I come across many who want to contribute towards building the start-up ecosystem in a given geography or in general. And, I have a lot of respect for their enthusiasm.
If you are one of them, you can do the following to REALLY make a difference.
1) Build a business. There is no better way to build a startup ecosystem than building a great company. A great company breeds next-generation entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and professionals; besides giving hope, inspiration, and role model to learn from. And the only way you learn entrepreneurship is by doing it. The talk is cheap. Get into real action.
2) If you are not ready to build one, support one – by joining them. Learn the ropes while you help entrepreneurs grow his venture.
3) If you have started growing – GREAT! Now you got to help fellow entrepreneurs and aspirants by mentoring them or helping them with a dedicated brainstorming session. Share your tricks, ideas, hacks, and let others grow along with you.
Do not try to do #3 before #1. Even in flights, they say: “in an emergency, help your fellow passengers, after securing your own oxygen masks”. If you are not keen to do #1 or #2 first, you are just bluffing yourself, or you are just excited about the idea of entrepreneurship – an outcome of over glamorization of the subject!