The idea for the Entrepreneurs Foundation of New England (EFNE) originated with Jesse Brill, Esq., CA publisher of the nationally recognized securities law newsletter, The Corporate Counsel. Locally, EFNE was founded by Rick Burnes, venture capitalist and co-founder of Charles River Ventures, and Larry Weber, a high tech public relations innovator and CEO of Weber Shandwick Worldwide. EFNE has put together an impressive group of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, bankers and lawyers to serve as directors and governors.

EFNE is patterned after the Entrepreneurs Foundation (EF) which was launched in Silicon Valley in 1998 by the leading venture capital firms: Mayfield, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia. The brainchild of venture capitalist Gib Myers, the Entrepreneurs Foundation has signed up over 90 companies and helped more than 6200 Silicon Valley employees to volunteer in 52 San Francisco bay area non-profits. Other EF chapters now exist in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Israel, and Portland, Oregon.