Increasing the rate of minority and female entrepreneurship may help to reduce the race and gender wealth gaps, to reduce income and wealth inequality, and to increase social mobility. With the United States becoming more heterogeneous, increasing business formation by minority and female entrepreneurs is critical to improving the rate of entrepreneurship overall.
Michael S. Barr, Co-Faculty Director of the Center on Finance, Law & Policy
Inclusive entrepreneurship
Starting a business is never an easy undertaking. For underrepresented entrepreneurs such as women and people of color, however, the challenges can be especially daunting. Systemic racism and other structural imbalances often mean that minority-owned businesses have limited access to things every small business needs, such as start-up capital and a robust professional network.
Through our policy research, we work to understand and explain the systemic barriers that hold back Detroit businesses. Through our 1:1 work with business owners via the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project, we work to break down those barriers.
Detroit
Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project
The Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) is a program that brings together small businesses with University of Michigan students, faculty and staff to solve business owners’ legal, financial, marketing, operational, and design challenges. We are invested in Detroit neighborhoods and student learning.