EIX | Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange

If your advice to founders sounds familiar… it might be outdated. In this article, Johnny Smith explores how today’s entrepreneurs are building in a completely different reality than previous generations. Student debt. Higher costs. Tighter funding. What worked 20 years ago doesn’t always apply today and that gap can lead to misguided advice for new founders. A must-read for anyone mentoring or supporting entrepreneurs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gfNgwDGk #EIXInsights #Startups #Mentorship #Founders

Many leaders focus on how AI helps them automate, but the bigger payoff may be better judgment: helping them explore options, test ideas, and make stronger calls in uncertain markets. Author and consultant Edosa Odaro explains why. https://lnkd.in/gHZ3zbH4

Young people are facing challenges launching a career today -- not only because of disappearing entry level positions at companies but also because it's harder to get started as an entrepreneur. Our new edition includes advice on how investors, banks, universities, and others can help them overcome these new obstacles to business ownership. We also explore the unique obstacles that black entrepreneurs face and how the entrepreneurial ecosystem can help. Many thanks to contributors James Bort, Marianne Markowitz, Justin Corey, Johnny Smith, Peter Birkeland, John W. Francis, Trey Lewis, Richard A. Hunt, David Townsend, Maurice J. Murphy, PhD, Jacob Hoekstra, MBA, Colin Donaldson, Jorge Villagrasa Guarch, Eric Liguori, James Wetherbe, Justyna Miranda, Casey Frid, Jay Ebben, and Alec Johnson. https://lnkd.in/gRU6YcSH

Beware the Ides of March. Julius Caesar ignored the warning. Entrepreneurs acquiring businesses shouldn’t. In the final article of his Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition series, David Deeds explains why one mistake sinks many deals: failing to price risk correctly. Optimistic projections are easy. Understanding operational, market, and leadership risk is harder and far more important. If you don’t price the risk into the deal today… you’ll pay for it later. Read the final installment of the series: https://lnkd.in/gy3g83mc #ETA #EntrepreneurshipThroughAcquisition #RiskManagement #IdesOfMarch #EIXInsights

The financials look good. The broker says the deal is solid. But what’s really going on inside the business? In Part 3 of his Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition series, David Deeds explains why serious buyers must go beyond the balance sheet during due diligence. The real answers often show up in the day-to-day reality of the company: how work actually flows, who really runs things, and whether the cash flow holds up once the current owner steps away. Sometimes the best deal you’ll ever make… is the one you decide not to close. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-ECCads #ETA #EntrepreneurshipThroughAcquisition #SmallBusiness #EIXInsights

Thinking about buying a business instead of starting one from scratch? David Deeds breaks down how to choose the right company to acquire and where smart entrepreneurs actually create value after the deal closes. The takeaway: Don’t chase hype. Look for solid cash flow, operational upside, and businesses you can improve. This article is the second in a four-part EIX series on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJP5DsXc #EIXInsights #ETA #AcquisitionEntrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

Conflict may be inevitable, but how you choose to deal with it is always a choice. This recent article from our partners at FamilyBusiness.Org .org shares 11 strategies to keep in mind when tensions rise in digital communications. Read the research and set aside time this week for an inbox audit. #EIXInsights #HealthyCommunications #Conflict

Who we build with shapes what we build. In this research-driven article, Mauricio Mercado explores how racially homogenous teams can struggle, and why diverse teams often outperform when it comes to creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. It’s a timely reminder that inclusion is not just about representation. It’s about better outcomes for organizations and the people they serve. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gKS-Yiz6 #EIXInsights #DiversityInTeams #InclusionMatters #CreativeCollaboration

📍 USASBE 2026 | Saturday From the Denver Broncos to Succession: Family Business on Center Stage From professional sports ownership to HBO’s Succession, family business dynamics offer powerful lessons in governance, leadership, and generational transition. Moderator: Danielle C. Ailts Campeau, D.B.A. - University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Speakers: Kimberly Eddleston – D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University David Deeds – University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Bringing family business research into conversations that resonate beyond academia. From Research to Real-World Impact. #EIXInsights #USASBE2026 #FamilyBusinessorg #EntrepreneurshipResearch

📍 USASBE 2026 | Saturday From Taylor Swift to K-Pop: The Power of Pop Culture and the Arts in Entrepreneurship Education How can cultural phenomena make entrepreneurship education more accessible and impactful? Moderator: Danielle C. Ailts Campeau, D.B.A. – University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Speakers: Mariah Yates, PhD, MBA – Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University Shinwon Noh – University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Exploring new ways to engage students and expand how we teach entrepreneurship. From Research to Real-World Impact. #EIXInsights #USASBE2026 #EntrepreneurshipEducation #TeachingInnovation