In its fourth year, the Rise of the Rest bus tour is a nationwide effort powered by Revolution to showcase founders in emerging startup ecosystems across the U.S. Since the tour launched, Steve Case and team have traveled more than 8,000 miles on a bus to visit 33 cities and invest in local startups.
This spring, the bus tour will make stops in Dallas on May 7, then head to Memphis on May 8, Birmingham on May 9, Chattanooga on May 10 and will finish up in Louisville on May 11 to showcase emerging startup ecosystems and invest $500,000 from the ROTR Fund ($100,000 will be invested in a local startup at each stop). Google for Entrepreneurs, a longtime Rise of the Rest partner, will again provide coaches to help founders with their pitches.
The first startups to receive an investment from the ROTR Fund represent cities across the country from Pikeville, KY to Columbus, OH to Salt Lake City, UT. These companies are further proof that there are compelling businesses starting and scaling outside of Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston.
About Rise of the Rest
Rise of the Rest is a nationwide effort powered by Revolution to invest in and work closely with entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems. Since 2014, Steve Case and the Revolution team have logged more than 8,000 miles touring entrepreneurial communities by bus in 33 cities. In 2017, Case and JD Vance announced a $150 million ROTR Fund, backed by a group of iconic entrepreneurs, executives and investors that believe the next great startup investments are located outside of coastal cities. The ROTR Fund invests catalytic capital, often alongside regional investors, to the most promising early stage investments in Rise of the Rest cities. Through our bus tours and summits, we look to create a more connected community of entrepreneurs and investors in cities outside of Silicon Valley. For more information, please visit: www.revolution.com/rotr or follow us on Twitter @RiseOfRest.
See the following schedule:
- 4-4:30PM networking
- 4:30-5:30PM Fireside Chat with Steve Case & Amber Venz Box/RewardStyle
- 5:30-7:00PM $100K pitch competition