COEUR d'ALENE — A digital platform born in North Idaho is revolutionizing how communities foster innovation, one city at a time.

Build_, created by Coeur d'Alene native Nick Smoot, serves as a virtual meeting ground where entrepreneurs, creators and innovators can find resources, funding and most importantly — each other.

"My driver was: Can we use people's dreams, goals and projects to build deep and meaningful friendships and grow a really strong local economy?" Smoot said.

The platform's origin story has its own twist of serendipity. Smoot met his cofounder, Angelo Alessio, because Alessio, based in New Jersey, noticed Smoot had registered the domain "innovation collective" — a chance connection that would lead to a global venture now active in 62 cities across six continents.

Unlike traditional networking sites, Build_ combines online collaboration tools with in-person community events, helping local innovators find partners and funding while showcasing their city's creative energy.

"This is a place you can take your idea and find friends and software that can move your idea forward," Smoot said. "It's also a digital billboard of the magic going on in your city."

The platform's impact is already visible in Coeur d'Alene. Local tech entrepreneur Julian Guthrie found both resources and community through Build_ for her company, Alphy. 

"My company now employs several amazing technologists living in Coeur d'Alene," Guthrie said. "Being a founder can be a lonely and stressful existence, so having people to compare notes with is welcome. ... One of the truly unique things about [Build_] is that it embraces and inspires creativity from all corners: the young, old, experienced, inexperienced, die-hard locals and happy transplants."

The founders see Build_ as particularly relevant in today's evolving business landscape. 

"We had the first generation of startups that have done fairly well, but now people don't understand that we have artists, we have teens and senior citizens working on everything from publishing companies to hot sauce brands, not just tech," Smoot said.

Alessio, who views Coeur d'Alene as "the blueprint ecosystem to scale across the other cities," added that the platform addresses a deeper need. "We're also at this time where people don't feel very vested in their communities. But to build or create something is a very deep-seated identity, [and] so is civic pride."

Info: BuildJournal.club 

    Alessio