SURVEY: Entrepreneurs Confident in Growth, Prioritize AI and M&A Amid Economic Concerns

EY study notes entrepreneurs confident in growth, prioritize AI and M&A amid economic concerns.

Michael Webb | June 16, 2025

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Despite persistent economic uncertainties, an overwhelming 95% of U.S. entrepreneurs are confident their businesses will grow in the next year, actively pursuing fundraising, strategic transactions, and AI investments, according to a new Ernst & Young (EY US) study.

Why it matters: This optimism from business leaders, detailed in the biannual EY Entrepreneur Ecosystem Barometer, offers a key signal for the broader economic outlook and highlights emerging opportunities for consultancies. Even as 43% of entrepreneurs state the current economy is detrimental to their business, their proactive growth strategies suggest a resilient and adaptive private sector.

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