????迄今為止，經濟復蘇一直步伐遲緩，但經濟前景中出現了一種令人感興趣的潛在趨勢，那就是在科技、金融和公司文化發展的共同推動之下，小公司的力量和杠桿水平不斷上升。在這種情況下，人們紛紛離開大公司，嘗試建立自己的企業，而且這個群體正在變得越來越多元化。

????如今，普通大眾都能接觸到平價計算機資源，也能通過互聯網找到如同無主寶藏一般的信息和數據。新一代創業者可以把智能手機、平板電腦和價格不高的打印機連成網絡，還能使用低成本倉儲。在線軟件和服務讓創業者得以盡可能提升自己的能力，而且不會暴露自己公司的大小，從而讓這些企業有了更大的覆蓋范圍和業務規模。

????這種情況對大公司來說是個雙重打擊。大公司的一體化系統很復雜，跟上技術發展的腳步對它們來說絕非易事，它們還發現自己很難為了滿足商業需求而迅速做出反應。與之相反，動力十足的創業者能迅速做出調整，立即執行。他們可以在與別人共用的辦公場地里靈活地擴張，還能受益于不斷增長的彈性人才群體。

????此外，創新以及投資模式的增多給這些創業者提供了更多的融資方式。普通大眾現在可以通過以捐贈為基礎的眾籌模式直接為創業者提供資金；面向可靠投資者的私募眾籌正在成為種子資金的穩定來源；幾十年來，孵化器、天使投資團體以及加速器層出不窮，許多大公司也通過與本行業相關的風投渠道在創新領域進行投資。隨著樓市回暖，房屋產權再次成為企業融資的主要來源。

????Association）公布的MoneyTree報告顯示，2013年，風投人士向3995家企業投入了294億美元資金，投資額比上年增長了7%，所投資企業數量也增加了4%——處于各個發展階段的公司都得到了更多的投資。

????企業文化也發生了改變。為了獲得成功，以價值為基礎的靈活的整體性文化正在成為不斷發展變化的工作環境的關鍵組成部分，目的是為了吸引和留住頂尖人才。通過整體方案來解決工作和生活之間的平衡問題正在成為成功的創業方案和可持續的增長模式中很重要的一環。

????倫敦商學院（London Business School）在即將發布的研究報告中指出，到目前為止，80后一直是最明確強調這些文化演變的群體，表明他們正在積極設法提高工作的靈活性和可控性，而且希望從工作中發掘出更多的意義。美國人力資源管理學會（Society for Human Resource Management）預計，到2020年，80后將占勞動人口的近一半（46%），因此有必要滿足他們的這些需求，以便制定出成功的發展規劃。

????在這些新趨勢的共同鼓舞和支持之下，一個人數更多、更為多元化也更加分散的創業者群體正在崛起。1996-2013年的考夫曼創業活動指數（Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity）顯示，45-64歲群體在創業活動中所占的比例已經從2003年的22%上升到了2013年的53.4%；在此期間，拉丁裔人群創立的企業在創業活動中所占的比重從16%增加到了20%以上。針對創業的教育和培訓項目正在讓越來越多的初創型企業出現在圣路易斯、美國中西部、佛羅里達州和俄亥俄州這樣的非傳統創業地區。

????同時，女性創業者獲得了更多的支持。在涵蓋17個國家和地區的全球性別創業發展指數（Gender Global Entrepreneurship Development Index）上，美國在扶持很有潛力的女性創業者方面排名第一。美國風投研究中心（Cener for Venture Research）對2013年上半年天使投資市場的總結顯示，在此期間，雖然只有15.9%的女性創業者在尋找天使投資，但她們的成功率為23.6%，高于整個市場21.5%的平均水平。這表明，那些幫助女性創業者找到投資者的措施已經開始見效。

????如今的創業者擁有足夠的實體工具和虛擬工具，而且有越來越多的情感和環境方面的支持來幫助他們把自己的想法付諸實踐，取得成功。所有的創業者都在只爭朝夕，這是典型的美國式作風。

????本文作者索菲?韋德是Flexcel Network創始人兼首席執行官。這家公司經營著一個在線項目市場，目的是在成長型公司和老練的職業人士之間建立聯系，同時提供彈性就業服務。韋德定期撰寫文章并舉辦講座，內容涉及彈性工作、工作的未來和多元化職業生涯。她擁有牛津大學中文碩士學位和歐洲工商管理學院MBA學位。（財富中文網）

????譯者：Charlie

????It has been a laggard recovery thus far, but the economic outlook shows interesting potential. A combination of developments in technology, financing and corporate culture is behind the rising power and leverage of small companies. As a result, an increasingly diverse cross-section of individuals is leaving large organizations and pursuing the creation of their own businesses.

????The general population now has access to affordable computing and treasure troves of information and data via the Internet; new business owners can network their smart phones, touch-screen tablets and inexpensive printers, and leverage low cost storage. Online software tools and services allow entrepreneurs to maximize their capabilities and mask their size, giving their new ventures greater reach and scope.

????It has been a double strike against large organizations. Large companies, with their complex integrated systems, are struggling to keep up with the pace of technology developments and finding it hard to respond quickly to meet business demands. In contrast, empowered entrepreneurs can adapt and execute fast, expanding nimbly at co-working spaces and benefiting from the increasing pool of flexible talent.

????Also, funding options for entrepreneurs have increased through innovation and expanded investment parameters. The general public can now contribute directly through donation-based crowd funding; equity crowd funding for accredited investors is becoming a viable source of seed capital; incubators, angel groups and accelerators have multiplied over the past decade, and many large corporations invest in innovation through industry-relevant venture funding. Home equity has returned as a key source of business financing as the housing market improves.

????In 2013, venture capitalists invested $29.4 billion in 3,995 deals, up 7% in dollars and 4% in deals from a year earlier – total funds invested increasing at allstages of development, according to the MoneyTree Report by PwC and the National Venture Capital Association.

????Work culture has also changed. To be successful, a holistic culture – value-based and flexible – is becoming a critical component of the evolving work environment in order to attract and retain top talent. Taking an integrated approach to solving the challenging ‘work-life’ balance, this is emerging as an important component of a successful business plan and sustainable growth model.

????Millennials have been the most vocal group so far emphasizing these cultural changes with London Business Schools’ soon-to-be released study, indicating that millennials are actively seeking more flexibility, control and purpose at work. This generational group is forecast by the Society for Human Resource Management to be almost half (46%) the workforce by 2020, so successful growth plans necessitate addressing these needs.

????The confluence of these developments is encouraging and supporting the rise of a larger, more diverse and dispersed group of entrepreneurs.According to theKauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity 1996-2013, 45- to 64-year-olds’ share of new business activity rose 22% to 53.4% from 2003 to 2013; Hispanic-owned new enterprises increased from a 16% share to more than 20% during the same period; entrepreneurship-focused education and training programs are catalyzing business launches in St. Louis, the Midwest, Florida and Ohio, not traditionally entrepreneurial hubs.

????Meanwhile, there is more support for women entrepreneurs.The Gender Global Entrepreneurship Development Index ranks the US first, ahead of 16 other countries, for fostering high potential female entrepreneurship. While only 15.9% of women entrepreneurs sought angel investments in the first half of 2013, the acceptance rate was 23.6% — higher than the overall market’s 21.5%, according to theCenter for Venture Research’s summary of the Angel Investor Market Q1Q2 2013 This suggests that programs helping women get “investor ready” are yielding results.

????Entrepreneurs now have a toolbox replete with real and virtual tools and complemented by increasing emotional and environmental support to facilitate their ideas, journeys and successes. Quintessentially American, entrepreneurs of all kinds are seizing the day.

????Sophie Wade is founder and CEO of Flexcel Network, LLC. Flexcel operates an online project marketplace connecting growth companies with vetted professionals, and also provides flex placement services. She writes and speaks regularly about flexible work, the future of work and diversified careers. Sophie has an MA from Oxford University in Chinese and an MBA from INSEAD.