Right to Start
Right to Start is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that expands entrepreneurial opportunity through grassroots organizing, state-level policy advocacy (Right to Start Acts passed in Nevada, Missouri, Indiana), state coalitions, and media storytelling for aspiring entrepreneurs and policymakers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Right to Start does
Right to Start is a national nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, with a mission to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all Americans regardless of place, race, or background. The organization operates through three integrated pillars: grassroots organizing, policy engagement, and media storytelling, and is supported by an affiliated 501(c)(4) entity. Its core "products" are institutional rather than commercial — they include model legislation (Right to Start Acts) drafted for state adoption, eight state-based Starters Coalitions that build permanent local advocacy infrastructure (Arkansas, Michigan, New Mexico, California, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Indiana), the Policy Champions Network of 87 state policymakers across 36 states, and the National Entrepreneurship Leaders Network (NELN) connecting state Offices of Entrepreneurship.
The organization runs "The Start Show," a documentary video series hosted by Founder/CEO Victor Hwang exploring entrepreneurship across American cities, and co-hosts the "Builders LIVE" podcast with Technical.ly. In June 2025 it launched the "America the Entrepreneurial" national campaign ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, in partnership with More Perfect (a bipartisan alliance of 43 presidential centers and 100+ institutions). The campaign produced three playbooks in November 2025 for individuals, organizations, and government leaders.
Right to Start is funded through tax-deductible donations and foundation grants; the Walton Family Foundation is a confirmed major funder supporting its Northwest Arkansas initiative launched in 2021. Legislative outcomes have been material: Right to Start Acts have been signed into law in Nevada (first state, July 2023), Missouri (July 2024), and Indiana, with introductions in 22 state legislatures and 60+ bills introduced overall. The organization's leadership team includes Founder/CEO Victor Hwang (former Silicon Valley venture capitalist and author of "The Rainforest"), Chief Operating Officer Kim Lane (appointed June 2021, Arkansas-based), and Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer Matt Haggman (joined April 2024, formerly Knight Foundation and Opportunity Miami).
Right to Start firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Right to Start
- Legal name
- Right to Start
- Website
- https://righttostart.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Right to Start is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that expands entrepreneurial opportunity through grassroots organizing, state-level policy advocacy (Right to Start Acts passed in Nevada, Missouri, Indiana), state coalitions, and media storytelling for aspiring entrepreneurs and policymakers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Right to Start industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Advocacy
- NAICS
- Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business (EDAMAHAK)
Keywords
Where Right to Start is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Right to Start business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Right to Start operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that generates revenue through tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and other donors. The organization has received funding from the Walton Family Foundation, and the campaign 'America the Entrepreneurial' builds on coalitions and entrepreneur communities built by Right to Start.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tax-deductible donations to support entrepreneurial advocacy |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Right to Start product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Right to Start is a nonprofit advocacy organization that works to expand entrepreneurial opportunity in America through grassroots organizing, policy engagement, and storytelling. It mobilizes state and local coalitions of entrepreneurs, supports pro-entrepreneurship policymaker champions, and produces media such as The Start Show to shift public opinion and legislative outcomes.
Product overview
Right to Start is a nonprofit advocacy organization (not a software product company) that operates multiple programs to advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority. Its core offerings include: the 'America the Entrepreneurial' national campaign (with playbooks), 'The Start Show' documentary series, state-based Starters Coalitions (Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, California, Michigan, New York, North Carolina), the Policy Champions Network (87 state policymakers), the National Entrepreneurship Leaders Network (NELN), and policy Field Guides. These offerings work together through grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and media storytelling to remove barriers to entrepreneurship.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- America the Entrepreneurial Campaign National advocacy campaign mobilizing entrepreneurs, policymakers, and communities to remove barriers to starting and growing businesses across U.S. states.
- The Start Show Original video series that highlights stories of American entrepreneurs and the impact of policy on their ability to start and scale businesses.
- State Starters Coalitions State-organized coalitions of entrepreneurs and civic leaders that drive grassroots advocacy for pro-entrepreneurship policy reforms.
- Policy Champions Network Network of bipartisan policymakers at the state and local level who champion legislation to expand entrepreneurial opportunity.
- National Entrepreneurship Leaders Network (NELN) National peer network for leaders of entrepreneurship support organizations focused on policy change and ecosystem coordination.
- America the Entrepreneurial Playbooks Policy playbooks providing state and local leaders with model legislation and reform pathways to expand entrepreneurship opportunity.
- Field Guides for Policymakers Concise policy field guides that equip elected officials with evidence-based recommendations for supporting entrepreneurs.
- Bipartisan Public Opinion Survey Original survey research measuring bipartisan voter support for policies that expand entrepreneurial opportunity across party lines.
Quantifiable outcome
- States with Right to Start legislation passed into law: Nevada (first state), Missouri, Indiana
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Right to Start
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Right to Start technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Right to Start partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- More PerfectflagshipA bipartisan alliance of 43 presidential centers and over 100 institutions. Co-created 'America the Entrepreneurial' initiative with Right to Start to promote entrepreneurship ahead of America's 250th anniversary. More Perfect provides the coalition infrastructure while Right to Start provides policy expertise.
- New York Starters Coalition PartnerscoreBobbie Armstrong leads the New York Starters Coalition, carrying forward the 'rainforest' approach to entrepreneurship championed by Victor Hwang and Greg Horowitt.
- New Economy Initiative (NEI)minorNEI announced $2 million in grants to support small business growth in southeast Michigan, including the Capital On Ramp Program (CORP) aimed at improving capital access. Related to Right to Start's mission but not a direct partnership.
- SlyngshotcoreProduction partner for media content including 'Big Little Business' documentary series.
- GoDaddycoreProduction partner for 'Made in America' video series featuring entrepreneurs in Ohio, part of Right to Start's storytelling initiative.
- Technical.lyminorMedia partner for Builders LIVE Podcast, co-hosted by Victor Hwang, covering entrepreneurship ecosystem topics.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Right to Start competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE: Largest nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors supporting small business formation in the U.S.; addresses many of the same access-to-capital and ecosystem barriers Right to Start tackles, with state-level and local chapters.
- National Small Business Association (NSBA): Oldest small-business advocacy organization in the U.S., lobbying on federal and state policy for entrepreneurs; the closest analog to Right to Start in terms of policy-driven member advocacy for entrepreneurship.
- Edward Lowe Foundation: Foundation dedicated to entrepreneurship research, Big Idea initiatives, and ecosystem building; closely parallels Right to Start's policy-and-research advocacy posture at a different scale.
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: The largest U.S. private foundation singularly dedicated to entrepreneurship; conducts research, funds state-level entrepreneurship policy, and operates Kauffman FastTrac programs in nearly the same subject domain as Right to Start.
- Ashoka: Global nonprofit that supports social entrepreneurs and runs an ecosystem-building program; serves the same 'everybody should be able to start' cause constituency as Right to Start and drives policy/movement work to that end.
- Echoing Green: Nonprofit backing early-stage social entrepreneurs with fellowships and leadership development; same cause-advocacy model targeting people historically excluded from entrepreneurship, much like Right to Start's underserved-community framing.
- Endeavor: Nonprofit operating a global network supporting high-impact entrepreneurs through mentorship, capital access, and policy advocacy—directly comparable mission and coalition-based GTM to Right to Start.
- Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC): Nonprofit focused on driving economic growth and job creation in underserved U.S. urban areas through entrepreneurship support and policy research—sharing Right to Start's place-based equity thesis.
Broad incumbents
- Babson College (Lewis Institute for Social Innovation): The leading undergraduate entrepreneurship educator, with research centers on ecosystem building and inclusive entrepreneurship. Functions as a broader incumbent in the same entrepreneurial-opportunity conversation without the same pure advocacy focus.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Large U.S. private foundation with significant programming in racial equity, economic opportunity, and community entrepreneurship; a plausible peer funder and over-lapping-thesis peer given the Walton relationship pattern.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Right to Start social profiles
Digital presenceRight to Start financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Right to Start leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Right to Start funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Right to Start M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Right to Start
What does Right to Start do?
Right to Start is a nonprofit advocacy organization that works to expand entrepreneurial opportunity in America through grassroots organizing, policy engagement, and storytelling. It mobilizes state and local coalitions of entrepreneurs, supports pro-entrepreneurship policymaker champions, and produces media such as The Start Show to shift public opinion and legislative outcomes.
Is Right to Start a public or private company?
Right to Start is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Right to Start founded?
Right to Start was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Right to Start based?
Right to Start is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Right to Start make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are Right to Start's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE, National Small Business Association (NSBA), Edward Lowe Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Ashoka, Echoing Green, Endeavor and Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Broad incumbents are Babson College (Lewis Institute for Social Innovation) and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Does Right to Start have an API?
No public API is recorded for Right to Start.
What industry is Right to Start in?
Right to Start's product category is Entrepreneurship Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAN, Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAK, Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business. Its NAICS code is 813319 and its SIC code is 8300.