Steve Case: America was built by entrepreneurs. Here’s how we keep that edge for the next 250 years

Two-hundred and fifty years ago, America was a startup. And a fragile one at that. There was no guarantee that the American experiment would survive. But from the beginning, America distinguished itself by embracing risk-takers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who were willing to challenge convention in pursuit of a better future. That entrepreneurial spirit became our competitive advantage. The story of America is, in many ways, the story of entrepreneurs who came to this country seeking opportunity and who, through grit, hard work, and creativity, built companies, cities, and entire industries. Our country did not become the world’s leading economy by luck. We created an environment where entrepreneurs could flourish and where people with bold ideas could create value, generate jobs, spur innovation, and strengthen communities. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, the question is whether we are still committed to that entrepreneurial vision and whether we are prepared to extend it to the next century of innovation. I believe America can absolutely lead the next century. But doing so will require recognizing three important realities. First, talent is evenly distributed across the country, even if opportunity is not. For the last several decades, the innovation economy has become increasingly concentrated in a handful of coastal cities that have attracted a disproportionate share of capital, talent, and attention. According to the National Venture Capital Association and PitchBook, last year, approximately 75% of venture capital went to just three states: New York, Massachusetts, and California. Those ecosystems produced extraordinary companies and transformed the global economy. But the concentration of capital also created a cycle where the same kinds of people in the same places were funded for the same kinds of ideas. Over the last decade, through Revolution’s Rise of the Rest initiative, I have traveled thousands of miles by bus meeting entrepreneurs in c