The Challenge: Uneven Opportunity in Urban Communities
 
Many urban neighborhoods—especially those that are majority Black, Hispanic, or low-income—remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship. Consider these stark realities:
 

• In the lowest-income ZIP codes of New York City (median income, “establishments per capita” range from 0.7 to 1.2, compared to higher-income neighborhoods with 2–2.4 establishments per capita).

• Only 0.13% of working-age residents in NYC public housing report owning a business .

• African Americans start new businesses at a monthly rate of 0.21%, compared to 0.29% for whites and 0.40% for Latinos .

• Black-owned businesses represent just 2.3% of U.S. firms, despite Black Americans comprising 14% of the population .

 
 
These gaps reflect structural barriers—limited access to capital, restricted networks, regulatory complexity, and uneven social/familial support.