Entrepreneurs

On view 2008 - 2018

In employing roughly half of all private sector employees, small businesses and their entrepreneurial spirit stimulate economic growth and are a foundation of America's economy. Most new inventions and creative ideas or related modifications arise from them, just as the first airplane was built by two brothers who owned a tiny bicycle shop.

In this exhibit, visitors encounter stories woven with innovation and resourcefulness, a tolerance for risk and, above all, constant determination. The video interviews with 16 modern-day entrepreneurs reveal people who creatively identified opportunities and took the initiative to realize their ambitions.

In their passion to succeed, entrepreneurs often work 60 to 80 hours a week, with hustle and ingenuity. Entrepreneurs are market-driven and action-oriented, always looking to satisfy customers while guarding against making competitors rich from their work. Their single most vital characteristic is focused persistence.

In original interviews conducted for the Museum, visitors hear firsthand from the following entrepreneurs:

Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove/Flash
Donald Burr, People’s Express
Robin Chase, Zipcar
Steve Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery
Princess Jenkins, The Brownstone
Kay Koplovitz, USA Network
Raymond Kurzweil, Inventor
Liz Lange, Liz Lange Maternity
David Neeleman, JetBlue
Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group
Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen Fund
Anthony Periera, altPower
Felix Sencion, Mundial Group
Muriel Siebert, Muriel Siebert & Co. (first woman on the NYSE)
Elizabeth Stock, Computers For Youth