Speaking Startup: Entrepreneurs born of necessity

With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to historical levels of job losses, entrepreneurship by necessity is likely to spike in the coming weeks and months, according to research of past recessions. The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast focuses on that type of entrepreneurship. First, we look at entrepreneurship among formerly incarcerated people, who tend to experience high rates of unemployment even in healthy job markets. Kyle Smith co-founded Determination, Incorporated, a Kansas City-based nonprofit that encourages entrepreneurship among formerly incarcerated people, and he joined us to talk about his organization and entrepreneurship as an avenue for formerly incarcerated people. Then, we explore entrepreneurship among fresh college graduates in a conversation with Becky Bocklage, program director of the Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia College.