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National Entrepreneurship Week takes place during the week starting with the second Saturday of February annually. This congressionally-chartered initiative celebrates America’s vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem. Explore events, connect with mentors, and find resources to launch or grow your venture.
Want to sponsor National Entrepreneurship Week? Learn how
Expected National Entrepreneurship Week Deals
National Entrepreneurship Week is less about direct consumer deals and more about fostering growth and providing resources for aspiring and current entrepreneurs. Look for free or discounted workshops, webinars, and mentorship sessions from organizations like the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE. Many incubators and accelerators, such as Techstars and Y Combinator, may host open houses or pitch events. Financial institutions like Chase for Business often offer special promotions on business accounts or lending products. Tech companies like Shopify and Stripe might provide limited-time discounts on their platforms or services to new businesses. We will update this page with confirmed live programs and events as February approaches.
Platform Guide for National Entrepreneurship Week
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalEntrepreneurshipWeek. Share your entrepreneurial journey or highlight a business you admire.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalEntrepreneurshipWeek. Follow discussions, share industry insights, and connect with fellow founders and investors.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalEntrepreneurshipWeek. Post inspiring visuals of your business, behind-the-scenes content, or success stories.
National Entrepreneurship Week Hero
Steve Blank
History of National Entrepreneurship Week
Entrepreneurs have been in existence for as long as people have been allowed to own their own businesses, however, the term did not appear until 1723. There are nearly 31 million small businesses across the United States, and the majority of the country’s economy is made up of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Despite this, over 50% of these businesses fail within the first year.
This was what stirred up the need for an initiative that empowers the entrepreneurship journey, and supports business owners with some of the knowledge they need to scale their businesses. In 2006, the National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education and the Kauffman Foundation took the initiative to work with the 109th Congress, which led to the designation of the third week of February every year as National Entrepreneurship Week. This congressionally-chartered initiative uplifts core values of diversity, inclusion, equity, education, and collaboration in America’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and the network of stakeholders that support entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship across the nation.
The initiative was pretty much dormant until its relaunch in 2017. Co-Founder of the National Center for Resource Development, Joe Kapp along with two entrepreneurial educators, Amber Ravenscroft and Toi Hershman are responsible for the reviving of the annual initiative, and its popularity ever since.
They were all working on a grant in rural Ohio from the Appalachian Regional Commission to educate students in coal-affected communities when they discovered a general lack of awareness about entrepreneurship, available resources, emerging opportunities, and access to capital markets across communities. Kapp proposed the idea of reviving National Entrepreneurship Week, and in 2017, National Entrepreneurship Week 2.0 was reborn as NatlEshipWeek.
National Entrepreneurship Week timeline
The word ‘entrepreneur’ first appears in a French dictionary compiled by Jacques des Brulons.
National Entrepreneurship Week is created by the National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, the Kauffman Foundation, and the 109th Congress.
National Entrepreneurship Week is relaunched and gains massive popularity.
A number of federal agencies join the National Entrepreneurship Week to launch Federal Entrepreneurship Day, hosting their own events for the empowerment of entrepreneurs.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week
Local businesses can celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week by hosting open house events or offering free consultation sessions to aspiring founders. Consider partnering with local incubators or universities to provide mentorship opportunities or workshops on specific business skills. Feature local startups in your marketing, or offer a special discount to new businesses in your community. These actions foster a supportive ecosystem and highlight your commitment to innovation.
National Entrepreneurship Week FAQs
When is National Entrepreneurship Week?
National Entrepreneurship Week in 2027 is observed from Saturday, February 13, to Saturday, February 20, offering another dedicated period for entrepreneurial activities.
How many entrepreneurs are there in the U.S.?
The entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, with recent reports indicating a steady rise in new business applications. Millions of Americans are actively pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, driving job creation and innovation.
What is the economic impact of entrepreneurship?
Beyond direct economic output, entrepreneurship fuels competition, introduces new technologies, and improves productivity across various sectors. Its ripple effect extends to local communities through job opportunities and wealth creation.
What is the purpose of National Entrepreneurship Week?
The week serves as a platform to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with resources, mentors, and funding opportunities. It also celebrates the resilience and creativity of founders who drive progress and create jobs.
How to Observe National Entrepreneurship Week
Attend the events
Communities across the country offer free local and virtual entrepreneurship webinars and events to uplift and empower the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Find out about the events happening, by visiting the NatlEshipWeek website.
Join in as an educator
Do you have solid experience in the entrepreneurial journey? Then you can join the cause as an educator. As an entrepreneurship educator, you have the ability to teach new entrepreneurs how to be successful at what they do. In fact, the NatElship Week team creates events just for educators.
Spread the word
Knowledge is key, and the good news of National Entrepreneurship Week cannot spread itself. Get on your social platforms and spread the word using #NatlEshipWeek in your posts to raise awareness.
5 Facts And Figures About Entrepreneurship
Most new American billionaires are self-made
With a record high of 493 new billionaires added to “Forbes”’ annual list of the richest people in 2021, 90% of new American billionaires are self-made.
Not all entrepreneurs went to college
About 30% of entrepreneurs only have a high school degree.
The U.S. might be the best country
The United States has a Global Entrepreneurship Index of 83.6, making her the best country for entrepreneurs.
You don’t need to know business
According to entrepreneurship data, 32% of small business owners have only taken a couple of business classes, while 46% don’t have any form of business education.
You’re never too old
Studies show middle-aged men start the most successful businesses, with an average age of 42 years.
Why National Entrepreneurship Week is Important
Entrepreneurs make up a major portion of the economy
With about 582 million entrepreneurs in the world, it is clear that entrepreneurs and their businesses make up a large portion of not only America’s economy but the world at large. National Entrepreneurship Week is key to equipping our entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to grow their businesses.
Most businesses fail in the first year
Great roles come with greater responsibilities, and the same goes for our entrepreneurs. Many start-ups fail within their first year due to a lack of knowledge, funds, or manpower. The National Entrepreneurship Week initiative was created to boost the ecosystem of America’s entrepreneurship, and equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to keep their businesses afloat.
It provides a supportive community
The entrepreneurship journey can be a long, hard, and lonely one. With National Entrepreneurship Week, you get to meet like-minded people and learn from others’ experiences. This is especially helpful to budding entrepreneurs who need networking, and all the support they can get.
National Entrepreneurship Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 15–22 | Saturday–Saturday |
| 2026 | February 14–21 | Saturday–Saturday |
| 2027 | February 13–20 | Saturday–Saturday |
| 2028 | February 12–19 | Saturday–Saturday |
| 2029 | February 10–17 | Saturday–Saturday |
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