About Us
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Communities is a leading organization dedicated to promoting the positive impact of entrepreneurship on American communities. By bringing together a nationwide network of entrepreneurs, local communities, and academic thought leaders, the Institute serves as a premier, go-to resource for cutting-edge research and university education.
Mission
Enhance entrepreneurial communities by linking past success to future opportunity
Vision
Cultivate and celebrate innovators that build entrepreneurial communities
Purpose
Honor the civic impact of innovation by recognizing thriving communities to perpetuate the cycle of entrepreneurship
What We Do
Fund & publish scholarly research on historical entrepreneurial communities
Gather history & community case studies
Build a network of entrepreneurial communities
Our Process
We use a continuous, data-driven research model to identify, analyze, and empower entrepreneurial communities.
It all starts with the Community Spark, a passion to uncover a community's unique entrepreneurial spirit. Then we move to the Loop of Research, where we combine quantitative metrics with qualitative storytelling to build deep. Layered knowledge of how local economies thrive, we strive to ultimately create and Perpetuated Entrepreneurship; we turn our findings into action—influencing policy, showcasing success stories, and educating the next generation of innovators.
Inspire
We inspire the next generation of entrepreneurship through published academic research & case studies
Educate
We educate individuals and communities through nationally recognized academic research, publications, and conferences
Celebrate
We celebrate innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurial communities by distributing awards and building networks
Our Approach
We’re changing how emerging entrepreneurs think to catalyze change, growth, and community impact. We inspire, educate, and celebrate communities nationwide.
Catalyze civic and industry pride
Highlight entrepreneurial communities
Generate excitement for manufacturing
Inspire entrepreneurial leaders
Attract and engage talent
Our Impact
We seek to transform communities into thriving entrepreneurial hubs, and achieve the following impacts: