Washington, D.C. – Revolution and UP Global today announced that they will embark on a four city, four day bus tour through the heart of America. Spearheaded by Steve Case, the tour will highlight emerging startup communities and bring attention to a rise of the entrepreneurial rest that is taking place throughout the United States.
“It’s important to remember that America itself was once a startup, and became the greatest economy in the world thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs who built not just companies, but entire industries in the heart of the country,” said Case. “This journey – covering nearly 1,000 miles – will showcase emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems that will play a critical role in rebuilding the American economy and creating new middle class jobs.”
Steve will be joined by nationally-recognized entrepreneurs and civic leaders to celebrate the progress of the startup economy throughout the course of the tour. He will also personally invest in each city’s startup community by hosting a series of pitch competitions in which one winner in each city will earn a $100,000 investment in their company.
“Startup communities and their leaders have emerged in the past years as the most critical element in helping entrepreneurs succeed,” said Marc Nager, CEO of UP Global. “The Rise of the Rest road tour gives us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the vibrancy of the amazing startup communities emerging across the country.”
The “Rise of the Rest” Road Tour will launch in Detroit on June 24th, and the bus will travel to Pittsburgh on June 25th, Cincinnati on June 26th, and conclude in Nashville on June 27th. In addition to Revolution and UP Global, tour sponsors include Google for Entrepreneurs, Engine, and Seed Here Studio.
Each stop along the route will feature:
- Visits to local startups, accelerators and incubators
- Fireside chats featuring Steve Case and other entrepreneurial luminaries in a candid conversation about the local startup ecosystem
- Local startups pitching a panel of all-star judges, with $100K investment at stake
- Celebration and networking for local entrepreneurs
More information on the Rise of the Rest road tour, including times and locations for specific events in each city, is available at www.riseofrest.com and by following #riseofrest on Twitter and Instagram.
About Revolution
A Washington, DC-based investment firm founded by Steve Case in 2005, Revolution’s mission is to build disruptive, innovative companies that offer consumers more choice, convenience, and control in their lives. Revolution seeks to create significant value for companies that are attacking large, traditional industries with innovative new products and services. The Revolution team brings proven expertise in scaling up companies and helping to expand niche ideas into mass appeal. For more information, please visit: www.revolution.com or follow us on Twitter @revolution.
About UP Global
UP Global, the umbrella organization for Startup Weekend, Startup Next, Startup Digest, and Startup Education currently fosters entrepreneurship in 500 cities across the world, serving over 150,000 innovators. By 2016, the organization will support 1,000 communities through partnerships with local grassroots leaders and partnerships with organizations including Google for Entrepreneurs, the Case Foundation and Kauffman Foundation among others. For more information, visit up.co or follow us on Twitter @UPGlobalHQ.
Media Contact:
Allyson Burns, Revolution
Phone: 202.467.2059
Mobile: 202.870.4750
Email: allyson.burns@revolution.com
