EY survey: Nearly half of US entrepreneurs are prioritizing growth, embracing a new playbook for uncertainty

US entrepreneurs rank growth as their top priority, embracing strategic partnerships (97%) and AI integration (76%), while nearly nine in 10 expect their workforce to grow over the next 12 months.

New York, NY, July 28, 2026 — US entrepreneurs are doubling down on growth amid continued market uncertainty, with 46% naming it as their top priority over the next year, according to the latest Entrepreneur Ecosystem Barometer, commissioned by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). The recurring study surveyed 500 US-based, established entrepreneurs with annual revenues of $5m or more and found that growth (46%) outpaced financial resilience (33%) and profitability (21%).

Rather than chasing expansion at any cost, data indicates that entrepreneurs are taking a more disciplined approach as they navigate mounting pressure from multiple fronts. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) report their businesses are moderately or highly exposed to geopolitical disruption, while pricing pressure, rising customer acquisition costs and talent shortages continue to weigh on growth.

In response, nearly every company surveyed has made reductions in at least one area — from expansion plans and marketing budget to research and development — to protect profitability. The result is a more targeted strategy that prioritizes precision over expansion for expansion’s sake.

“Economic uncertainty has become a constant, but entrepreneurs aren’t standing still,” said Anna Horndahl, EY Americas Entrepreneur Of The Year® Director. “They’re becoming more disciplined in how they grow, making thoughtful decisions about where to invest, how to scale, which capabilities to build and how to position their business for long-term success. Growth hasn’t slowed; it has become more intentional.”

Calculated moves shape the next phase of growth

Increasingly, entrepreneurs are choosing strategic partnerships over building every capability themselves. As they navigate a more complex business and operating environment, they are leveraging external ecosystems to gain faster access to customers, technology, talent and supply chains. 

Nearly all entrepreneur respondents (97%) pursued strategic partnerships in 2025 or 2026, underscoring a shift toward an ecosystem-driven approach that relies on collaboration rather than ownership alone.

While partnerships offer significant advantages, they also introduce risks. Nearly half of respondents (49%) cite data and visibility gaps as the biggest risk within their partner networks, while only 3% report no significant risk. 

Entrepreneurs shift from AI adoption to AI value

As AI becomes embedded across entrepreneurial organizations, the conversation has shifted beyond adoption to accountability.

Three-quarters of entrepreneurs report at least partial AI integration across their organizations, including 10% that have fully integrated the technology. Increasingly, entrepreneurs expect AI investments to deliver measurable business outcomes, with revenue growth, customer experience and operational efficiency emerging as the leading indicators of success. 

This heightened scrutiny is already influencing investment decisions. More than one-third have reduced spending on technology tools, including AI, over the past year as entrepreneurs focus investments on use cases that demonstrate clear business value.

Scaling AI remains a challenge, with data readiness, integration complexity, talent and security among the leading barriers. At the same time, 99% of respondents have established approaches to managing AI security and data risks, balancing innovation with governance as part of their companies approach to responsible AI.

Entrepreneurs redesign the workforce for the AI era

While much of the AI conversation has focused on job displacement, entrepreneurs are instead using the technology to redesign work rather than reduce headcount.

Nearly nine in 10 entrepreneurs (88%) expect their workforce to grow over the next 12 months. At the same time, all entrepreneurs surveyed believe AI will reshape workforce strategy, with many redesigning roles to combine human and AI capabilities while investing in reskilling and AI and digital talent.

Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, entrepreneurs are rethinking how work gets done. As routine tasks become automated, employees can focus more on judgment, creativity, problem-solving and customer relationships. The result is not necessarily fewer jobs, but different jobs centered on human and AI collaboration.

This transformation is happening under pressure. More than a third (37%) cite talent as a barrier to growth, while nearly half (46%) identify talent and expertise as barriers to scaling AI. The findings suggest that success in the AI era will depend as much on talent and skills as on the technology itself.

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