Monday, July 21, 2014
Startup Day Across America – Opportunity for Angels and Startups to Engage Your Members of CongressBy: Marianne Hudson, ACA Executive Director
In recognition of the importance of innovative startups, several Congressmen and Senators have established Startup Day Across America, as a way to celebrate and meet with startup companies while they are in their home states and districts. This is a great time for ACA members to contact their Congressmen and suggest they visit a portfolio company or attend an angel roundtable. The official day is August 5th, but any day in August
will work.
Here are some easy ways to set up a meeting with your Congressman and/ or Senators:
During the meeting, educate them about angel investing and discuss key policy issues for angels and startups
This can be a fun activity for portfolio companies and/or angel investors – and it is easy to do. Last December, I got to be part of a roundtable on startups and angel investing when Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) was home in her district for the holidays. Members of the Women’s Capital Connection and Mid-America Angels met with her for about 90 minutes to describe the startup ecosystem in the area. A startup CEO and innovation leaders from the University of Kansas were also important contributors. It was a chance for Rep. Jenkins and her local staff to ask questions about how angel investing works and for all of us to discuss a variety of policy issues that are important to the health of the startup ecosystem. Rep. Jenkins has become a tremendous supporter of angel investors through this and other initiatives. |