About XI
OUR MISSION
Exponential Impact’s mission is simple: DEVELOP the best start entrepreneurs humanly possible. We support founders and startups by equipping them with resources and expertise, then strengthen their connections to create rich environments of innovation and collaboration. AT XI, our EMPHASIS IS ON creating infinite IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A MESSAGE FROM
VANCE BROWN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OUR FOCUS: THE SIX PEAKS
Our core values, called “The Six Peaks Model”, enriches all aspects of XI programming, and delivers a holistic approach to support participants as both leaders and startup founders.
STORY & INNOVATION
Good stories have purpose, meaning and impact. Story not only encourages innovation, but it drives innovation towards success. Story, innovation, and imagination meet to better one's self, others, and the world.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Holistic health means physical, mental and social wellness. By focusing on a well-balanced approach to renewal and growth, people come first.
AWARENESS
Mindfulness cultivates intentionality and consciousness. Entrepreneurs with internal and external awareness comprehend opportunities for action and use their core values as catalysts for decision making.
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
Thriving leaders develop positive culture by embracing vulnerability, Innovators create an atmosphere with supportive environments, healthy communications, and bold intentions.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Successful teams are committed to operational excellence. From ideation to completion, business fundamentals are treated with due dilligence and throughful execution.
MENTORING
Entrepreneurs benefit from the experience and perspective of others. By giving and receiving feedback, continuous learners will grow their communities, teams, and businesses.
STORY & INNOVATION
Good stories have purpose, meaning and impact. Story not only encourages innovation, but it drives innovation towards success. Story, innovation, and imagination meet to better one's self, others, and the world.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Holistic health means physical, mental and social wellness. By focusing on a well-balanced approach to renewal and growth, people come first.
AWARENESS
Mindfulness cultivates intentionality and consciousness. Entrepreneurs with internal and external awareness comprehend opportunities for action and use their core values as catalysts for decision making.
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
Thriving leaders develop positive culture by embracing vulnerability, Innovators create an atmosphere with supportive environments, healthy communications, and bold intentions.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Successful teams are committed to operational excellence. From ideation to completion, business fundamentals are treated with due dilligence and throughful execution.
MENTORING
Entrepreneurs benefit from the experience and perspective of others. By giving and receiving feedback, continuous learners will grow their communities, teams, and businesses.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
XI’s core values, encapsulated in The Six Peaks Model, is a unique, holistic approach to doing business. These elements, along with business concepts and individualized support through mentorship, are wrapped into each program module to support sustainable company development. The programming and mentorship put a strong emphasis on creating positive company cultures, founder health, leadership, and community development. At XI, we care about people - not just profit.
THE HISTORY OF XI
When XI Founder Vance Brown stepped down as CEO of global software company in 2017, he decided to pause and reach out to the Colorado Springs community to see where he might be helpful. In a meeting with other local business leaders, Vance heard the sentiment that you “can’t do commercial software in Colorado Springs. Only software for the Department of Defense will work here.” Vance knew that wasn’t true — after all, he’d personally run two successful software companies in town.
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Wondering what sort of resources would be available for a technology startup in Colorado Springs, Vance began to inquire if an accelerator or incubator existed at all. To his surprise, nearly every community in the US known for entrepreneurship had a vibrant startup ecosystem, including a business incubator or accelerator. That’s when the early seeds of the idea for XI began to take hold.
Later that year, Vance and his wife Betsy attended an EY conference in California where the guest speaker was Simon Sinek, who spoke from his then-new book, The Infinite Game. Around the same time, Vance had been reading Salim Ismail’s book, Exponential Organizations. The name Exponential Impact came to Vance and that night he purchased the URL exponentialimpact.com.
Back in Colorado Springs, Vance gathered a few people together and begin to dream about the idea of starting Exponential Impact. Vance’s passion for developing thriving entrepreneurs and Betsy’s focus on holistic leadership made the perfect match. Vance then recruited Hannah Parsons as the first Executive Director and the rest is history. Established in 2017, Vance, Betsy, and Hannah are considered the founders of XI.