Online Event
Why Startups and Small Businesses Require Different Policy Approaches
Why startups and small businesses need different policies to deliver real economic impact
Date
Jan 20, 2026
Time
01:00 pm - 02:30 pm
Address
Online Event
Cities invest millions each year in entrepreneurship, but most still use the same programs, metrics, and funding logic for both small businesses and startups. The result? Modest outcomes, frustrated founders, and policy leaders wondering why the returns never materialize. This event tackles a controversial but evidence-backed reality: small businesses and startups are fundamentally different economic engines. They create jobs differently, fail differently, and require entirely different forms of mentorship, capital readiness, and public-sector investment.
Drawing on national research, real-world ecosystem experience, and a proven methodology, this session will help economic development leaders rethink how entrepreneurship strategy is designed, and where public dollars actually create durable impact.
The goal is not to pick sides. It’s to design smarter policy by understanding the difference.
What You'll Learn:
- Understand the key differences between startups and small businesses
- Learn why one-size-fits-all policy produces weak economic outcomes
- Identify better metrics for measuring startup impact beyond survival rates
- Recognize how mentorship needs differ for startups and small businesses
Featured Experts:
- Gil Gonzales - Director of Special Projects @ Barberton Community Foundation: Gil Gonzales is a seasoned economic development leader with experience spanning city halls, governor’s offices, and statewide commerce agencies. He has served as an appointee to the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Vice President of Economic Development for the Arizona Commerce Authority, and Senior Director in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Currently, he is Director of Special Projects at the Barberton Community Foundation and co-founder of Subcity, where he has focused on expanding access to government incentives, tax credits, and financing for small and medium-sized businesses. Gil brings a practitioner’s perspective on how public policy, incentives, and support systems shape real economic outcomes.
- Paul O'Brien - Head of Public Affairs @ Founder Institute: A startup economist and ecosystem strategist with 25 years in venture capital, public policy, and economic development. As Head of Public Affairs at the Founder Institute and Managing Partner of Startup Economist, he helps governments, investors, and civic leaders build stronger startup ecosystems that drive real economic growth.
About Founder Institute:
Founder Institute helps governments build capacity for economic development by providing the infrastructure necessary to activate their talent, empower the creation of new companies through structured mentorship, and ignite their funding ecosystem. Learn more at https://fi.co/government
Founder Institute helps governments build capacity for economic development by providing the infrastructure necessary to activate their talent, empower the creation of new companies through structured mentorship, and ignite their funding ecosystem. Learn more at https://fi.co/government
Speakers
Platinum Partners
Local Partners
Google
Linkedin
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The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,600 entrepreneurs raise over 1.9BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
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