What Does the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Actually Need?

Most people starting a business today aren't short on motivation. They're short on what comes after the paperwork.

Dustin Ray, co-owner of Bizee, made the case in a recent Market Realist feature on Bizee's partnership with entrepreneur, investor, and creator Codie Sanchez.

The entrepreneur of 2026 doesn't necessarily match the venture-backed founder image. Someone can build from scratch, grow a side project into a business, buy an existing one, or build something deliberately small around financial independence. Technology and digital tools have removed most of the infrastructure it used to take just to reach customers.

What hasn't changed is what happens after formation.

"At Bizee, we believe starting a business is just the beginning," Ray says. "Entrepreneurs need access to the resources, support and opportunities that can help them turn an idea into a sustainable business."

Sanchez works the same problem from the other end. Through Contrarian Thinking, she has built a platform around helping people buy, build, and grow small businesses, and around treating ownership as a route to financial independence rather than a lottery ticket.

"There are so many people who want to build a business but don't always know where to start or have access to the resources they need to take that first step," Sanchez said.

The partnership pairs Bizee's formation infrastructure with an audience already sold on ownership, launching with a $100,000 grant initiative that puts $25,000 each behind four business owners.