6 Organizations That Support & Empower Entrepreneurs
The creation of new businesses is a vital part of the world economy. Small start-ups with new ideas and fresh perspectives bring unique products and services to the table, which helps the marketplace continue to evolve. That's why organizations like the ones listed here work to help aspiring entrepreneurs get the skills, funding, and inspiration they need to succeed. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups Dedicated To Supporting Entrepreneurs
| Name | Mission |
|---|---|
| Ventureneer | Share knowledge that levels the playing field for all entrepreneurs, no matter their gender, color, ethnicity, socio-economic class, or geographic location |
| Citizen Entrepreneurs | Promote the entrepreneur as a solution for growth and employment and federate synergies in favour of entrepreneurship |
| Tony Elumelu Foundation | Support entrepreneurship in Africa by enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector through business leadership and entrepreneurship development programmes, impact investments, research, and policy advocacy |
| Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame | Raise awareness of the impact that entrepreneurship has made in Kentucky and encourage others to pursue similar ambitious endeavors |
| Grow North | Create an interconnected, sophisticated, invested, and accessible ecosystem for Minnesota's food and agricultural entrepreneurs and innovators |
| Startup Canada | Unify and strengthen the Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem by promoting an inclusive entrepreneurial culture |
U.S. Small Business Statistics
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, as of 2018
- There are 30.2 million small businesses in the United States
- These make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses
- They employ 58.9 million people
- These make up 47.5% of all U.S. employees
- Of the 294,834 U.S. companies that exported goods in 2015, 97.6% were small firms
The Making of a Young Entrepreneur
5 Tips for New Business Owners
- Make sure your business is insured.
- Stay on top of your finances before tax day comes around.
- Learn how to use hashtags and other social media tools.
- Have a nice-looking, high-quality logo for your company.
- Keep all of your files well organized.
Men & Women In The Workforce
The percentage of men & women in the civilian labor force over time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29.6% | 70.4% |
| 1960 | 33.4% | 66.6% |
| 1970 | 38.1% | 61.9% |
| 1980 | 42.5% | 57.5% |
| 1990 | 45.2% | 54.8% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | 53.5% |
| 2010 | 46.7% | 53.3% |
Who Even Is An Entrepreneur?
In Depth
Successful entrepreneurship requires talent, drive, and independent initiative, but even the most brilliant business creators don't achieve their goals alone. Funding from investors, help from industry connections, and knowledge from experienced mentors can make the difference between success and failure. In no particular order, here are six resources providing assistance for those seeking to found new ventures.
Leading off at #1 is Ventureneer. Founded by Geri Stengel, author of Forget The Glass Ceiling: Build Your Business Without One, this company provides a range of services for entrepreneurs. Ventureneer's research offers insights into the success of companies and innovators; examples include the annual State Of Women-Owned Businesses report, or the Middle Market Power Index Series which assesses the needs and impact of mid-size firms.
Many of Ventureneer's services are aimed at helping women achieve success as entrepreneurs. Training events like the Becoming a Certified Women-Owned Business panel, and content like profiles of high-achieving female founders, provide strategies and inspiration for those looking to break gender barriers. Other articles focus on highlighting opportunities for growth and investment, or examining trends in the venture capital market.
Other articles focus on highlighting opportunities for growth and investment, or examining trends in the venture capital market.
Following up at #2 is Citizen Entrepreneurs, an association working to promote French business founders, both in their native country and in the world at large. The organization seeks to build a united global network of innovators, and encourage a climate where business ventures can flourish. Each year the group represents France at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit, helping develop recommendations for government policies that promote growth.
Citizen Entrepreneurs organizes an annual conference bringing together leaders, professionals, and students to discuss questions related to entrepreneurship. Past years have included topics such as business and social mobility, or innovative responses to environmental challenges. The group also hosts citizen meetings, featuring networking opportunities and informational presentations, and publishes studies on topics relevant to owners and founders.
Entry #3 is the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a philanthropic organization promoting entrepreneurship and economic development in Africa. Created by the pioneering investor behind the Africapitalism philosophy, the Foundation offers training, mentors, and funding to individuals with early-stage businesses. The program begins with education, teaching participants the skills to establish and expand their ventures before providing them with seed capital.
Created by the pioneering investor behind the Africapitalism philosophy, the Foundation offers training, mentors, and funding to individuals with early-stage businesses.
TEF works with partner organizations to further its mission of accelerating Africa's development through private sector investment. The group also organizes the TEF Forum event, offering networking opportunities, discussions from expert speakers, and a range of entrepreneur-focused classes. Participants who have benefited from the program share their experiences through Audio Stories, and the organization provides news about African businesses and innovators.
#4 on our list is the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Featuring both a physical destination and a virtual gallery, this initiative is dedicated to honoring residents of the state who've achieved notable success in enterprise. Longstanding business legends, like Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland David Sanders, appear beside contemporary success stories like Kimberly Knopf, creator of Innovative Mattress Solutions.
The Hall of Fame works to raise awareness of the contributions of its honorees, sharing videos of its induction ceremonies and publishing Post-Event Reports. The organization has also released podcast interviews with inductees, published a book, and created the Founders Series of videos, which features conversations with business luminaries like entrepreneur and philanthropist Kent Oyler.
The Hall of Fame works to raise awareness of the contributions of its honorees, sharing videos of its induction ceremonies and publishing Post-Event Reports.
Coming in at #5 is Grow North, which works to catalyze investment and creativity in Minnesota's food and agriculture industry. Tools like the Resource Navigator Database, or the library of agribusiness information, aggregate knowledge for those looking to learn about the industry. Grow North also creates educational programs, including workshops on topics like brand design and social media, and the Thought Leaders in Food and Agriculture discussion series.
Grow North aims to form and strengthen connections within the Minnesota food and agriculture entrepreneurial community. The organization helps find mentors for up-and-coming members of the industry, and coordinates numerous networking and education events. The Food Ag Ideas Week convenes experts and enthusiasts for panel discussions, informative presentations, and opportunities to connect. Interested individuals can inquire about volunteering with Grow North.
Closing out our list at #6 is Startup Canada. This nationwide network of entrepreneurs works to connect, educate, and support business owners throughout the country. Its flagship initiative, Startup Canada Communities, creates local groups for business creators to join together and collaborate. Other efforts offer direct support, such as the Investment Fund Program, which provides capital for new ventures with a targeted fund for women founders.
Other efforts offer direct support, such as the Investment Fund Program, which provides capital for new ventures with a targeted fund for women founders.
Startup Canada organizes events like the Day on the Hill, uniting experts from around the nation for advocacy and collaboration, and the Canadian Export Challenge, a startup accelerator and pitch competition. The group strives for positive social impact with efforts like its Women Entrepreneurs Program, and helped create the CANIE Awards for excellence in innovation. Research reports and podcasts enable the organization to share information about enterprise nationwide.
