Victor Hwang has spent his career in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a founder,investor,and advocate.With a family background rooted in small business—his grandfather ran a retail store in Taiwan,and his parents started a business to support their children’s education—Hwang understands the transformative power of entrepreneurship.

　　“Entrepreneurship shapes and uplifts the lives of ordinary people everywhere,”Hwang shared during an interview with GeekWire in Seattle.“Yet,it’s often overlooked in the American narrative,receiving little attention or recognition.”

　　Hwang is the CEO of Right to Start,a national nonprofit founded in 2020 with the mission to broaden entrepreneurial opportunities across the United States.

　　With a degree from Harvard and experience as a former executive at the Kauffman Foundation,Hwang recently embarked on a cross-country journey that will conclude in Washington,D.C.His goal is to advocate to lawmakers for government support in removing the barriers that hinder entrepreneurship.

　　“We believe that entrepreneurial opportunity is a basic fundamental right.Everyone deserves equal access to the chance to start and grow a business and build their own version of the American dream,”said Hwang,who also co-founded a water filtration startup and served as president of the Larta Institute.“However,we feel that entrepreneurship is often neglected in civic life.”

　　Hwang argues that entrepreneurship is essential for job creation,reducing inequality,generating wealth,and maintaining the U.S.’s global competitiveness.

　　Despite technological advancements that have made starting a business more accessible,Hwang believes there are still insufficient safety nets to support entrepreneurs in their ventures.

　　“The challenges facing entrepreneurs range from tax systems and regulatory obstacles to access to capital,healthcare,government contracts,workforce training,education,and childcare,”Hwang noted.

　　While there are government programs aimed at small businesses and entrepreneurship,Hwang argues they lack consistency and often provide only sporadic support.

　　Right to Start is advocating for the creation of dedicated offices to support entrepreneurs at the city,state,and national levels.

　　Since its inception four years ago,Right to Start has engaged with all 50 U.S.states,leading to the enactment of Right to Start legislation in two states.Missouri’s Right to Start Act,set to take effect this month,will establish an Office of Entrepreneurship to support companies with fewer than 10 employees,among other initiatives.

　　Nevada enacted similar legislation last year,and Hwang noted that Right to Start’s initiatives enjoy bipartisan support.