Amid the nation's political polarization, Right to Start's Founder and CEO Victor Hwang drove from Baltimore to Kansas City to talk with entrepreneurs about the barriers they face in starting and growing new businesses. He wanted to hear from entrepreneurs first-hand – not by Zoom – and what he found was uplifting and unifying.
While there are many barriers to be removed, since new businesses create virtually all net job growth in America, Victor found not polarization but a universal enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, as well as excitement, determination, and a desire for government to be more supportive. His experience mirrored Right to Start's recent bipartisan national survey of voters that reveals their shared desire for every American to have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own business.
Every community he visited had its own approach but the same goal: to create businesses that can revitalize communities, replace frustration with hope, and make the American Dream a reality for all. Our nation has a hidden optimism and relentlessness among entrepreneurs and a universality of support for their ambitions. Those affirming traits may well be the key to bringing our nation together for its own bright future of entrepreneurship.
The following are highlights of the seven communities that Victor visited during his road trip.
Baltimore, MD
Paolo Gregory, through his initiative, Black Butterfly Network, is bringing together Black entrepreneurs to turn around underserved parts of Baltimore: one store at a time. He works with entrepreneurs to create retail ventures that, one after another, can revitalize a street and then a neighborhood.
Huntington, WV
Entrepreneurs in Huntington met with Victor and shared their excitement about the momentum generated by the appointment of Brad D. Smith, the former CEO of Intuit, as the new president of Marshall University. Brad's return to his alma mater after an illustrious career in technology and his commitment to entrepreneurship have created hope for economic rebirth in Huntington and the rest of West Virginia.
Berea, KY
Professor Peter Hackbert, the William and Kay Moore Entrepreneurship and Management Chair at Berea College, arranged for Victor to meet with students, local entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial champions. Berea College charges no tuition and has long been a remarkable vehicle for academic rigor and upward mobility. Professor Hackbert and his students have been instrumental over the years in advancing entrepreneurship along a bike route that passes through Berea on its way from Atlanta to Cleveland. Entrepreneurial activity along the route provides food, lodging, and supplies for bikers, creating business growth through adventure-tourism.
Nashville, TN
Victor met with entrepreneurs at Nashville-based nonprofit Corner to Corner, which has graduated about 800 Black women entrepreneurs through their entrepreneurship training initiative, The Academy. Right to Start Ambassador Shana Berkeley is Executive Director of Corner to Corner, where Academy Support Specialist Amanda Jamerson is also a Right to Start Advocate.
Indianapolis, IN
With Julie Heath at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Victor heard from a group of entrepreneurs at The Speak Easy, a nonprofit co-working space. There, too, the optimism was infectious. There was a commitment to diversity, a sense of energy, and a spirit of entrepreneurial hope.
Peoria, IL
In Peoria, entrepreneurs are determined to reboot their city’s economy, which is overcoming the departure of Caterpillar’s headquarters. Entrepreneurs gathering at a local coffee shop decided to take action and advocate more for entrepreneurs across the entire community.
Jefferson City, MO
Victor visited with State Rep. Travis Fitzwater (now State Senator-elect), who sponsored a proposed Right to Start Act, a set of initiatives designed to advance entrepreneurship. Different versions of the Act passed the Missouri House and Senate in 2022. The bill has inspired Right to Start Acts in multiple states across the country.
In every town, Victor heard from both established entrepreneurs and aspiring ones with exciting ideas. No matter the setting, one thing remained constant: the starters he met with had the same relentless optimism and determination, despite the obstacles they faced. The plans and approaches across the seven communities may have been different, but the direction was still unified: each one was part of a greater ecosystem of Americans creating fulfilling businesses by drawing on their talents and cultures to define their own future.