InTheCapital

Three Things You Can Do to Make Steve Case Happy

By Carl Pierre @Carlpierre

Steve Case has always been known as one of the best things that the DC startup community has produced, reaching legendary status for co-founding AOL and running Time Warner as CEO during it’s heyday. His work with AOL is one of the reasons people are able to associate the words DC and Tech.

Today Startup VA held a launch event to celebrate Virginia’s efforts to support it’s burgeoning entrepreneur community, and Steve graced the event with his presence as well as a few words. After he was introduced, Steve started off by recognizing the work and efforts of everybody involved with Startup America, noting the incredible growth and surge in the national startup community. He said that in order to keep this momentum, there are three major things we need to do as entrepreneurs and members of the startup community to ensure the growth of small businesses and companies continue to progress.

So without further ado, here are the three things you can do as an entrepreneur to make Steve Case happy:

1. Do whatever you can to rally support for the new legislation President Obama has proposed that will boost small businesses and startups in America, specifically AGREE and the Startup Act. This legislation is essential to allowing for better tax cuts for startups and reducing barriers to high-growth markets that will allow smaller businesses to flourish.
2. In whatever manner best suits you, support your startup community. Whether it be offering advice or collaborating with other founders, support is essential in helping these businesses take off. The more we can help each other out, the better off the environment will be for entrepreneurs to succeed.
3. What can you do to help build a customer base for startups and small businesses? Well, then do it. The growth of startups hinges upon the ability for people with ideas to take a risk and start their own business. This means we also require the cooperation of investors, because without these investors to support entrepreneurial behavior, the less likely potential entrepreneurs will attempt to launch their company. It takes the participation of everybody to engage entrepreneurs and encourage execution on their ideas to create growth for businesses and small companies.

There you go, three things you can do to help the startup movement continue it’s momentum in the country. And if you do all three you will see a much happier Steve Case.