August 04, 2016

Startup Day Across America

The 4th Annual Startup Day Across America is an initiative started and led, in part, by New Dem Members. This bipartisan and bicameral event provides the opportunity for local entrepreneurs to work with their elected officials to discuss the importance of startups to our economy and raise awareness of the entrepreneurial activity happening from across the country.

New Dems have been leading advocates in passing and implementing legislation to help entrepreneurs raise capital and start businesses. On Startup Day, many New Dems host events in their districts to discuss the startup ecosystem. Read more about #Startup Day on our Medium page and below:

Startup Day Across America

Local startup businesses are at the forefront of innovation and job creation. Startups create 2 million jobs a year, and the entrepreneurs who start them help spur the growth that makes everyone more prosperous. Startup Day Across America, led, in part, by New Dem Vice-Chair Jared Polis (CO-02) and former New Dem and current U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), provides the opportunity for local entrepreneurs to work with their elected officials to discuss the importance of startups to our economy. It is a bipartisan and bicameral opportunity to raise awareness of the entrepreneurial activity happening from coast to coast that helps boost our economic growth. Last year, over 50 bipartisan Members of the House and Senate joined together to showcase innovation and job-creation in districts across the nation.

Fast growing startup companies are no longer unique to locales like Silicon Valley, Austin, or Boulder. In districts across the nation, industries ranging from education to healthcare are being reshaped by entrepreneurs. They are reimagining the future by using technology to solve problems and to create innovative products and services.

According to the Kauffman Foundation, startups?—?particularly firms younger than five years old?—?are the driving force behind most of the new jobs created in the United States. Startup companies are involved in a variety of industries including technology, retail, healthcare, entertainment, consulting, and education. We should be promoting collaboration and looking to eliminate barriers to entry?—?so that entrepreneurs with good ideas can market them to potential investors and grow their businesses.

New Dems support the startup ecosystem and making it easier for entrepreneurs to raise capital and start businesses. New Dem Members have been leading advocates in passing and implementing legislation like The Jumpstart Our Business Startup (JOBS) Act. Passed in April 2012, the JOBS Actmakes it easier for startups to raise capital and eventually go public with their companies. Additionally, New Dem Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) introduced a bipartisan bill with New Dem Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Patrick Murphy (FL-18), and Jared Polis (CO-02) that would take key steps to support startups. The Startup Act would spur innovation and entrepreneurship by increasing access to credit and keeping the best and brightest graduates in the United States to create the companies and jobs of the future. And New Dem. Rep. Krysten Sinema (AZ-09)’s HALOS Act will reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers between startup businesses and potential investors during “demo days.” The American Prosperity Agenda:Winning the Future contains even more New Dem led and sponsored legislation that will help startup companies thrive.

Startup Day Across America provides an opportunity for others to learn more about the innovative companies that exist and for companies to learn about where to access the resources to help their company succeed. New Dems recognize startups across the country play a vital role in our economy.



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