FinTech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation

Small Business Policy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation

Overview

Small businesses and startups employ approximately half of all private sector workers and are responsible or nearly half of the US’s economic output. Yet, over the last 25 years new business formation has been in a structural decline creating risks to our economic growth, job creation, and innovation.

Community bank consolidation, technology, globalization, and policy changes have disproportionately impacted small businesses and start-ups by fundamentally changing the competitive landscape and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Small Business Policy and Innovation initiative aims to address these challenges through policy recommendations and program solutions to foster a more robust entrepreneurial environment and inclusive prosperity across regions and demographics.

How We Implement Our Mission

Conducting research and analysis to identify the key challenges small businesses face with a focus on driving change to benefit both traditional small businesses and start-ups

Connecting programs, publications, and convenings to policy, regulatory changes, and economic trends that impact the entrepreneurial community

Convening founders, investors, business leaders, academic experts, policymakers, government officials, and other key stakeholders to contribute ideas that drive action and benefit the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem

Our Vision and Policy Goals

The evolving landscape of community banking, technology, globalization, and policy changes disproportionately affect small businesses and start-ups, key drivers of job creation and innovation. The Milken Institute Small Business Policy and Innovation initiative aims to address these challenges with innovative solutions.

By the Numbers

of all businesses in the US are small businesses.

of all new jobs are created by small businesses.

our innovation rate could quadruple given more equitable access to capital.