Media Advisory
Entrepreneurs to Rally in Washington, DC
Thursday, November 17th
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Capitol Grounds: Across from Union Station
A “Rally for Capital” Urging the Senate to Pass House-Backed Legislation to Provide Community Capital to Fund Small Businesses and Create Jobs
What: The Story Behind the “Rally for Capital”
What started a year ago as an idea to use the tenants of crowdfunding to solve the capital crunch facing entrepreneurs and startups is culminating in a rally by entrepreneurs in Washington, DC on November 17th. Sherwood Neiss, Chief Advocate of the Startup Exemption, will discuss the funding void. He, like many entrepreneurs, faced this lack of capital while trying to fund his startup. He will discuss how the current hurdles to capital formation forced him and his co-founders at the Startup Exemption, Jason Best and Zak Cassady-Dorion, to develop a framework to get capital flowing by using the advances in the Internet and Technology.
U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) who introduced H.R. 2930, the “Entrepreneurs Access to Capital Act,” will speak about the need for this legislation and reflect upon the almost unanimous vote (407 to 17) in favor of the bill. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) will speak about entrepreneurs and jobs. Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and two entrepreneurs will also speak.
President Obama endorsed the crowdfunding framework in his American Jobs Act, and issued a Statement of Policy from the White House supporting H.R. 2930. The entrepreneurs hope the Senate moves with the same speed as the House in approving similar legislation. Over the next five years, they believe crowdfund investing can help create over 500,000 new companies employing 1.5 million net new jobs.
Who:
U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Lead Sponsor, H.R. 2930
U.S. Rep Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Member of the House Committee on Financial Services
Sherwood Neiss and Jason Best, Startup Exemption
Karen Kerrigan, President, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Marc Wallace, Entrepreneur
Josh Frey, Entrepreneur
When: Thursday, November, 17 2011 – 8:00am to 10am
Where: Across from Union Station, Washington, DC
Map: http://bit.ly/uQ3SM0
Contacts:
Sherwood Neiss, (202) 247-7182; [email protected]
Karen Kerrigan (703) 242-5840; [email protected], or Mabel Vaught, [email protected]
Additional Background:
Crowdfund Investing (CFI) is a concept that originates from crowdfunding. The main difference is that in traditional crowdfunding, a group of individuals “donate” small amounts of money to an idea (usually an art related project). In CFI, a group of individuals use small amounts of money to buy equity in a business. The goal of CFI is to provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with access to capital that they will use to hire and grow. Individuals are motivated by the desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to support an idea they believe in and for the potential financial return.
Related Links:
Startup Exemption website: http://www.startupexemption.com/
H.R. 2930, The Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act http://bit.ly/nJTOEv
Startup Exemption framework: http://bit.ly/mRWXcZ
Congressional testimony from May 10th: http://bit.ly/na1u9t & Sep 15th http://bit.ly/pcvTdz
Petition to the SEC & Congress: http://bit.ly/hQ2GXE
#1 idea on Startup America’s website: http://bit.ly/ivPQw5
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Here’s a bunch of great links to keep you informed about what we are doing:
• Our website: www.startupexemption.com
• The Startup Exemption, Crowdfund Investing (CFI) Framework: http://bit.ly/mRWXcZ
• Our Congressional Testimony from September 15, 2011 http://1.usa.gov/oHrFy5 & link to Video of Hearing: http://bit.ly/raknZY
• Our Congressional Testimony from May 10, 2011: http://scr..bi/izF4ib
• Our Petition to the SEC & Congress: http://bit.ly/hQ2GXE
• Our #1 idea on Startup America’s website … Add YOUR vote: http://bit.ly/ivPQw5
• Follow us on Twitter: woodien
• Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/startupexemption
• Our winning idea at Startup Weekend Miami: http://bit.ly/lf6oAG
• Want to be part of the first Crowd Funding Conference? If so, shoot us an email!
Ask your peers to sign our petition & vote for us on Startup America’s website
CONTACT INFO:
Sherwood Neiss
1242 Alton Rd. #206
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(202) 247-7182