Under-30 Treps in the Washington Spotlight The question of how to help small-businesses boost sales is so divisive that many are now looking to the young for answers.

By Diana Ransom

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Under-30 Treps in the Washington SpotlightYoung entrepreneurs are finally getting some respect on Capitol Hill.

More than 100 of the nation's young CEOs met with members of Congress and the White House in Washington, D.C., today to ring in the launch of the "Buy Young" initiative, which aims to prop up the businesses of young entrepreneurs.

The campaign, which is the handiwork of OUR TIME, a nonprofit organization aimed at empowering young adults, offers a centralized marketplace for hundreds of companies founded by Americans under the age of 30. At the site, OurTime.org/buy-young, interested consumers will have 30 days to access discounts of at least 30 percent off their purchases.

The D.C.-based nonprofit will also serve as a jobs board, both for vendors interested in hiring and for job-seekers who are looking. Our Time boasts a membership of more than 300,000.

The initiative, which has garnered support from companies the likes of Living Social, Gilt Groupe, WordPress and CollegeHumor, reinforces the notion that young Americans are major contributors to the success of the U.S. economy and key drivers of job creation, says OUR TIME's co-founder and CEO, Matthew Segal. But they're still a relatively "untapped resource," he says.

Perhaps that's why political and business heavyweights came out to welcome the youthful CEOs. Among others, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D., Md.), Sen.John McCain (R., Ariz.) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Margaret Spellings, who is also the president of the chamber's U.S. Forum for Policy Innovation, engaged the CEOs in discussions on issues ranging from job creation to barriers for small-business growth.

IAC Chairman Barry Diller also joined in on the day's festivities, as did senior administration officials, the White House Business Council and the Small Business Administration.

Why do you think young entrepreneurs are being given court? Leave a comment and let us know.

Wavy Line
Diana Ransom is the former deputy editor of Entrepreneur.com.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Business News

'I Am Just Floored': Woman Discovers She Won $1 Million Lottery Prize While Checking Her Email at Work

Initially, she thought the email was a scam, but went to lottery headquarters and walked away with a six-figure check after taxes.

Business News

South Park Creators Spent 'Infinity Dollars' Renovating Iconic Colorado Restaurant, Set to Reopen Soon

Casa Bonita, a long-time favorite of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, went bankrupt during the pandemic. The duo purchased and painstakingly renovated the Mexican spot "like a piece of art," Stone said.

Leadership

How Leveraging External Trainers Can Advance Your Companies Growth and Talent Optimization

Discover how your organization can use external trainers to build capabilities, lower training cost and create a sustainable workforce for the future, while still delivering high-quality training and lasting results.

Business News

'I've Got the Bug for Business': See All of Mark Wahlberg's Entrepreneurial Endeavors, From Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to Wahlburgers

Mark Wahlberg owns businesses in several categories, including entertainment production, apparel, fitness, and nutrition.

Marketing

5 Simple Tweaks for Better Email Deliverability

Email success starts in the inbox. Learn five easy ways to tweak your strategy so you can achieve better email deliverability.