Title: Describe trends in entrepreneurship.
Course: Entrepreneurship Infusion Unit

Description should include trends such as

- increased diversity of entrepreneurs
- entrepreneurs increasingly prepared for success (e.g., better management skills, experience as an industry insider, more reliance on market research)
- increased financing opportunities
- global marketplace (e.g., need for cultural awareness when marketing online)
- online security
- availability of new and different operations methods (e.g., outsourcing, global customer base)
- more remote-based and Internet-based businesses
- emergence of technologies to facilitate business practices, including faster and less expensive launches
- emergence of ventures to address environmental sustainability issues
- increased ability to maintain a company through all stages of the business cycle
- lean start-up methodology (lacks an in-depth business plan; founders talk to customers to identify a problem or need; get a prototype out and iterate based on customer feedback)
- existing organizations seeking to expand their innovation and entrepreneurial activities
- crowdfunding
- collaboration in shared-space incubators and accelerators
- open-source entrepreneurship
- increase in the number of social-minded entrepreneurs.

Process/Skill Questions

- Why do people still start their own businesses when capital is short, markets are crowded, and recession is a pervasive problem?
- What is the difference between a trend and a fad in entrepreneurship?
- Why is it important for entrepreneurs to study trends?
- How can a business survive all stages of the business cycle?
- What current trends are affecting businesses in the local community? What current trends are affecting businesses nationally? Globally?
- How has the Internet changed the buying and selling process?
- Why would a company choose to be philanthropic? What role do taxes play?
- What is green trend in entrepreneurship?