Atticus Advisors

The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in Q1 2025—marking its first decline in over three years and a sharp turn from the 2.4% growth seen in Q4 2024, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. While economists remain split on whether this signals a full-blown recession, for entrepreneurs and small business owners, the slowdown is already being felt in real time.

With consumer spending decelerating and economic concentration skewed—10 of the largest merchants account for nearly 35% of all U.S. consumer spending, according to Bloomberg’s 2025 data—small businesses are left competing for a shrinking piece of the pie. Rising tariffs and ongoing cost pressures are only intensifying the squeeze, disproportionately impacting lean-run operations and founder-led ventures.

In today’s hyper-connected business environment, entrepreneurship is no longer confined by borders. For founders and co-founders with the ambition to scale globally, the question is no longer if but how. Yet going global isn’t simply a matter of expansion—it requires an intentional recalibration of strategy, mindset, and skills.