The United States is a nation built by entrepreneurs. The American experiment itself is a profoundly entrepreneurial undertaking, grounded in the frontier spirit of freedom, adventure, self-reliance, and values of individualism, opportunity, and enterprise. Entrepreneurs, past and present, are woven into the fabric of our economic and popular culture. Most importantly, entrepreneurship powers the American economy – driving innovation, economic growth, job creation, and opportunity.
U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics, released August 12, 2026
Entrepreneurship is central to the American identity. But what is entrepreneurship exactly? Despite widespread interest in the topic and a broad recognition of its importance, there remains a lack of consensus about how to specifically define entrepreneurship.
Startups are disproportionately responsible for the innovations that drive productivity gains and economic growth, and account for virtually all net new job creation.
