History

The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI) was founded by Gary G. Schoeniger in 2007 with a mission to expose the entrepreneurial mindset as a powerful means of individual empowerment, economic mobility, and societal resilience.

What began as a research project for the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute led to the creation of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Programs through a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize nominee Clifton Taulbert and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Since its launch in 2011, the Ice House programs have been implemented in classrooms and communities worldwide, earning recognition from the United Nations, the Papal Council on Peace and Justice, and the European Commission.

Driven by the growing demand, ELI has evolved to become the world’s leading provider of entrepreneurial mindset training, professional development, courseware, and consulting services. Today, ELI empowers academic institutions, corporations, and nonprofit organizations across the globe, equipping individuals and communities with the skills and mindset needed to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing world.