Kauffman VP hops on national TV to discuss gaps in entrepreneurship

May 8, 2017  |  Bobby Burch

Victor Hwang

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s vice president of entrepreneurship recently took to national television to examine declining startup rates.

CNBC recently featured Victor Hwang to discuss the trend in declining startup rates, including generational gaps, cultural shifts, limited access to capital and the impact of regulations.

“It’s hard to pin it down exactly,” Hwang told CNBC. “There seem to be some cultural forces at work. It seems like entrepreneurship is starting to fall and we’re seeing a decline of economic dynamism. The Millennial set actually has much lower rates of entrepreneurship than you find in prior generations.”

In February, Kauffman Foundation leadership took to Washington D.C. to discuss common struggles entrepreneurs face, possible solutions and emerging trends with lawmakers. That visit also highlighted the foundation’s Zero Barriers to Startup Challenge, which is a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify barriers that get in the way of new business creation.

To learn more about three “megatrends” that have grabbed the foundation’s attention and informed some of its efforts to help reverse the startup deficit, check out this story.

Check out Hwang’s CNBC appearance below.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2017 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Scout charts pre-seed funding from Midwest investors at KCRise Fund, eGrowth Ventures

        By Tommy Felts | November 24, 2025

        The just-announced pre-seed round for an emerging innovator in veterinary medicine software is expected to help the Kansas City-built startup deepen its product capabilities, further strengthen its core technology, and strategically grow its team to meet rising demand. “Closing this round gives us the resources and momentum to execute on our mission,” said Dr. Gonzalo…

        Keystone launching corporate engagement accelerator to boost low-friction startup collabs

        By Tommy Felts | November 20, 2025

        Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem gets its fair share of positive press thanks to a decade of momentum, Kevin McGinnis noted, but the region’s ability to scale innovative ideas to their potential remains stalled because corporations and startups lack an easy on-ramp for collaboration. “We have been listening for years to the ecosystem, to the community,…

        Just funded: AltCap Your Biz cycles trio of winners from KC’s diverse hospitality scene

        By Tommy Felts | November 20, 2025

        Persistence pays off, said Ruben Alonso, celebrating a decade of the AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition and its role as an energy boost for Kansas City small businesses. The latest winning founders walked away with $60,000 in checks Wednesday at Union Station. Two of this year’s top three winners were returning finalists, the AltCap CEO…

        Innovation check(s): Angels scout potential KC investments at NXTUS nano-pitch event

        By Tommy Felts | November 19, 2025

        A startup showcase Tuesday in the heart of Johnson County’s innovation community put impact on display as NXTUS’ Accelerate Venture Partners organized a nano-pitch event for its network of angel investors amid Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City festivities. The Wichita-based entrepreneurial support organization — which has mobilized over $8.5 million for entrepreneurs in the Heartland since…