Through Entrepreneurship
Through Entrepreneurship is a podcast exploring how entrepreneurship – when supported by the right ecosystems – can drive economic growth, solve complex societal challenges, and foster a more equitable future.
Each episode goes beyond the myth of the lone entrepreneur to uncover the real systems that make innovation possible. From student debt and healthcare barriers to the transformative power of local businesses and public-private partnerships, the show examines the forces that shape who gets to succeed and who gets left behind.
Grounded in research and stories from entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and community leaders, Through Entrepreneurship highlights the power of new and growing businesses as engines of job creation and community resilience.
Every conversation ends with actionable insights for all stakeholders: entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, investors, and citizens alike – because building a more supportive entrepreneurial environment is a collective endeavor.
Through Entrepreneurship
010: How Removing Systemic Barriers Fuels National Growth
This episode of Through Entrepreneurship explores how systemic barriers in capital access, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure have suppressed the dormant economic potential in underserved communities. Fostering inclusive entrepreneurship is a vital strategy for macroeconomic health, capable of creating millions of jobs and correcting historical wealth disparities.
Key Concepts & Discussion Points
- Underserved Communities Defined: Groups and areas systematically denied equitable access to economic opportunities due to structural racism and neglect.
- Local Job Creation: Thriving small businesses in these areas create accessible jobs for residents, reducing unemployment and keeping money circulating locally.
- Three Structural Barriers: Suppressed entrepreneurial talent is due to a "triple threat": Access to Capital, Regulatory Complexity, and Human Capital Gaps.
- The Funding Disparity: In 2021, over 75% of Black-owned businesses and 70% of Hispanic-owned businesses who applied for credit received less than half of what they requested or nothing at all.
- The Infrastructure Challenge: 17% of rural Americans lack baseline broadband access compared to only 1% of urban Americans.
- Dormant Economic Potential: If people of color owned businesses at the same rate as white individuals, the U.S. economy could gain over one million additional businesses and up to nine million more jobs.
Actionable Recommendations
For Policymakers & Government Leaders:
- Deploy SSBCI Equitably: Ensure the $2.5 billion set aside for SEDI-owned businesses within the SSBCI reaches the intended entrepreneurs.
- Simplify Regulation: Eliminate burdensome rules like aggressive occupational licensing requirements.
For Entrepreneurs & Innovators:
- Leverage E-commerce: Use online platforms to bypass local purchasing limits and reach a global customer base.
- Explore Alternative Financing: Look to crowdfunding platforms and online lenders using alternative data for capital access.
For the Ecosystem (Investors, Educators, Community Leaders):
- Invest in CDFIs: Support Community Development Financial Institutions to bridge the financing gap.
- Fulfill Supplier Diversity Pledges: Corporations must train small local firms to meet corporate contract requirements, fueling growth.
The Big Takeaway
Inclusive entrepreneurship is fundamentally the most powerful economic growth strategy available because it unlocks enormous dormant economic potential currently trapped by structural barriers. A truly prosperous and stable nation requires fully supported entrepreneurial ecosystems in every community.