Supporting entrepreneurs with capital outside of Silicon Valley, NYC and Boston, Steve Case brought his “Rise of the Rest” tour to Florida and Puerto Rico. We hosted him in Orlando and I was with him in Puerto Rico.
Category: Entrepreneurship
The future of innovation and technology policy in the U.S.
As this ITIF report indicates, we have a lot to learn about President-elect Trump’s positions on important innovation and economic issues such as R&D, federal research funding, patent system reform, tech transfer and commercialization and more. These issues are important for our country’s ability to compete in the global economy, for the competitiveness of…
Gainesville growing tech sector
The IT sector is growing in the Gainesville region and we are doubling down on our strategy to support and grow companies and jobs in this sector. Last week, we announced our new collaboration with Gainesville tech entrepreneurs to launch the “Gainesville Area Tech Council” that will operate through the Chamber and be led by…
Supporting small businesses and startups
“Thriving business builds a thriving community” is the motto the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce operates by. Most companies join the Chamber because of our job creation and economic development mission. As we grow our economy, build stronger companies and increase our economic competitiveness, every business in our area benefits. As a result, many…
Our future
In August, my family joined the Gainesville community in pursuit of helping create a thriving, globally competitive economy. Over the past few years, business and community leaders have transformed the Chamber-led Innovation Gainesville (iG) plan from a job creation initiative into a cultural mindset. Today, we find ourselves well positioned for the beginning of a global war…
Crowdfunding: A new financing option for entrepreneurs and investors
This year, Congress passed the Startup Act, which included a provision to allow a new financing option termed “crowdfunding.” This is an important new funding option for entrepreneurs that is a game-changer at a time when access to capital is a critical issue for job creation. I’ve posted the best two resources I’ve come across…
Small Business Survey In The News
Our Quarterly Small Business Index Survey was released to the media for the first time yesterday showing that small business owners are growing optimistic and nearly 40% are planning to hire in the next six months. Our Florida Chamber Small Business Council is able to keep the pulse of issues facing small businseses through this…
What the JOBS Act Would Do
Small businesses are critical to Florida’s economy, and “tomorrow,” they are even more important because of increasing global competition. Most research and economic analysis shows that small businesses create a bulk of net new jobs, employ more than 50% of the workforce and account for approximately 1/3 of the difference between a strong economy and…
Fresh ideas needed to create more start-ups and grow small businesses
Business start-ups, small business growth and entrepreneurship are critically important to our economy. In fact, they account for most net job growth in our state and country. Beginning next week, the Florida Chamber Small Business Council will work with our state Department of Economic Opportunity (similar to a Dept. of Commerce in other states and…
