Right to Start Announces Creation of Policy Champions Network
This Network Will Share Policy Insights, Major Developments, and Best Practices for Advancing Entrepreneurship
Kansas City, MO – April 7, 2026 – Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, announced today that it has created a Policy Champions Network to share key resources, trends, and best practices related to entrepreneurship policy. The network currently consists of 87 state policymakers from 36 states.
The network provides a dedicated space for policymakers to access bi-monthly insights, engage in peer-to-peer learning and discussion, and join biannual convenings focused on entrepreneur-friendly policies and trends. Its goal is to provide relevant examples, impactful tools, and key information as resources revolving around policy supporting entrepreneurship. The network began connecting policymakers and sharing insights in the first quarter of 2026.
The network is available, free of charge, to elected state policymakers. They can request to join by registering here.
Entrepreneurship is vital, because new and young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America. In addition, every 1% increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2% decline in poverty.
The network is especially timely, as policy momentum is building across the nation for several reasons. First, there is widespread public support for entrepreneurship. A recent survey conducted for Right to Start by a bipartisan team of pollsters revealed that American voters almost unanimously agree that “it is important to America’s future that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own business”: 94% agree, 2% disagree, and 4% are not sure. That’s an extraordinary base of bipartisan national support.
Second, states are increasingly taking action. Numerous states have recently created a statewide Office of Entrepreneurship, including Nevada (the first to do so), Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and West Virginia (signed into law in March 2026). Other states have appointed senior-level government officials to serve as the primary point person for entrepreneurship in the state. They include Michigan, and Oklahoma, which in January 2026 – through an Executive Order from Governor Kevin Stitt – became the first state to designate an executive-level Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, reporting directly to the Governor.
Still other states have taken further action: Texas enacted legislation in 2025 that streamlines processes and reduces barriers for those starting and growing a business. Additionally, Texas eliminated the state franchise tax and certain filing fees for veteran-owned businesses.
In addition, the National Governors Association, whose 2025-2026 Chair is Governor Stitt, launched in 2025 an NGA Chair’s initiative titled “Reigniting the American Dream,” which prominently includes entrepreneurship. In 2026, at its recent Winter Meeting, the NGA invited all governors to sign the Governors Compact on Entrepreneurship, which sets out a variety of ways governors can make entrepreneurship a priority in their states and territories. This was inspired by Governor Stitt’s Executive Order in Oklahoma.
“This is a vibrant time for policy that supports entrepreneurship, with states all across America eager to find ways to reduce barriers to starting and growing a business, while increasing entrepreneurial opportunity for all,” said Jason Grill, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Right to Start. “The Policy Champions Network is designed to facilitate this growing interest by bringing policymakers together to discuss what is happening throughout the United States and by showcasing the positive momentum and importance around entrepreneurship-led economic growth.”
“There is increasing recognition that entrepreneurship benefits everyone, not just entrepreneurs,” said Victor Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start. “With its broad bipartisan support and widespread benefits, entrepreneurship is a unifying topic to which policymakers are more and more drawn. The Policy Champions Network provides an infrastructure of important information and insights to underpin that interest and stimulate the advancement of entrepreneurship for the good of the entire nation.”
Additional information on Right to Start is available at www.righttostart.org. To speak with Victor Hwang or Jason Grill, contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.
About Right to Start
Right to Start is a national nonpartisan movement to advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority throughout the United States. Entrepreneurship has long been viewed as a solitary endeavor – the lone starter in a basement or garage. Right to Start’s vision is to transform America so that all communities prioritize entrepreneurship, clearing away obstacles to ensure that every American has an equal right to start and a level playing field on which to embark.