City Alive's Connecting The Dots of Entrepreneurship video series just received a bronze Telly Award in the nonprofit social video category. The Telly Awards are the premier award honoring video and television across all screens and the series was recognized from over 12,000 nominations from all 50 states and 5 continents.

The series focused on Albuquerque’s homegrown entrepreneurs and business owners. Businesses featured have included: Etkie, an Albuquerque based jewelry business that produces luxury cuffs handcrafted by Native American artisans; Pajarito Powder, a fuel cell catalyst startup that could change cars forever; Caterpillar Clubhouse, a childcare center overcoming the odds; and Bow and Arrow Brewery, a brewery dedicated to craft and community.

City Alive produces the series to advance a clearer understanding of the resources entrepreneurs need to succeed. Rather than seek solutions from the outside, City Alive focuses on supporting homegrown businesses and business owners as they take their good ideas into the marketplace. “Though exploring what is working and what is not, these videos help inform approaches to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem.” said City Alive’s Chief Strategist Robin Brulé, “Video is one of the tools we use to both support entrepreneurs by sharing their stories, and to learn from them about how we can better support their success. Receiving this award demonstrates the sheer power and relevancy of Albuquerque’s entrepreneurial stories on the international stage.”

The award-winning video series has been supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Nusenda Foundation and McCune Charitable Foundation. Supporting City Alive’s efforts to share stories of entrepreneurship out from inside communities shows the many faces and styles of entrepreneurship in Albuquerque, helping to both inform programs and to shift narratives.

The video series was produced by Albuquerque-based creative agency, MediaDesk, which is a nonprofit-focused business specializing in story and strategy to help nonprofits and causes power positive change.

Read the full story in the Albuquerque Journal.

Connect the Dots

Removing barrier after barrier for a better Albuquerque.

We often talk about how we need to create an 'ecosystem' that supports entrepreneurs in our city. But what does that mean, exactly? It means creating connections across sectors. It means finding new ways to support innovators. It means working together to make Albuquerque better for everyone. And it means celebrating the little wins along the way.