University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Rise of the Rest
Book

The Rise of the Rest

How Entrepreneurs In Surprising Places Are Building the New American Dream

Steve Case
Avid Reader Press, 2022
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

West Coast successes such as Apple led people to believe start-ups must launch in innovation hubs like Silicon Valley. Today, however, communities across the United States are increasingly nurturing new businesses. To boost that effort, in 2014 AOL founder Steve Case launched the ongoing Rise of the Rest initiative, a nationwide undertaking designed to shine a spotlight on innovation growth outside of the traditional coastal tech hubs through city visits and events, and capital investments. After seeing the support and energy from the Road Trips, the initiative grew to become a seed-stage investment fund backed by prominent business executives, tech leaders, and entrepreneurs. Here, Case describes Rise of the Rest’s annual innovation competitions and showcases in US cities that don’t usually make the lists of innovation hubs. Like the Johnny Appleseed of innovation, he hits the ground in the middle of the country and encourages innovative businesses to bloom.

Summary

Rise of the Rest encourages cities across the United States to invest in innovation.

The Rise of the Rest initiative brings together innovators, government representatives, potential funders, business leaders, policymakers, and other participants to support innovative entrepreneurs in America’s heartland. 

Each Rise of the Rest Road Trip visits five cities in five days, investing at least $500,000 in local start-ups through pitch competitions and innovation showcases to demonstrate how entrepreneurship and innovation can give rise to new companies and new jobs. Rise of the Rest investors also visit local start-ups, learn from local leaders and spend time with elected officials.

The start-ups most likely to succeed have a clear identity, good timing, and an offering that meets a market need. Success by a start-up firm is rare – only one out of 10 succeeds – and it requires essential resources that Rise of the Rest can help deliver: connections, money, attention, and support from credible partners who add legitimacy. As an external supporter, Rise of the Rest can spark change in the local...

About the Author

Steve Case, co-founder of America Online (AOL), founded the Rise of the Rest initiative and heads the venture-capital company Revolution LLC. Rise of the Rest Road Trips visit multiple cities each year and the organization holds an annual Rise of the Rest Summit. Case also wrote the NYT bestseller The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future.

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