This will be a two-part blog post book review.  
I recently read Brad Feld's book  "Startup Communities"  about building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in your city.    Feld is a Boulder based author.  

I moved to Madison from Boulder 12 yrs ago after the 2002 post internet bubble crash.  I know the tech community is thriving there now and has in the past largely due to a very cohesive entrepreneurial community. 

The author has a thesis for many cities trying to grow that is a simple and useful approach.    

1. Entrepreneurs must lead the startup community.
   
2. Leaders must have a long-term commitment.
   
3. Startup community must be inclusive of anyone who wants to participate in it. 
   
4. The startup community must have continuous activities that engage the entrepreneurial stack. 

There is clear evidence this is happening in Madison. I'll report back in more detail on one of the mentoring groups I'm involved in next month.  

The momentum is building to get Madison on the radar as a "healthy startup community".