SEC’s Annual Small Business Forum

March 30, 2023
Small Business Forum Banner 2025

The SEC's 44th Annual Small Business Forum was held on April 10, 2025. It is a unique event where the Commission invites members of the public and private sectors to gather to provide feedback to improve capital-raising policy for startups to smaller public companies and their investors. The event is hosted by the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation pursuant to the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980.

Later this year, the Commission expects to deliver a report to Congress summarizing the proceedings, including the recommendations developed by participants for changes to improve the capital-raising framework and the Commission’s responses to those recommendations.

Forum FAQs

The Forum is an annual event that brings together members of the public and private sectors—including entrepreneurs, small business leaders, investors, and those that support them across the small business ecosystem—to discuss and provide suggestions to improve securities policy affecting how companies raise capital from investors.

The Forum is open for public in-person attendance and available via webcast. Registration is free. After the event, the SEC delivers a report to Congress covering the proceedings. For an example, check out the 2024 Forum Report.  

We invite all participants to provide policy recommendations in advance of the live event. The event culminates with an opportunity for all participants – whether attending in person or virtually – to vote to prioritize the submitted recommendations. The top recommendations are published in a report that the SEC delivers to Congress.

Last Reviewed or Updated: April 24, 2025