Collaboration is strong, but retention and capital gaps remain
RealLIST Connectors most often named collaboration, events and universities as ecosystem strengths, while startup retention and early-stage capital topped their challenges.
Bar chart showing selected ecosystem strengths and challenges from Technical.ly’s 2026 RealLIST Connectors survey. Under strengths, 84% of respondents selected collaborative spirit, 71% selected lots of events and meetups, and 70% selected access to universities. Under challenges, 55% selected startup retention, 49% selected the need for more early-stage investors, 38% selected lack of venture capital, 35% selected siloed sectors and 32% selected disconnected regions.
