Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The non-profit Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center has announced the release of new research from its multi-year Venture Equity Project (VEP), supported by JPMorganChase and Nasdaq. The research focuses on two key goals:

• Advancing equity in entrepreneurship through data-driven models for ecosystem builders, policymakers, investors, and educators; and
• Spotlighting successful programs that catalyze funding for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The latest findings from the VEP highlight the importance of geography as an ingredient in equity, evaluating how each U.S. state shapes opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and Women founders. Each of the three key research partners advanced the research in a critical way:

• Penn State University’s Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative analyzed state-level legislative activity and discourse.
• Heartland Forward evaluated business ownership among Black, Hispanic, and Women entrepreneurs using U.S. Census data.
• The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center provided qualitative insights from entrepreneurial models being implemented across the U.S.

Together, these efforts provide a nuanced understanding of state-level impact on entrepreneurial equity.

Key findings include:

The Top 5 States Advancing Equity for Black Entrepreneurs:

1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Arkansas
4. Texas
5. Maryland

The Top 5 States Advancing Equity for Hispanic Entrepreneurs:

1. Florida
2. Louisiana
3. Hawaii
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky

Top 5 States Advancing Equity for Female Entrepreneurs:

1. Washington D.C. (D.C. was the top territory, as included by Census data)
2. Colorado
3. Hawaii
4. Washington
5. Oregon
6. Wyoming

---