More Americans are starting companies. Bobbi Brown and other founders share their advice.
Business applications in the US have surged by 16.5% in early 2026, driven by AI tools lowering barriers to entry and shifting labor market dynamics. Founders like Bobbi Brown emphasize the importance of customer feedback and authentic branding in this new entrepreneurial landscape.
Why it matters
Reflects a significant shift in the US labor market and the democratization of business creation through technology.
Olipop founder Ben Goodwin and Jones Road Beauty's Bobbi Brown share their advice for starting a brand. Olipop/ANGELA WEISS/AFP Americans filed over 3 million business applications in the first six months of this year. AI tools are making it easier for some entrepreneurs to build brands of their own. Business Insider spoke with founders, including makeup mogul Bobbi Brown, about starting a business. Now might be the perfect time to launch that business you've been dreaming about. Americans filed more than 3 million applications to start businesses in the first six months of 2026, up 16.5% from a year earlier, according to US Census Bureau data. The uptick comes as AI lowers the barriers to entrepreneurship, and shifting job requirements and recurring layoffs make some traditional careers feel less secure.
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