, Cross-sector Conversations, Higher Education Evolution, Leadership Shift, Rural Community Development, Distressed Community Development, Acceptance of Failure, Resource Accessibility, Industry Evolution, Practical Steps for Communities, Traditional Business Structures, Generational Shifts In this riveting episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, host Dane Carlson chats with Courtney Zaugg, an industry expert in entrepreneurship and economic development. The two kick off their conversation with an exploration into the unique mindset of entrepreneurship, particularly the necessity of adaptability and the acceptance of failure. As they delve further, the discussion uncovers the limitations and inaccessibility of traditional venture capital for the majority of startups. Courtney offers insightful solutions, emphasizing the role of local banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in helping startups become bankable.

The conversation also takes a turn towards economic development, where Courtney expresses optimism about the industry's evolution and advocates for systemic change, particularly in distressed and rural communities. She further discusses potential partnerships between philanthropy, economic development, and entrepreneurship, introducing 'impact funds' as an innovative funding vehicle. Courtney insists on the importance of creating a well-structured entrepreneurial ecosystem and suggests practical steps communities can take to foster this development. The episode concludes with a discussion on the evolving landscape of higher education, and a reflection on Courtney's journey in pushing for systemic change.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Courtney Zaugg.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this riveting episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, host Dane Carlson chats with Courtney Zaugg, an industry expert in entrepreneurship and economic development. The two kick off their conversation with an exploration into the unique mindset of entrepreneurship, particularly the necessity of adaptability and the acceptance of failure. As they delve further, the discussion uncovers the limitations and inaccessibility of traditional venture capital for the majority of startups. Courtney offers insightful solutions, emphasizing the role of local banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in helping startups become bankable.

The conversation also takes a turn towards economic development, where Courtney expresses optimism about the industry's evolution and advocates for systemic change, particularly in distressed and rural communities. She further discusses potential partnerships between philanthropy, economic development, and entrepreneurship, introducing 'impact funds' as an innovative funding vehicle. Courtney insists on the importance of creating a well-structured entrepreneurial ecosystem and suggests practical steps communities can take to foster this development. The episode concludes with a discussion on the evolving landscape of higher education, and a reflection on Courtney's journey in pushing for systemic change.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Courtney Zaugg.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>