As part of the first-ever White House Demo Day focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) Steve Case, Brian Chesky, Antonio Gracias, Daphne Koller, and Daniel Lubetzky have committed to investing nearly $4 million to support diverse innovators across the country. In addition, Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Daymond John from ABC-TV’s Shark Tank and Ali Rosenthal, VP, Strategic Partnerships at Wealth Front, are in Washington today to engage with the more than 30 exhibitors at the White House Demo Day. 

 

White House Demo Day is focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, and will welcome startup founders from diverse walks of life and from across the country to showcase their innovations. According to the White House, just three percent of America’s venture capital-backed startups are led by women, and only around one percent are led by African-Americans. Currently, only about four percent of U.S.-based venture capital investors are women. And, capital for innovative startups is predominantly available in just a few places, making high-growth business creation a challenge outside of a handful of metro hubs.

 

“I am proud to serve as the Administration’s point person on entrepreneurship and chair of the PAGE initiative, which brings together some of America’s most talented innovators,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Our PAGE members are dedicating their time and expertise to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, which is critical to our economic growth at home and to creating opportunity, prosperity, and stability abroad. Our entire Administration is grateful that these private sector leaders are working as our partners on efforts to expand entrepreneurship and support innovation." 

 

 

Revolution’s “Rise of the Rest” initiative is a nationwide effort led by Steve Case to showcase – and invest in – entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems across the United States. Through the effort, $1.5 million has been invested in startup businesses across a diverse set of 14 cities, including Charleston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Richmond. Today, Case is committing to visit 10 additional “Rise of the Rest” cities, starting with Baltimore, Maryland; Buffalo, New York; Manchester, New Hampshire; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Maine. During day-long visits to these “rising” startup ecosystems, Case and the Revolution team, supported by partners including Google for Entrepreneurs and Salesforce for Startups, will meet with local entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profits, universities, and public officials to discuss the opportunities and challenges of fostering startup growth. At a pitch competition open to the public in each city, a local startup will receive a $100,000 investment.

 

Brian Chesky’s Airbnb will expand unconscious-bias awareness. Airbnb will offer awareness resources and discussions on unconscious bias to hosts from around the world at its fall 2015 global convening of 6,000 hosts. This will be followed by updated educational modules around diversity and inclusion for members of the Airbnb community.

 

Antonio Gracias, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Valor Equity Partners, and his colleagues, commit to invest $100,000 in diverse early stage entrepreneurs over the next year. Through this commitment, selected entrepreneurs will receive advice as well as opportunities to pitch in front of other investors.

 

In partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Daphne Koller’s Coursera will offer every Veteran one free course certificate in a career-relevant course, such as data science or cybersecurity. These courses can be accessed online, or at any one of the 27 in-person VA Learning Hubs that will launch this year in partnership with the American Red Cross and The Mission Continues.

 

Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks is committing $3 million to invest in women entrepreneurs. Lubetzky will invest in three women leading emerging health-conscious food startups. Beyond financial support, Lubetzky will provide ongoing strategic guidance and direct access to a network of mentors who helped build KIND from a start-up into the fastest-growing U.S. snack company.

 

Launched in April 2014, PAGE is chaired by Secretary Pritzker and was created to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad. The initiative formed as a partnership among celebrated entrepreneurs, the White House, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the initiative’s first year, PAGE members utilized their knowledge, ideas, and talent to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and around the world to promote the program’s mission. As PAGE kicks off its second year, each ambassador has agreed to take the lead on his or her own signature initiative to address the global growing demand for engagement with America’s most respected and celebrated business creators.