Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker joined President Obama in celebrating emerging entrepreneurs from across the United States and around the world. During the event, the White House announced the addition of nine new members of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) initiative, which Secretary Pritzker chairs. PAGE is a group of America’s most respected business creators who have committed to sharing their time, energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs around the world.

Today’s event comes ahead of this summer’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, which both Secretary Pritzker and President Obama will attend to galvanize global attention on emerging women and young entrepreneurs.

“The expansion of PAGE will allow us to meet an ever-growing demand for entrepreneurship ambassadors in the U.S. and globally,” said Secretary Pritzker. They will share their lessons and experiences about transforming innovative ideas into thriving companies. At home, we must continue to encourage entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth. Abroad, we must support emerging entrepreneurs as they seek to achieve economic opportunity that leads to long-term peace and stability. President Obama and his Administration are fully committed to this task as well as to supporting and creating the conditions for entrepreneurs to succeed.”

In the United States and in developed countries, entrepreneurship has been a key driver of job creation and innovation. Across a wide range of sectors and regions, entrepreneurs and small business owners have generated more than 65 percent of net new jobs over the last two decades. In addition, startups in high-tech hubs alone account for over 40 percent of new jobs each year – despite comprising only 1 percent of all businesses.

As the driving force behind the Administration’s focus on entrepreneurship, the Commerce Department partners with businesses to set the conditions for innovators and new businesses to test new ideas, take risks, find financing and customers, and ultimately thrive. Many of the Department’s core responsibilities help create the essential infrastructure of opportunity for entrepreneurs – whether issuing patents that protect intellectual property, making investments in local economic development, collecting and disseminating data to inform better decision making, expanding access to broadband, or protecting a free and open internet.

“As the Administration’s point person on entrepreneurship, and as an entrepreneur myself, I am honored to chair the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Initiative. It is our goal to spread the knowledge, ideas, and talent of America’s top innovators who can inspire and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and around the world,” said Secretary Pritzker.

Each PAGE member has agreed to develop a signature initiative, delivering on the core tenets of the PAGE mission: to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to access capital, talent and education, inspiration and hope. These signature initiatives are specifically designed and developed to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, expand the networks and global exposure of existing entrepreneurs, and  increase the deal-flow between investors and entrepreneurs.  

PAGE members will participate in public events and use their voice and platforms to connect with and inspire entrepreneurs, at home and abroad. The members of PAGE are (new members in bold):

• Rich Barton, Founder, Expedia, Zillow and Glassdoor
• Tory Burch, Founder and CEO, Tory Burch
• Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, Revolution, LLC
• Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO, Airbnb
• Antonio Gracias, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Valor Equity Partners
• Helen Greiner, CEO, CyPhyWorks
• Julie Hanna, Executive Chair of the Board, Kiva
• Elizabeth Holmes, Founder and CEO, Theranos
• Daymond John, Founder, FUBU and CEO, Shark Branding
• Daphne Koller, President and Co-Founder, Coursera
• Daniel Lubetzky, CEO and Founder, KIND Snacks
• Ali Rosenthal, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Wealthfront
• Debbie Sterling, Founder and CEO, GoldieBlox
• Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO, Chobani
• Nina Vaca, CEO, Pinnacle Technical Resources
• Alexa von Tobel, Founder and CEO, LearnVest
• Andrew Yang, Founder and CEO, Venture for America