How FastTrac^® Started

FastTrac programs were launched through the University of Southern California's Entrepreneur Program in Los Angeles in 1986. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation became the major funder and supporter of FastTrac in 1993.

On a bitterly cold day in January 1993, Ewing Marion Kauffman scheduled to launch the FastTrac program in Kansas City. Kansas City experienced one of the worst snowstorms in its history on that day. The Kauffman Foundation staff debated whether to cancel the event, but Mr. Kauffman wanted to hold the event just in case someone did go to the trouble to get there. That day, 900 people showed up. With a hunger to learn how to start and grow a business, they wanted to invest in themselves even if that meant braving the storm. That proved to Mr. Kauffman and his foundation the need for the FastTrac program.

The Kauffman Foundation went on to purchase FastTrac in 1997 as a practical way to pursue its mission to accelerate entrepreneurship in America. Mr. Kauffman loved entrepreneurs and all they stood for—self-reliance, innovation, hard work, and providing good paying jobs with benefits. He was proud his foundation was championing entrepreneurship.

Since that time the Foundation has supported the expansion of additional FastTrac programs to meet the needs of organizations and entrepreneurs. The resources of a Foundation dedicated to entrepreneurship have enabled FastTrac to produce and maintain an award-winning family of programs.

Today more than 300,000 individuals have benefited from participation in FastTrac programs delivered by organizations across America and all over the world.

FastTrac continues to innovate to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and the organizations that serve them. FastTrac LaunchPad, a joint initiative of the Kauffman Foundation and the Deluxe Corporation Foundation, offers a targeted slate of programs for aspiring entrepreneurs and practicing entrepreneurs who may be facing challenges in the current economy.

The Kauffman Foundation is committed to helping entrepreneurs start, grow, and lead innovative businesses through the FastTrac tools it creates and disseminates for both non-academic and academic environments. To learn more about the initiatives of the Kauffman Foundation, visit www.kauffman.org.