The vision and tenacity of today's entrepreneurs will fuel our 21st century economy through the convergence of talent, technology, soul, social capital and intellectual capital. In the creative economy, there is a range of business, civic, and aesthetic entrepreneurial formations.

• Technology companies
• Solo designers
• Neighborhood businesses
• Formations for the common good
• Companies driven by uncompromising core values that purposely choose to grow slowly with the intention to go to scale
• And more with unique entrepreneurs who are artists, immigrants, or youth forming businesses that range from home-based to the fast track gazelle companies...the value added is what the mind & soul produces

• Companies form as an ensemble of talent. You will find and connect with talent required to go to scale.
• Business is not just about the fast track to venture capital. Rather, bootstrapping with cash and customers is equally viable. The business uses sweat equity by getting one customer and the next.
• Self-help books help, but even more vital is learning hands-on from other entrepreneurs who have been there or who are grappling with the same business problems and looking for an inventive solution.
• Here is where risk taking and passion matter.

The next economy is a creative economy, rich with technology, art, design, bio-medical research, ecology and local, living economies. It is creative- the idea born from a new combination. It is innovative - the application of the idea into something useful. Creativity & innovation are nourished by what we call an "ecosystem" that fosters the clustering of ideas and talent. Old towns and old cities of New England are natural incubators of the creative economy because place is important in attracting talent & resources. We believe the diverse group of entrepreneurs who will power the 21st economy must find its collective voice… we designed EFNE to provide such a forum.