Natalie Madeira Cofield is an award-winning entrepreneur, executive, and advocate for small business development and innovation. As CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), she leads national efforts to expand access to capital, networks, and growth opportunities for small businesses. A seasoned strategist, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies, governments, and nonprofits to advance entrepreneurship and business ecosystems. She has been recognized for her leadership and impact, including being featured by Harvard Business School for her expertise in disruptive innovation and regional economic development. Her work spans policy, investment, and programmatic solutions that drive small business success. Follow her for insights on entrepreneurship, business innovation, and small business policy.
What The 2026 State Of The Union Signals For Small Business
What the 2026 State of the Union means for small businesses navigating delayed budgets, regulatory changes and economic pressure.
Rethinking Food As A Small Business Economy
America’s food system operates as a small business economy. Here’s why investing in food entrepreneurs matters for economic resilience and local stability.
How The SBA’s New Citizenship Requirement Reshapes Lending
A new SBA rule limits loan eligibility to citizen-owned businesses, removing green card holders and altering access to federally backed small business capital.
1,000 Firms Out, 65 In: What’s Happening To The 8(a) Program?
The SBA’s 8(a) Program is shrinking as compliance rules reshape who can access federal contracts, raising questions about opportunity and participation.
Federal Cuts Won’t Stop Entrepreneurship But May Shape Who Participates
Federal budget cuts won’t stop entrepreneurship, but unresolved funding decisions may shape who can access capital, local support, and technical assistance.
What The $10 Million SBA Loan Cap Could Mean For Small Manufacturers
A new $10 million SBA loan cap could transform U.S. manufacturing—but only if small firms get the workforce, modernization, and supply chain support needed to scale.
What It Will Take To Sustain America’s Entrepreneurship Wave In 2026
Why America’s entrepreneurship wave requires new 2026 policies on capital access, benefits, and ecosystem support to help small businesses truly thrive.
The Real Reason Small Businesses Struggle To Offer Good Jobs
New research shows small businesses want to offer better jobs but face high costs and complex systems. Here’s what’s holding them back—and how to fix it.
The Hidden Unemployment Of 1099 Workers In The Federal Shutdown
The shutdown’s jobless data exclude contractors, 1099 workers, and small firms—concealing how deeply federal stoppages hit local economies.
How The Government Shutdown Hurts Small Business Contractors
Inside the shutdown economy: how delays in federal payments and projects disrupt $183 billion in small-business contracts nationwide.