Facts on Entrepreneurship & Innovation

More than 43% of Americans believe there are good opportunities for entrepreneurship around them. This represents a rise of more than 20% from 2011 and the highest level recorded since the survey began in 1999. Additionally, the U.S. level is one-third higher than the average of the 24 developed (innovation-driven) economies that participated in the survey in 2012.

*Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2012

In 2012, 56% of Americans believed they had the capabilities to start a business. This remains high despite severe economic volatility during the past five years, and stands one-third higher than the average among the 24 innovation-driven economies.

*Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2012

First-generation immigrants in America expressed more positive attitudes about entrepreneurship than the second-generation and they were more likely to be entrepreneurs. More than 16% of first-generation immigrants in America started and ran new business, while only 9% of the second-generation and 13% of non-immigrants did so.

*Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2012

Without startups there would be no new net job growth in the U.S. economy.

*Kane, Tim. The Importance of Startups in Job Creation and Job Destruction. Kauffman Foundation Research Series: Firm Formation and Economic Growth. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, July 2010.