Papers

Originally posted in our July 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. This study from the Small Business Institute Journal explores how entrepreneurs develop resilience and engage with a variety of adverse situations. Through their findings, they identify three “waves” of resiliency. The first wave is defined as resilient qualities, shaped by character and circumstances. The second wave, the resiliency process, focuses on how entrepreneurs consciously and unconsciously interpret challenges to develop resiliency, regardless of personality traits. The third wave,…

Originally posted in our January 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. Ongoing research published in the working paper Learning to See the World’s Opportunities* underscores how visualization skills enhance entrepreneurial success for any individual. Entrepreneurs who actively engage in positive mental imagery improve their financial stability, creative problem-solving, and access to credit. However, not everyone has equal access to this skill—past hardships and trauma can limit one’s ability to visualize a positive future. But, like any skill,…

Originally posted in our October 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In “What If Everyone Was an Entrepreneur?” Town Square highlights the transformative potential of widespread entrepreneurial thinking. It posits that fostering an entrepreneurial mindset can unlock personal and economic growth by encouraging innovation and resilience. The piece underscores the importance of nurturing entrepreneurial skills at an individual level, but it also emphasizes the broader societal impact. By integrating entrepreneurial principles into community and educational frameworks, local…

Originally posted in our August 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. This piece from the University of Michigan references and expands on a study that found entrepreneurship programs in impoverished regions are more successful when they showcase domestic or culturally relevant innovations rather than highlighting the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.  This aligns perfectly with ELI’s belief that unlocking entrepreneurial potential is best achieved by providing relatable social models to those we aim to help. If the examples…

Originally posted in our September 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. We’ve all seen think-pieces about the value of entrepreneurial ecosystems, from venture capital funding to small business development centers, incubators, and fab labs. These pieces tend to favor the tech, lifestyle, or service industries. They are often generalized in a way that can lead to gaps in policy development, support strategies, and even who is included in the ecosystem definition. One group of innovators that we…