For millions of creative, hungry-for-more, idealistic individuals, nothing embodies the American Dream better than entrepreneurship. Being your own boss, owning your own business, nurturing it like a child, and watching it flourish speaks to a profound cultural need. It’s the commercial extension of the rugged individual in us all.

For startups, the last few years have witnessed a remarkable turnaround.[1] After reaching peak activity in the early 2000s and peaking again nearly a decade ago, US startup activity is approaching pre-recession levels.