Risk-takers set the story of the United States of America in motion, said Victor W. Hwang, lamenting a modern day reality where needless barriers too often work against entrepreneurs and young businesses.
An upcoming milestone birthday for the nation offers a focal point for restoring a coast-to-coast commitment to supporting builders and dreamers, he said, detailing the launch of “America the Entrepreneurial” — a civic campaign championing economic mobility through entrepreneurship.
“In 1776, America didn’t just declare independence,” said Hwang, founder and CEO of Right to Start, which is orchestrating the campaign alongside More Perfect. “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.”
Right to Start is a national nonpartisan movement — with Kansas City roots and early success in Missouri — to advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority throughout the United States.
“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,” he continued.
New and young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America, Hwang emphasized, noting every 1 percent increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2 percent decline in poverty.
“America the Entrepreneurial” is expected to engage entrepreneurs, aspiring founders, mentors, policymakers, civic leaders, community advocates, and anyone who believes in the entrepreneurial spirit, according to Right to Start.
“Outdated systems at local, state, and federal levels block too many entrepreneurs,” the organization said. “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.”
The effort is driven through three approaches: creating a level playing field; spread entrepreneurial knowledge; and support entrepreneurial households.
“Starting a business shouldn’t mean sacrificing your family’s well-being,” Right to Start said. “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.”
First announced at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in June in Indianapolis, the “America the Entrepreneurial” campaign is just beginning and will expand exponentially to engage individuals and institutions nationwide in the months ahead, Hwang noted.
By the end of 2026, the campaign plans to have engaged more than 250,000 Americans and have coalitions in all 50 states to reignite the spirit that made America.
Click here to learn more about how to get involved, including helping to launch local gatherings and events to ignite conversations and mobilize action.
