1 Million Cups

Based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their communities over a million cups of coffee, and with the power of volunteers, 1 Million Cups has supported thousands of entrepreneurs across the United States since 2012.

Rebuilding Better

The Rebuilding Better grantees support activities that engage entrepreneurs in advocacy and educate policymakers about the challenges entrepreneurs face in America, contributing to more supportive environments for entrepreneurs at the local, state, and national levels.

Start Us Up Coalition

Start Us Up is a diverse coalition of groups and organizations working to level the playing field for entrepreneurs across the country. The coalition spans the entire nation and includes entrepreneurship support organizations, nonprofits, university centers, and more.

Ecosystems in Action: Practices from the Field

Ecosystem builders continue to build, shape, and develop the field of practice through their efforts in communities across the country. This series of briefs shares their stories. Each brief examines one policy, program, or practice that has been used to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in a particular place, sharing insights and recommendations from leaders who were instrumental in implementing the practice in the community.

ESHIP Communities

The ESHIP Communities program, implemented through a grant to national nonprofit group, Forward Cities, is comprised of four community councils working to pilot a community-led, systems-based approach to strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in ways that foster inclusion, relationships, collaboration, and social capital across networks.

The Ecosystem Building Playbook

Entrepreneurship helps build economies, but the success of entrepreneurs depends on those around them. That’s why communities build ecosystems to support entrepreneurs. Initially created to compile and share the collective work and thinking of ESHIP Summit participants, the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook 3.0 serves as a starting place for leaders who want to drive entrepreneur-focused economic development in their community.

The ESHIP Summit

Entrepreneurship helps build economies, but the success of entrepreneurs depends on those around them. That’s why communities build ecosystems to support entrepreneurs. Initially created to compile and share the collective work and thinking of ESHIP Summit participants, the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook 3.0 serves as a starting place for leaders who want to drive entrepreneur-focused economic development in their community.

City Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Managed by the National League of Cities and funded by the Kauffman Foundation, this program asks city leaders to commit to creating the right policies, programs, and practices that drive inclusive, entrepreneurship-led economic growth in their communities. By making a public commitment to these goals, we believe municipalities are empowered to connect with the right resources, partners, and information to achieve their goals.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Started by the Kauffman Foundation in 2008, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators who launch startups, bring ideas to life, and drive economic growth through entrepreneurship. One week each November, a network of 20,000 organizations in 180 countries hosts 40,000 unique events. GEW’s work strengthens the local, regional, national, and global environments and entrepreneurial ecosystems that support changemakers, doers, and dreamers everywhere.