Right to Start Launches National Campaign – “America the Entrepreneurial” – to Renew the Nation’s Entrepreneurial Promise as America’s 250 the Anniversary Approaches
The Campaign’s National Advisory Council Includes Leading Champions of Entrepreneurship
Indianapolis, IN – June 4, 2025 – Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, today announced the launch of “America the Entrepreneurial” – a national campaign to renew our nation’s entrepreneurial promise, as America’s 250th Anniversary approaches. The campaign charts a bold course forward to renew the national aspiration that each of us can forge a better future – for a new generation. Its launch was announced at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress now taking place in Indianapolis.
America was made by builders, dreamers, and risk-takers. Yet today we have a system that too often works against entrepreneurs. Needless barriers block millions of founders, even though new and young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America, and every 1% increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2% decline in poverty.
“America the Entrepreneurial” will restore entrepreneurship to the center of our national story, ensuring that anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can build, create, and contribute. It will champion a full reset of how America supports its strivers, promoting three proven approaches to unlock entrepreneurial opportunity and drive lasting change:
Create a Level Playing Field: Outdated systems at local, state, and federal levels block too many entrepreneurs. These problems – such as red tape that makes it too hard or expensive to get started, unequal access to capital for growing new ideas, and tax laws and procurement rules that routinely favor established incumbents – are thwarting fledgling businesses. We advocate for streamlined systems and open markets that enhance opportunity for all.
Spread Entrepreneurial Knowledge: To compete and contribute, Americans need more than inspiration. They need skills, networks, and access. We call for practical entrepreneurial education, community engagement, and nationwide access to tools and resources, so everyone can build and adapt in a changing world.
Support Entrepreneurial Households: Starting a business shouldn’t mean sacrificing your family’s well-being. Today’s entrepreneurs face crushing challenges – from healthcare to childcare to homebuying to income volatility – that legacy systems aren’t built to support. We advocate for policies that ease the personal burdens of entrepreneurship, allowing more people to take the leap with confidence.
“In 1776, America didn’t just declare independence,” said Victor W. Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start, “America launched the most courageous startup the world has ever seen – a country conceived and dedicated to the promise of opportunity, enterprise, and self-determination. Now, with the nation’s 250th Anniversary approaching, is the time to rededicate our country and ourselves to the entrepreneurial promise that has fueled American innovation, and the entrepreneurs that have made it possible.”
“America the Entrepreneurial” is conceived and orchestrated by Right to Start. Its Co-Chairs are Victor W. Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start, and John Bridgeland, CEO and Executive Chair of More Perfect. Its Executive Director is Kim Lane, who will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of Right to Start. “America the Entrepreneurial” has already attracted a National Advisory Council of leading champions of entrepreneurship, a list of whom is available at www.americatheentrepreneurial.org/team. The campaign is just beginning and will expand exponentially to engage individuals and institutions nationwide in the months ahead.
“America the Entrepreneurial” will engage entrepreneurs, aspiring founders, mentors, policymakers, civic leaders, community advocates, and anyone who believes in the entrepreneurial spirit. It will enable supporters to reshape the system to work for the next generation of starters and strivers by taking the following actions:
Join the Movement: Stand with others committed to expanding entrepreneurial opportunity in America.
Participate Locally: Connect with others, share resources, and collaborate to inspire reform and unlock entrepreneurial opportunity.
Use the Campaign’s Playbooks: Take tangible action using proven tools to reduce barriers and support entrepreneurs.
Start a Local Initiative: Launch local gatherings and events to ignite conversations and mobilize action.
By the end of 2026, the campaign plans to have engaged over 250,000 Americans and have coalitions in all 50 states to reignite the spirit that made America. Additional information on “America the Entrepreneurial” is available at www.americatheentrepreneurial.org. For further information or to speak with Victor Hwang, contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.
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.