RISE OF THE REST by Steve Case

Description

“I’ve spent my life telling stories about America, and the role of pioneers cannot be overestimated. A new chapter in America’s story is now being written in cities all across the nation, as a new generation of innovators build new companies and help rebuild communities. Steve’s book tells those riveting stories, and gives us hope for America’s future.” —Ken Burns, award-winning documentary filmmaker and CEO of Florentine Films 

“Steve Case played a pivotal role in getting America online, but his efforts over the last decade to create opportunity for more people in more places will be his most important legacy. I’ve seen firsthand the power of Rise of the Rest to empower entrepreneurs, revitalize communities and bring people together. This captivating book will give you hope for the future of America.” —José Andrés, chef and founder of World Central Kitchen

“Although I represent Silicon Valley in the U.S. Congress, I’ve long believed that we need to democratize innovation so we are creating tech jobs in dozens of cities, not just a few. Nobody in America has been a more visible and tireless advocate for this than Steve Case, and Rise of the Rest illustrates an exciting and optimistic path forward for a more inclusive and united America.”
—Ro Khanna, member of Congress from Silicon Valley

 

In 2014, Steve Case launched Revolution’s “Rise of the Rest,” an initiative to accelerate the growth of startups based outside of Silicon Valley. “Rise of the Rest” is based on a simple idea: talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. In a time when entrepreneurship has experienced a wave of passionate and eager participants, Steve Case’s RISE OF THE REST: HOW ENTREPRENEURS IN SURPRISING PLACES ARE BUILDING THE NEW AMERICAN DREAM (Avid Reader Press, on sale September 27, ISBN 9781982191849) reflects and celebrates this passion by taking readers on an exhilarating journey into the startup communities that are transforming cities nationwide.

Rise of the Rest’s signature bus tours have reached 40+ cities and logged 11,000+ miles spotlighting communities large and small that have committed to a new tech-enabled future. In THE RISE OF THE
REST
, Case introduces readers to dozens of entrepreneurs whose inspirational stories of struggle and achievement match the most iconic examples of American invention. Whether it’s indoor farming in coal country, freight logistics in Chattanooga, or Styrofoam alternatives in Richmond, VA, these founders are leveraging regional strengths and betting on the future of innovation outside of the coastal tech hubs.

As one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs, Steve Case believes that entrepreneurs are the key and driving force of America’s DNA. THE RISE OF THE REST explores how entrepreneurs across the country are building groundbreaking companies, renewing communities, and creating new jobs—in the process reimagining the American landscape and bringing people together around a shared future.

An iconic entrepreneur shows how a new generation of American business leaders is taking shape in the vibrant cities of the heartland.
Case, author of The Third Wave, co-founded America Online and the investment firm Revolution LLC. In 2017, he set up an initiative called Rise of the Rest with the aim of revitalizing fading cities by developing an innovative startup culture. Because 75% of the country’s venture capital goes to California, New York, and Massachusetts, entrepreneurs elsewhere often find it difficult to obtain seed funds. Case’s initiative was armed with a bucket of funds contributed by investors such as Jeff Bezos and Ray Dalio, and the climax of each stop on their nationwide bus tour was a pitch competition with a $100,000 investment prize. In addition to the cash prize, Case’s group provided important advice and contacts. From the beginning, Case wanted to focus on Black and women entrepreneurs, who often find the startup road particularly challenging. The author delivers an abundance of stories about companies with significant potential and vision, but their chances of success increase dramatically if they have a supporting ecosystem of talented people and infrastructure. City and state governments can help to provide this structure, and where they have, there is often a sense of renewal. The pandemic was a setback, but there was a silver lining: Many ambitious people left their jobs in San Francisco, New York, or Boston to return to their home cities, leading to revivals in places like Omaha, Chattanooga, and Green Bay. The shift toward remote work was also a positive for many emerging businesses. In fact, it seems that the pandemic provided a boost to the startup community nationwide, with 5.4 million new business applications filed in 2021. Case also emphasizes the importance of follow-through on the Rise initiative, and he established a system for ongoing contact and monitoring.
Inspiring stories from unexpected places showing that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking.
THE RISE OF THE REST
How Entrepreneurs in Surprising Places Are Building the New American Dream
Author: Steve Case
Publisher:Avid Reader Press
Publication Date: September 27, 2022
Section: NonFiction