Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City

FOREWORD

During the past three decades, startups in the United States have created nearly 40 million American jobs, all the net job creation in the country over that period. As we recover from a deep recession, our ability to innovate, build iconic companies, put people back to work, and inspire the world will once again be determined by whether entrepreneurs continue taking chances on a dream to start a business. After all, the story of America has always been the story of entrepreneurs going against the grain to imagine a better tomorrow.

On January 31, 2010, President Obama announced the creation of the Startup America initiative, telling the American people, “Entrepreneurs embody the promise of America: the idea that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard and see it through, you can succeed in this country. And in fulfilling this promise, entrepreneurs also play a critical role in expanding our economy and creating jobs.”

On that same day we launched the Startup America Partnership, the privately funded component of the Startup America initiative, based on a simple premise: the leading source of job creation in this country comes from young companies starting up, growing, and innovating. One of our goals through the Startup America Partnership is to support regional startup ecosystems throughout the country where entrepreneurs, investors, local leaders, universities, and other partners foster an environment ripe for startup activity.

Brad Feld has been a pioneer ...