Entrepreneurs built our state, and our nation. People of courage and convictions, who were willing to start something new because they knew they could build something better.For centuries, our economy has been a global power because of the innovation, ingenuity and resilience of the entrepreneurs who were born here, or came here to start their business.
As we continue our work to put the Great Recession firmly behind us, we need inspired entrepreneurs now more than ever. Recently, those on the cutting edge of digital media and commerce converged for PodCamp East at Delaware Tech, where attendees saw how technology has lowered the costs of launching a business and reaching new audiences.
At an EMPACT Summit a few days before, entrepreneurs learned how to leverage emergent ideas like crowdfunding – which some Delaware companies are now doing – and co-working, which places like Delaware’s COINLoft now offer. Entrepreneurs like Kay Koplovitz who built the USA Network and the Syfy Channel to Catherine Cook, who launched “My Yearbook” with her brother when she was 15 and sold it for 100-million dollars six years later, now part of MeetMe.com. These are awesome stories .
I’m delivering this message today just outside another inspiring event – a partnership of the local Small Business Association, our local AARP and Delaware community and business leaders. Much of the energy around entrepreneurship is on companies with lab coats or laptops – businesses that focus on writing computer code or researching genetic code. Most entrepreneurs – are in the business of providing goods and services, leveraging their personal experience to improve upon the customer experience. More great small businesses are being launched by people with decades of great work and experience to build on; people who’ve decided it’s time in life to be their own boss and are choosing to make their next career a start-up success. We need to be there at any stage of an entrepreneurs life to help. Groups like Podcamp, EMPACT and the SBA are making clear there are places to turn and friends to support entrepreneurs of any age as they work to build their business, grow their markets and grow jobs – as we work together to keep Delaware, and our nation, moving forward.