Creating the next generation of high-tech startup accelerators in Colorado Springs, Colorado: an interview with Vance Brown, co-founder and executive director of Exponential Impact

ABSTRACT

There is a critical need for proper support systems to help high-tech startups. An ecosystem that encompasses local startup expertise, sufficient funding at the local and state levels, and a sufficient cross-section of supporting industries needs to be developed and/or sustained. This interview covers how a company was formed in Colorado Springs with this intent, and the approach it takes to developing “the best entrepreneurs humanly possible.” In the interview, Vance Brown, co-founder and executive director of Exponential Impact (XI), a high-tech accelerator for entrepreneurs in Colorado Springs, Colorado, explains the origins of XI, the vision and mission behind the formation of XI, the core values of the company and how XI is working to improve the landscape for high-tech startups. He discusses why he picked Colorado Springs for the location, XI’s core values and the Six Peaks model, and what is ahead for his organization.

Acknowledgments

The contributors would like to thank Coral Laski, Marketing Director, and Lance Kohl, Director of Business Developments and Events, for their help with the interview.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dahui Li

Dahui Li is a professor of management information systems at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, United States. He received his Ph.D. in MIS from Texas Tech University. His research interests encompass business-to-consumer relationships, online communities, and technology innovation. His research has been published in Decision Sciences, Decision Support Systems, Information & Management, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Management Science, and elsewhere.

Morgan Shepherd

Morgan Shepherd is a professor of management information systems at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, United States. He received his Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Arizona. His research interests encompass improving organizations with technology primarily through virtual teams, online education and cyber security education (S.E.T.A.). His research has been published in Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Group Decision and Negotiation, International Journal of Innovation Science, Information Technology and Management, International Journal of Business Information Systems, and elsewhere.