Collaboration is the name of the game for the entrepreneurial community in 2013. Startup incubators and accelerators are cultivating the seeds of new business that might not otherwise sprout in the wake of decreased venture capital funding for early stage companies, a decline that PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association predict will continue into 2013.

Despite the increased competition for funding, or perhaps because of it, entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country are flourishing within startup incubators and accelerators. These cooperative programs provide new entrepreneurs with mentorship, practical training, resources and other tools they need to build the successful, sustainable businesses that will attract today’s investors.

Chicago’s startup community is especially vibrant, boosted by nationally-recognized startup incubators/accelerators and entrepreneur-friendly programs brought to Chicago by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.