Chapel Hill, N.C. – Nearly one-third of all new businesses fail in their first two years, and only half survive the five-year mark. Given that small businesses comprise 99.9 percent of U.S. companies, understanding why entrepreneurs fail – and how to help them prosper – is critical to ensuring a robust national economy.
On January 18-19, 2018, the Frank H. Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and its affiliated Center for Entrepreneurial Studies will convene a highly curated group of 100 thought leaders to discuss leading-edge research on private business ventures and explore ways to sustain and advance entrepreneurship. The invitation-only conference, to be held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, will feature such experts as Princeton University’s Angus Deaton, the 2015 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences; Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup; Leora Klapper, lead economist for The World Bank’s Development Research Group; and Scott Kupor, managing partner of Andreessen Horowitz and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association.
“This conference will connect people who are involved in entrepreneurship in one way or another, but who don’t typically interact with one another,” said Greg Brown, director of the Kenan Institute. “Our goal is to bridge the divide between researchers, policymakers and practitioners to discuss and address challenges to entrepreneurial ecosystems across the United States and determine what direction future research in this area should take.”
The conference will incorporate plenary and breakout sessions on creating supportive networks and systems for entrepreneurs, building businesses in difficult economic times and fostering business ownership by women and minorities, among others.
The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will host the two-day, invitation-only event at The Breakers January 18-19, 2018.Visit the Conference Site