Give First, Build Later: Brad Feld’s Strategy for Ecosystem-Driven Innovation

November 7, 2025

More Ways to Listen

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Subscribe on Your Favorite Platform

Other Platforms

About the Guest

Brad Feld

Co-Founder & Partner of Foundry | Author | Entrepreneur

Brad Feld is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Foundry Group and Techstars. With a career spanning four decades, he has invested in and helped build category-defining companies like Fitbit, MakerBot, and Whoop. He began his entrepreneurial journey with Feld Technologies and later served as a board member and advisor to numerous high-growth firms. Feld is also the author of several influential books, including Venture Deals, Startup Communities, and Give First: The Power of Mentorship. A longtime proponent of peer ecosystems and mentorship-driven growth, he has helped shape the modern startup landscape.

Episode Overview

What does it take to play the long game in innovation?

Venture capitalist Brad Feld has spent four decades answering that question as a founder, mentor, and early-stage investor in companies like Fitbit, MakerBot, and Techstars. In this episode, Feld unpacks the enduring impact of mentorship, the logic behind his “Give First” philosophy, and how startups and enterprises alike can benefit from ecosystem thinking.

Key insights include: