Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2025 i Entrepreneur Magazine

IF YOU’RE a manager, your team might hesitate to give you updates. If you’re a founder, your customers might not give valuable feedback. This is awful, right? You don’t think of yourself as intimidating! But here’s the problem: You haven’t given them permission—because you didn’t think you needed to. When you fix this, you’ll become a better friend, leader, and partner. So let’s start by looking at the power of permission, and then extend it to you. My friend Jenny Wood is a former Google executive, and the author of a great new book called Wild Courage. She recently got into a Lyft that was freezing cold—but she didn’t feel comfortable asking the driver to turn the heat up. So she suffered silently. Then Jenny saw a sign the driver had…

1/ An ability to manage up “I look for the ability to manage up and anticipate needs. I try to take the first in-person interview at a coffee shop, and intentionally arrive five minutes late. Theoretically, they arrive on time, and it’s interesting to see what they do with the time. Have they gotten a table? Are they pacing around outside? Have they gotten their own coffee or waited to see what I may want? We’re looking for self-motivated candidates, and you can learn a lot.” —SARAH DOGGETT EVENSON, founder, Marie Oliver 2/ Work ethic and cultural fit “I look for two things: work ethic and cultural fit. So I ask questions that aren’t just about what someone did, but why they did it. Like: ‘Tell me about a time…

It’s taken as a given: AI boosts your productivity. But…does it really? A group of researchers at the business schools of Harvard, MIT and Warwick universities along with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School wanted to find out. So they assembled a team of 758 Boston Consulting Group employees, and put them through a few experiments to study genAI’s effect on their work. The research/ The investigators separated the employees, all consultants, into two groups for different experiments. In both, the subjects were first asked to solve a problem without using AI to establish a performance baseline. Then their group was given a challenge where some of the consultants were able to use GPT-4, while others were not. In the first group, the assignment was to come up with footwear…

Need a great idea? Ask the masses. “Crowdsourcing” has become a popular way for companies to gather insights—because when you bring together people with diverse knowledge and approaches, you can find unexpected genius. But crowdsourcing is time-consuming and expensive. Could generative AI help? Researchers at Harvard Business School and the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business decided to find out. The research/ The study set up a crowdsourcing challenge. The question was: “Who has ideas for how companies can implement the circular economy into their business to make them more climate-friendly?” First, the researchers invited real people to submit their suggestions and ended up with 125 ideas. Next, the researchers prompted ChatGPT’s GPT-4 with the same question and slight variations, which produced 730 solutions. All the ideas were reviewed…

Going to market used to be simple: Buy ads, hire a team of sales reps, and spend thousands of dollars on a PR stunt. Hell, just give away money if it means you’ll sign up more users. Today, all that has changed. Interest rates are no longer zero, and the cost of capital is much higher. Investors are more concerned about customer acquisition costs and unit economics. Startups need to stay lean, and founders need to be creative in how they reach, activate, and convert customers. Incredibly, just as startups around the world were being forced to tighten their belts, they were given a magical new technology that stretches their go-to-market (GTM) dollars further than ever: generative AI. Everyone knows about AI’s ability to create text and images, but we’re…

Entrepreneurship has long been the backbone of the American Dream, and at its core lies the transformative power of franchising. In 2025, franchising continues to shine as a dominant force in the U.S. economy—offering aspiring entrepreneurs a pathway to going into business for themselves, but not by themselves. The organization I lead, the International Franchise Association (IFA), projects that franchising is set to grow 2.4% this year, outpacing the broader U.S. economy’s expected 1.9% GDP growth, with projections of over 210,000 jobs created. We expect the number of franchise establishments to increase by more than 20,000 units this year, or 2.5%, to 851,000 total units across the country. That’s a testament to its resilience and potential, even in the face of uneasiness in the economy due to wavering consumer confidence,…

Jamie Mitri had an amazing product, almost zero sales, and no idea what was wrong. This was 2021, and she’d just launched her brand, Moss Pure. It makes indoor moss walls—those trendy, earthy installations you see in corporate lobbies. But hers was distinct: Most moss walls are actually made from dead moss preserved with chemicals, making them stinky and in need of annual replacement. But drawing on her experience as a chemical and environmental engineer, Mitri was able to create a moss wall that’s actually alive, requires no chemicals, smells nice, and functions as an air purifier. She thought the product would sell itself, and hired a marketing agency to run online ads. But nothing happened. She began to see the problem: Her product is more expensive because it’s the…

There’s an idea rooted in startup culture: You’ve got to fail to win. People love to throw that around, but we still aren’t very good at actually admitting or discussing those failures. We’d rather brush them under the rug—and as a result, we never really learn from them. I decided to fix that at Biller Genie, the company I cofounded with Thomas Aronica. It’s a platform that automates billing and invoicing to get people paid faster. I wanted to know every screwup my team was making in real time and face them head-on. So I created a “Fuckup of the Month” meeting, where all of our employees gather to share their mistakes. The point isn’t to be dramatic. It’s to learn together to solve our problems faster. And you know…

1/ Streamlined sound. Imagine sitting down on a flight, looking at the screen on the seatback, and thinking: I wish I could hear that movie through my wireless earbuds. The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 [$60; twelvesouth.com] makes it possible. Plug the device into any headphone jack and stream wireless audio to any brand of Bluetooth headphones. The 25 hours of playback will outlast even the longest flight, and its buttons adjust sound quickly. Traveling with kids? You can pair two headsets to one device to share the movie. 2/ A civilized standing desk. Most standing desks look like simple platforms on stilts. The Room & Board Lincoln [from $4,500; roomandboard.com] is a significant upgrade—a traditional-looking desk, complete with side drawers, with a pair of arms that raise the top…

As education needs evolve, access to quality, personalized learning is more important than ever. Many states offer government-funded programs to help families afford school tuition, homeschooling resources, and supplemental learning tools. However, various compliance and logistical challenges can complicate accessing these funds. Enter Odyssey, a New York City-based company that helps families and students access high-quality, personalized education opportunities, thanks to a fintech platform that transforms how families manage education savings accounts (ESAs). By handling applications, eligibility verification, digital wallets, and payments, Odyssey removes the complexities of government-funded programs — allowing families to focus on their children’s education. Connecting families with funding and the supplies they need most Because ESA funds must be used strictly for approved expenses, Odyssey helps drive compliance by directing payments only to authorized educational products…

Marketing surveys and focus groups are a notorious grind. You’ve got to find people (and lots of them) in various demographics, persuade them to participate, and pray for insights. Researchers at Columbia, Berkeley, and Alberta universities wondered: Could generative AI replace this process, helping you to understand your customer without ever interviewing a single person? The research/ Could ChatGPT give the same answers that humans give? The researchers tested it. Because ChatGPT is trained on the internet, its default is to represent the population at large: old, young, different incomes, etc. So to get the AI to answer like all those people, they gave it this prompt: “The most sporty car brand is…” Next, the researchers asked hundreds of actual humans to finish the same sentence. In another part of…

Thailand’s exports surged from $257bn in 2019 to $314bn in 2023, rising by 4.4% annually despite the global recession driven by the covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, according to McKinsey. The global management consultancy noted Thailand’s “strong manufacturing base”. Indeed, manufacturing contributes around 25% of Thailand’s GDP, benefitting from the country’s high skills base, location, and pro-industry policies. The sector has been strengthening, according to business information service S&P, which recorded an improvement in its purchasing mangers’ index for seven of the last eight months of 2024, with an acceleration at the end of the year. Analysts said that new orders have reached the strongest levels for a year and a half, and that the 12-month outlook remains positive, with sentiment above its long-term trend. MCS Steel epitomises the strengths…

Egypt’s economic growth will accelerate in the coming years, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, which expects private consumption to rise by 4.2% in 2026 after a 2.8% rise in 2025. Gross fixed investment is expected to soar by 17% next year, with the country potentially able to leverage its geopolitical position to secure multilateral finance. The telecoms market is evolving quickly as the economy picks up pace, with several operators introducing 5G services in Q1 2025, according to a recent report by Fitch Solutions. The monetisation of data is a “key growth avenue” for the industry, the company said. Telecom Egypt has established itself not only as the premier telecommunications company in the country, but a global player through its management and operation of numerous international cables that connect…

Jason Stucky never planned to own his own business. But after working at his local Color Me Mine studio in Geneva, Illinois, he couldn’t resist getting more involved. Stucky is a Navy veteran who had a career in retail management. He took a break to become a stay-at-home dad, then returned to the workforce in 2018 by managing his local Color Me Mine studio. “Because of my retail background,” he says, “I saw what they were not doing with branding and marketing.” When he learned the location was for sale, he wanted in. Stucky and his husband decided to take a massive risk: They invested most of their 401(k) savings to buy the studio. The first few years were grueling. But Stucky pushed forward, improving operations and fostering a sense…

We’ve all been there: Stuck in an unfulfilling job and hoping for a change. If that sounds like you, but you don’t want to land in another version of the same situation, it could be time to promote yourself from employee to boss as the owner of your own business. How? By buying a franchise. You don’t need entrepreneurship experience. At my company, United Franchise Group, we’ve worked with about 1,800 people who became franchisees—and most of them have transitioned from another career. Many people can do so without having worked in the industry they’re investing in, as long as they have drive and ambition. If that sounds like you, then here are five reasons to make owning a franchise your next job. 1/ It works. Franchising is a fresh…

Are you looking for the right franchise for you? Once you’ve settled on a brand you like, it’s time to run all the numbers—from one-time costs to all the ongoing fees that come with buying and operating a franchise from day to day. Although a brick-and-mortar business might require you to secure a storefront and a staff, and an e-commerce company might include software and inventory expenses, there are other costs unique to franchising that every franchisee-to-be should be aware of. While these fees will be clearly outlined in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that you are required to review before buying the franchise, it’s best to know what these terms mean right from the start. Franchise fees One of the biggest perks of franchising is buying into the company’s…

Go North Group was founded in 2021, as an aggregator, bringing together small businesses on Amazon with the intention of improving and expanding them. Now, with a portfolio of 33 brands spanning home, animal, and lifestyle categories. Go North is on a mission to deliver “products with purpose.” “Our products each solve a problem our customers have, and we keep that customer focus in all aspects of our business, including packaging,” says Ryan Looysen, CEO at Go North Group.” Customers want to receive their items safely without the hassle of excess cardboard and plastic to dispose of.” In November 2023, the company collaborated with Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging program (SIPP), which allows sellers to ship items to customers in their own product packaging without any Amazon-added material. The program…

Sustainability goals are no longer an afterthought in business, and the motivating factors are clear. Consumers increasingly say they are buying more sustainable products and 85% are willing to pay a premium for them1. If sustainability hasn’t factored into a company’s goals or mission, investors have helped spur change. Ninety percent of global investors say they revise their investments if companies do not at least consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues2. And so, many brands are looking to innovative and renewable paper products for their packaging solutions. Seventy-nine percent of companies that were recently surveyed by Packaging World indicated that recyclability and use of recycled content is one of the top two factors in favor of a package’s sustainability3, and 39% say brand reputation is the top driver in…

On the worst day of his professional life, as his business seemed to be crumbling around him, Lynnwood Bibbens told his team: “Give me 30 minutes.” He retreated to a quiet room. He closed his eyes and reflected on his career. Then he returned to his team and said, “We’re going to find out two things really quickly. Number one, we’re going to find out if our partners value us. And number two, once we find out how valuable they think we really are, we have an opportunity to dream about what we want to be.” Bibbens is the founder and CEO of ReachTV, which is now America’s largest travel TV network. It broadcasts onto screens in more than 2,400 airport gates, over 950 venues, and 500,000 hotels, reaching 54…

Artificial intelligence isn’t a tool for only enterprises anymore. As generative AI tools have become increasingly accessible, small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs) have been integrating AI into their everyday operations. As it turns out, 75% of SMBs say they are investing in AI, and growing SMBs are nearly two times more likely to invest in AI than their declining peers1. That’s huge. These businesses recognize the importance of embracing AI and prioritizing data strategies that provide speed, reliability, and a clear understanding of their customers. As the wave of generative AI gives way to a new era of agentic AI—allowing AI systems to act autonomously, making decisions and taking actions without constant human oversight—SMBs are realizing even greater opportunities. “We’re embarking on a new chapter of human productivity potential that’s…

As entrepreneurs experiment with generative AI, academic researchers are running their own experiments. They want to know: What works? What doesn’t? And why? The early results are fascinating. On the following pages, we highlight studies conducted by researchers at Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and other universities, where you’ll see a theme: AI cannot effectively replace people at this point, but it can be a powerful collaboration tool—and in ways you may not expect. Here’s how.…

With a “strong track record of growth and development”, Bangladesh “has witnessed robust economic growth” since independence in 1971, according to the World Bank. The country saw average annual GDP growth of 6.4% between 2010 and 2023, the Bank states. With a large and growing population and rising incomes, Bangladesh has a sizable healthcare sector, worth more than $10bn, with nearly three-quarters of that in the private sector, according to consultancy Innovation. Founded in 1989 by physician and entrepreneur Dr AM Shamim, Labaid is one of Bangladesh’s largest and most recognised private healthcare businesses. It established the first super-speciality cardiac hospital in the country, and is known for bringing high-quality diagnostic and specialised consultation facilities and services to the country through its centres across Bangladesh. Labaid handles around 3M patients…

Can generative AI outshine the human imagination? It’s a tricky (if scary) question, and studies so far have found mixed results. Lynn Wu, an associate professor at The Wharton School, and her colleagues decided to measure AI’s effect on product innovation by analyzing metrics like patents and revenue. The research/ Wu’s study was built on two kinds of research: a survey of 331 companies about their technology development practices, plus an analysis of more than 2,000 publicly traded firms’ productivity and new patents filed. Her goal was to identify two things: How are companies integrating AI? And what effect does using it have on innovating products with commercial value? The results/ AI was bad at creating “out of thin air” breakthroughs. “That’s a fundamental limitation,” Wu says. “When it does…

The Philippines’ economy will “remain robust” in the coming years, growing at an average rate of 6% in 2024-26, according to the World Bank. This impressive growth will have a real impact on the population, boosting household incomes and job creation and reducing poverty, the Bank said. The country’s economic performance is supporting “diverse opportunities” in the real estate sector, according to property consultancy and agency Knight Frank Santos, with demand and rental yields rising in many areas, boosted by government infrastructure and urban renewal initiatives. The company highlighted hospitality as a particularly promising segment, with tourist arrivals on the rise. One of the leading property developers in the Philippines, Cebu-based AppleOne Group has an impressive portfolio including high-end branded residences and luxury hotels. In recent years it has diversified…

At age 24, I planned my life out: I got a job at the State Department in Washington, D.C., which I planned to use to enter the Foreign Service, which I thought would help me achieve my ultimate goal—to become a diplomat. But then life got in the way. I fell in love with a friend who would become my husband, and he got a job in Houston, my hometown. So in 2012, I chose to follow him home, giving up one dream for another. As I prepared to leave D.C., I bought a small, porcelain dish engraved with the U.S. Department of State’s seal. It was touristy, but it felt like a souvenir of my old life. My job search in Texas was frustrating. I’d stare at that porcelain…