America21 introduces new ScaleUp Campaign
America21 has introduced a new ScaleUp Campaign in partnership with the Next Economy Partnership Project. Visit ScaleupCampaign.org and tell us about innovative efforts ongoing in your local region that create jobs and economic opportunity. We want to highlight innovators, collaborators, outside-the-box thinkers & doers in your local area. With your help, we can identify, connect and scaleup local efforts across America. Share this:... Read More
America21-BDPA Summit Agenda & Speaker Bios
AGENDA & SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES *Speaker lineup subject to changes.* About the America21-BDPA Innovation Summit & Dinner. America21-BDPA Innovation Leadership Summit & Dinner Baltimore Hilton, July 31, 2012 401 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201 (443) 573-8700 8:15 pm Theme: Moving Black America into the 21st Century Innovation Economy AGENDA: 5: Welcome / Opening Remarks: BDPA & Sponsor 15: Minority Pathway to Success in... Read More
Black Founders: Ideas are Worthless!
It’s an unspoken rule across the landscape of entrepreneurship and investing: Ideas are worthless. Ironically, it’s not the idea that wins investment and compels an angel or venture capital investor to write a five-, six- or seven-figure check. It’s the founders in whom the investors are making a bet. And it’s the capacity of the founders to execute an idea that draws attention, not simply the idea itself. Of course, the idea... Read More
America21 to deliver message of ‘Inclusive Competitiveness’ Strategies to Global Detroit, TechTown
Global Detroit, TechTown and Detroit Innovation Economy Leaders set to hear the Law and Economic Strategy of Inclusive Competitiveness May 8, 2012 For Immediate Release: CLEVELAND — On May 10, Global Detroit will host an important presentation and discussion in Detroit. In partnership with TechTown, the event seeks to ignite new thought, advocacy, policy and investment to increase diversity and inclusion in Metro Detroit’s Innovation Economy. Inclusive... Read More
Innovation Economy Should Be Inclusive Economy
The America21 Project principal and co-founder, Johnathan Holifield will speak in Detroit May 10-11. Here’s an excerpt from an interview with Holifield by Model D Media: While Holifield’s mission is to provide direct services to underserved communities, he believes the message of America21 is equally important. It’s about putting pressure on a system to turn it around. And according to Holifield, a region’s expression of a... Read More
What Black American Innovators need to produce jobs
What Black American Innovators Need to Produce Jobs By Mike Green April 29, 2012 Originally written for Dominion of New York. See full article here. Black Americans are no strangers to entrepreneurship. But sheer numbers of entrepreneurs do not translate into fast-growing companies that create jobs. Case and point: The Census Bureau Statistics data show a 60 percent spike in Black entrepreneurship between 2002 and 2007, equivalent to 1.9 million... Read More
America21 makes big impact at White House
Johnathan Holifield, Esq., co-founder of The America21 Project, led a panel discussion at the White House HBCU Summit on Entrepreneurship on April 16, 2012. Baltimore News caught up with Johnathan following his eye-opening presentation and moderation of the HBCU panel on entrepreneurship and “inclusive competitiveness” at the White House. Here’s Johnathan explaining why Black America has a lot of work to do in a 21st century... Read More
Why aren’t Black media talking about JOBS?
By Mike Green April 7, 2012 President Obama signed into law the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) on April 5, 2012. The historic law slightly alters the economic game across America that has long been tilted in favor of the wealthy. The new law opens the field of investing in high-growth startups and allows access for millions of Americans who do not meet the previous standard of $1M net worth and a minimum of $200K in new income — a standard... Read More
A21 speaks at White House on Inclusive Competitiveness
CLEVELAND, OH: On March 9, the White House will host a gathering of business leaders for a day of exchanging ideas on economic development, innovation and job creation. The America21 Project will address the issue of “inclusive competitiveness.” Inclusive Competitiveness Johnathan M. Holifield, Co-founder and Chief Evangelist for The America21 Project (America21) will join senior Obama Administration officials and fellow business... Read More
Congress approves of crowdfunding; do you?
On Nov. 3, 2011 Congress moved the economically disconnected sectors of society a bit closer to the American Entrepreneurial Dream of owning a business by expanding the landscape of angel investing, which is unfortunately still a foreign concept to the vast majority of Americans who are disconnected from knowledge of the job growth and wealth creation processes across the fruited plains. Paul Allen is a well known investor. He has written a very good... Read More
‘Gathering of Angels’ summit at Rutgers a success
There’s nothing like success to attract more success. The America21 Project produced three successful events in rapid succession preceding its unprecedented gathering of angels and entrepreneurs at Rutgers University in mid-November. Silicon Valley in California and Long Island, New York served as coast-to-coast bookends on Nov. 3 and 9 respectively — surrounding... Read More
U.S. Innovation Economy: Self-Selection is Key
U.S. Innovation Economy: Self-selection is key By Johnathan Holifield From my earliest memories, I can recall being taught that admitting one’s mistake is a sign of true strength. If those teachings ring true, as I believe they do, then my confession of early failure to fully grasp the immutable law of the Innovation Economy, and how it relates to African American prospects for 21st century prosperity, ranks as a nearly herculean feat. New Civil... Read More
Good news for Innovators: Venture Capital is Back!
(Image: U.S. Treasury Access to Capital Conference Presentation) Policy-makers, economists, investors, economic developers and I have lamented for the past few years the fact that private sector capital had not yet gotten back into the game. The good news for innovators is that in 2010, the venture capital (VC) sector came roaring back, putting $26.2 billion into 2,799 venture deals, a spike of 11 percent from 2009 and a major sign that formerly... Read More
