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.
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
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
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Small Business Policy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
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Kristen Fanarakis
Associate Director, Small Business Policy and InnovationKristen Fanarakis leads the small business policy, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiative within the Milken Institute’s Finance pillar. She focuses on the macroeconomic and systemic trends affecting American small businesses and startups, and the implications for the economy and innovation.
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For More Information
If you would like to learn more about the Small Business Policy and Innovation Initiative please contact Kristen Fanarakis at [email protected].