Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

The entrepreneurship ecosystem is a set of factors that interact to create an environment that favors (or does not favor) development of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Commonly recognized components of an entrepreneurial ecosystem include finance, business support, public policy, markets, human capital, infrastructure, R&D, and culture, but it is their strength as an interconnected whole that determines the health of the ecosystem and its capacity to support entrepreneurs.

The ROI works to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems locally as well as throughout the state. By offering resources and programs for navigating the unique barriers Oregon's rural entrepreneurs often face, the ROI helps communities grow existing businesses, and support entrepreneurial-minded individuals.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Blocks

Entrepreneurial communities with strong ecosystems often have more economic diversification, greater local control, less dependency on outside forces, and better retention of profits generated within the community.

ecosystem includes finance, business support, public policy, markets, human capital, infrastructure, R&D, and culture

At its core, ROI is structured to support local opportunities that reflect local priorities in order to empower entrepreneurs to turn concepts into enterprises capable of powering rural economies.