MFI Entrepreneurship Research Conference
A page within Menard Family Initiative
Entrepreneurship Research Conference with an Emphasis on Occupational Regulations
Join us for the fifth annual Entrepreneurship Research Conference, on Monday, October 19th - Tuesday, October 20th, 2026, which brings together leading scholars, students, entrepreneurs, and community members for thought-provoking conversations on entrepreneurship, research, and the regulatory environment that shapes opportunity and innovation.
This year’s conference will feature Diana Hechavarria of Babson College and Siri Terjesen of Florida Atlantic University as guest speakers. The conference will also place a special emphasis on occupational regulation, featuring discussions with Alicia Plemmons and Darwyyn Deyo of the Knee Regulatory Research Center. Together, they will explore the role of occupational regulations and their implications for entrepreneurs, workers, and economic opportunity, including a dedicated panel discussion.
The conference will also feature two academic sessions, bringing scholars together to share and discuss entrepreneurship research. Attendees will have the opportunity to see entrepreneurship in action during Visionary Ventures, our student poster session showcasing innovative business ideas and entrepreneurial concepts. Students will present their ventures by highlighting the problem they aim to solve, their proposed solution, market opportunity, business model, and next steps for bringing their ideas to life.
Interested in participating in Visionary Ventures? Students interested in showcasing their entrepreneurial ideas are encouraged to visit our Visionary Ventures page for more information and participation details. Rounding out the conference will be a panel featuring local entrepreneurs, offering attendees an opportunity to hear firsthand perspectives and experiences from entrepreneurs in the community.
Whether you are a researcher, student, entrepreneur, or simply interested in entrepreneurship and economic opportunity, we invite you to join us for this engaging and timely conference!
Formal itinerary and additional conference details will be announced soon.
2025 Entrepreneurship Research Conference
On Wednesday, October 15th and Thursday, October 16th, the MFI hosted its fourth annual Entrepreneurship Research Conference. The conference included a Visionary Ventures poster session where students presented entrepreneurial ideas, two keynotes, two academic sessions on various entrepreneurship topics, and two panel discussions titled Unresolved Questions and Future Directions of Entrepreneurship Research and The Future of Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship.
The annual MFI Entrepreneurship Research Conference created an environment for dialogue between scholars, entrepreneurs, and students. Presentations and keynotes explored a wide range of important topics. The event brought together diverse voices from research, business, and education, creating a space where ideas could spark action. By fostering dialogue and partnership across sectors, the conference emphasized how collaboration is essential for driving innovation and shaping the future of entrepreneurship
2024 Entrepreneurship Research Conference
The Menard Family Initiative is pleased to announce we successfully hosted our Third Annual Entrepreneurship Research Conference that took place from Wednesday, October 9th to Thursday, October 10th, in Cleary Great Hall! This exciting two-day event brought together leading scholars from across the country to share groundbreaking research on entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development.
Our two keynote speakers:
Dr. Frank Fossen from the College of Business, University of Nevada, Reno
Dr. Fossen is a Professor of Economics and the Charles N. Mathewson Professor in Entrepreneurship at the Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is also a Research Fellow of IZA. Before joining the University of Nevada, Reno in October 2016, he was an Assistant Professor of Public Economics at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Dr. Christopher Boudreaux from the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Boudreaux is an associate professor of economics at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a research fellow for the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise. He earned his PhD from Florida State University and taught at Texas A&M International University before FAU. His teaching and research interests are primarily related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
