There is a common perception that the typical entrepreneur in the European Union (EU) is white, male, and wealthy. In reality, most entrepreneurs do not fit into this category but come from a wide range of backgrounds. Nevertheless, there are several social groups (e.g. women, youth, seniors, the unemployed and people with disabilities) that are under-represented in entrepreneurship or face greater barriers to starting businesses than people from the mainstream. With entrepreneurship making such a valuable contribution to economic growth and job creation, the EU cannot afford not to capitalise on the potential that people from under-represented and disadvantaged groups hold.