# Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) > CAE is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research, policy, and advocacy organization whose mission is to engage and educate policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels regarding the critical importance of entrepreneurs and startups to innovation, economic growth, and job creation — and to pursue a comprehensive policy agenda that achieves a stronger, more resilient, and inclusive U.S. economy through thriving entrepreneurship. Website: https://startupsusa.org Location: Washington, D.C. Organization type: Nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)(3) --- ## Who We Are The Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) works with policymakers in Washington and across the country to build a policy environment that promotes new business formation, survival, and growth. CAE is nonpartisan and serves as a trusted, independent voice on entrepreneurship policy. More: https://startupsusa.org/team/ --- ## Mission & Activities CAE pursues its mission through three core functions: **Research:** CAE publishes original, data-driven research on the full range of trends, issues, and challenges facing American entrepreneurship. This work informs the public, educates policymakers, and helps shape the policy agenda. CAE also synthesizes relevant research from academia and other institutions. **Policy & Advocacy:** CAE works directly with Members of Congress, Congressional committees, Administration officials, and regulatory agency personnel to advance pro-entrepreneurship policy. CAE produces white papers, op-eds, and other materials to educate policymakers and the media. **Convening:** CAE organizes roundtables, conferences, symposia, and events that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, academics, media, and policymakers to share experiences, resources, and best practices. More: https://startupsusa.org/mission-activities/ --- ## Why Entrepreneurship Matters Startups and entrepreneurs are central to the American economy and identity: - Startups are disproportionately responsible for the innovations driving productivity gains and economic growth. - Startups account for virtually all net new job creation in the U.S. - More than 33 million small businesses operate in the United States, employing over 60 million people — roughly half of the American workforce. - After decades of consistency, new business formation peaked in 2006 and then declined sharply, a trend accelerated by the Great Recession. Reversing this decline is central to CAE's mission. More: https://startupsusa.org/why/ --- ## Key Issue Areas CAE's policy work spans a broad range of issues that affect startup formation, survival, and growth: - **Innovation & Technology Transfer** – Modernizing federal technology transfer policy, including the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act, to accelerate commercialization of federally funded research. - **Access to Capital** – Improving startup access to early-stage financing, angel investment, and venture capital. - **Regulatory Environment** – Reducing regulatory burdens that disproportionately affect new and small businesses. - **Immigration** – Supporting policies that attract and retain entrepreneurial talent from around the world. - **Artificial Intelligence** – Examining how AI tools are being used by entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses (CAE conducted roundtables in Houston, Atlanta, Miami, and Milwaukee in 2025). More: https://startupsusa.org/issues/ --- ## Research & Insights CAE produces original reports, policy briefs, data analyses, and thought leadership on entrepreneurship in America. Notable recent work: - State of Small Business series (state-level reports on small business employment, wages, and policy landscape) - Entrepreneurship trends and decline research - AI and entrepreneurship roundtable series (2025) More: https://startupsusa.org/research/ More: https://startupsusa.org/insights/ --- ## What is Entrepreneurship? CAE defines entrepreneurship as the process by which individuals or groups exploit a commercial opportunity — either by bringing a new product or process to market, or by substantially improving an existing good, service, or method of production. This process is generally organized through a startup company, under considerable uncertainty and financial risk. A key distinction between startups and other small businesses is an aspiration to substantially grow. More: https://startupsusa.org/what-is-entrepreneurship/ --- ## Contact & Connect Website: https://startupsusa.org Press releases: https://startupsusa.org/press-releases/ Follow on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn.