Collaboration The Backbone Of Community Building Tedco

Leo Migdal

-Dec 7, 2025, 8:53 AM

collaboration the backbone of community building tedco

Growing up, my parents told me two things about life that remain true. First, success comes from consistent hard work and honest effort, and second, my community will help make success a reality in ways I cannot do alone. I could point out so many examples around me that exemplify the truth of both. In high school, it was the 400-meter relay team or the gospel choir at church. My team felt the consequence of my performance, whether poor or outstanding. Where I lacked, others compensated.

Where others lacked, I pulled their weight. It was a mutually understood partnership of shared competence. During college, the lesson traveled outside the practice room. I held town halls with grassroots community organizers and planned startup pitch competitions with other student innovators. Over time, I realized collaborating with others was the most important, yet delicate, part of any planning process. To be successful at it, collaboration requires a high level of intention and deep emotional awareness.

It is essential to understand the combination of skills, perspectives, and attitudes each person brings to the table. I’ve found collaboration to be the driving force for the most impactful results in innovative ecosystem development. Here at TEDCO, I have the chance to practice that daily. Collaboration is a core value at TEDCO, it is essential to our bottom line and our organization’s culture. We leverage collaborative thinking from the very start. As the Ecosystem and Equitech Manager, I’ve seen firsthand how my colleagues and I work across departments to thoughtfully steward unique grant funds like Equitech Growth Fund or the Pava LaPere Innovation Awards.

Not only do we seek to understand an opportunity from multiple perspectives, but we also encourage ideas codesigned with other stakeholders, both internally and externally. We challenge ourselves to think about how we can amplify the efforts of those around us rather than build from scratch. And if we must build from scratch, we invite others who share the same vision to join us. You’ll find this true across our initiatives, whether it be portfolio company support, ecosystem partner development, or funding technology commercialization from research universities. The list goes on and on. Our success thrives on Maryland’s success.

We cannot do it alone.Oftentimes, we think of collaboration as secondary, only after we have identified an initial problem and scoped a solution. There are a million ways to approach a problem. It’s the unique combination of people involved that decides how we get there. In the ever-evolving landscape of innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in communities like Prince George’s County, the time has come to rethink one of the most entrenched beliefs in business strategy: the idea of competitive... For large corporations vying for market share on global exchanges, competition can be the name of the game. But for small businesses—the lifeblood of local economies—chasing a competitive edge often leads to unnecessary pressure, resource depletion, and isolation.

Instead, there is a better path forward: collaborative advantage. At TEDCO, collaboration isn’t just a value, it’s a mindset. As emphasized in the guiding principle of Collaboration, TEDCO is committed to building trust, encouraging transparency, and fostering teamwork. These qualities do not just help institutions function better, they unlock new possibilities for entrepreneurs who understand that innovation is not a solo pursuit. It is a team sport. I have seen this firsthand in my work with the Prince George’s County Innovation Workgroup, where collaboration has emerged as the cornerstone of building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors — startups, educators, policymakers, investors, and support organizations — we're creating more than just buzz. We’re cultivating momentum that attracts investment, builds community trust, and fuels sustainable business growth. This shift from competitive to collaborative thinking is more than a philosophical exercise, it is a strategic move. Small businesses operate in tight-knit networks where word-of-mouth, partnerships, and shared resources can make or break success. Instead of viewing neighboring businesses as threats, imagine seeing them as potential allies, co-creators, or distribution channels. Collaboration amplifies your impact.

It opens doors that competition keeps closed. Whether it’s co-hosting events, sharing customers, co-developing solutions, or simply being part of a mutual support system, collaboration multiplies possibilities in a way that competition simply cannot. A few months into my role at TEDCO as the Digital Marketing Coordinator, I was encouraged to write about one of the organization’s five core values – accountability, collaboration, integrity, respect, and stewardship –... As a young professional with a little over five years of experience in the marketing industry, collaboration has played a significant role in my success. In a previous role, I worked on a team that focused on supporting economic development in the state, and it was there I learned just how important collaboration is to support our entrepreneurial community. Through collaboration, we’re able to identify synergies amongst organizations and develop mutually beneficial solutions for our entire ecosystem, thus building a better, more sustainable future for us all.

Collaboration is “the action of working with someone to produce or create something,” according to Oxford Language. This definition describes the reality of everyday life – it’s all about collaboration. We collaborate with educators or mentors to learn and grow; we collaborate with doctors to ensure we get the best care; and we collaborate with peers to grow relationships. It’s easy to see why TEDCO places such value on collaboration – it allows for the continued growth and development of Maryland’s ecosystem, allows for us to continue supporting the innovative researchers and entrepreneurs,... Knowing all of this, it’s no surprise that collaboration is at the heart of TEDCO’s mission – to enhance economic empowerment by fostering an inclusive and entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem, as we identify, invest in,... Storytelling is a major focus for our Development and Marketing team.

Each of our roles plays an important part in telling the story of TEDCO, whether it’s telling the stories of our innovative portfolio companies or highlighting the incredible, impactful work of our small organization. No matter what the story is, it’s being told to uplift Maryland’s ecosystem towards success. The collaboration we see across not only departments, but organizations, encourages us all to do our best work and offer the same experience to innovative entrepreneurs. Assistant Director, Digital Marketing & Communications It’s been an exciting and fulfilling journey since I joined TEDCO as the Grant Writer and Development Specialist. As I reflect on my short time here, one core value stands out that embodies my experience and the culture I’ve quickly come to appreciate: Collaboration.TEDCO’s commitment to Collaboration means more than just working...

From my very first day, it was clear that this value is central to everything we do. Whether it's an open exchange of ideas during meetings or the way we encourage and help each other through challenges, Collaboration fosters a supportive environment that allows everyone to thrive.In my role, I am... Although I’m new to the organization, I’ve already witnessed firsthand the dedication TEDCO has toward teamwork. Every interaction, whether big or small, has shown me that innovation is not achieved in isolation, but through the collective efforts of a diverse and talented team. Transparency in communication, sharing ideas openly, and supporting one another through each project are just some of the ways TEDCO exemplifies Collaboration.As I continue to grow in my role, I’m excited to contribute to... I look forward to not only lending my expertise but also learning from the incredible talents around me.

Together, we will drive TEDCO’s mission forward—fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and supporting economic growth across Maryland.Though I may be new, I’m eager to build upon the foundation of trust, transparency, and teamwork that defines... Through Collaboration, we make each other better, stronger, and ready to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead. In a world where it seems everyone is talking about innovation, ecosystems, and collaboration (when they aren’t talking about supply chain challenges or inflation), the level of true collaboration can vary greatly—and, as a... Disappointing outcomes are often the result of less-than-enthusiastic collaboration efforts by ecosystem members. This lackluster support is often driven by misaligned goals or fear of not receiving credit, leading to competition amongst the members of the ecosystem who need to collaborate for all parties to thrive. The innovation ecosystem is an intricate concept that comprises big companies, founders, startups, venture capitalists, and other organizations.

Every party within the larger ecosystem has its expertise, and collaboration across the board is the key to a successful open innovation program. By themselves, these organizations are likely to plateau, finding themselves unable to grow efficiently. However, through collaborative efforts, organizations within the ecosystem can support each other, assisting with growth through promotion, idea exchange, etc. It is through successful collaboration that we see a successful, open innovation program. This doesn't change when moving into the startup world-- startup ecosystems require collaboration as well. In collaborative efforts, startups and entrepreneurs can foster innovation in their local community – be that a specific city, a region, or a complex of buildings – and use the pool of resources available...

The very definition of ecosystem reiterates the necessity of collaboration for success; the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ‘ecosystem’ as “something (such as a network of businesses) considered to resemble an ecological ecosystem especially because of... One member of an ecosystem cannot thrive without the others because they’re linked in a mutually beneficial relationship. In his book Startup Communities, entrepreneur and author Brad Feld suggests that vibrant innovation ecosystems are: 1. Understanding the Power of Collaboration 3.

Strengthening Bonds and Achieving Common Goals 4. Navigating Obstacles in Community Collaborations 5. Real-Life Examples of Successful Collaborative Initiatives 6.

Involving Residents, Organizations, and Local Leaders Sarah Lee AI generated Llama-4-Maverick-17B-128E-Instruct-FP8 5 min read · June 17, 2025 Collaboration is the backbone of successful community development. It involves individuals, organizations, and stakeholders working together towards a common goal, sharing resources, expertise, and risk to achieve a desired outcome. In community development, collaboration is crucial for leveraging collective strengths, addressing complex problems, and fostering sustainable growth. Collaboration in community development refers to the process of different stakeholders, including community members, organizations, and government agencies, working together to achieve a shared vision and goals.

It involves building partnerships, sharing knowledge, and coordinating efforts to address community needs and challenges. Collaboration is essential in achieving community goals because it: The benefits of collaboration in community development are numerous. Some of the most significant advantages include: In today’s interconnected world, the mantra "together we stand, divided we fall" is more relevant than ever, especially when it comes to fostering community success. By pooling resources and knowledge, communities can drive progress and enhance well-being for all members.

Collaboration The Backbone Of Community Building Tedco

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