A National High Speed Rock ‘n Roll Venture Growth Platform
“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — JFK
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” — Harry Truman
In the great battle of ideas focused on the future of our country and the world, we humbly submit and suggest the launch of a….
National High Speed Rock ‘N Roll Venture Growth Platform
A Best of America Growth Platform…
“I know, it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it..like it, yes I do!” — Richards / Jagger
‘What is that?’ you may ask…
It’s a platform for creating high growth companies, high growth jobs, high growth communities, and “economic growth engines” across the country; combining leadership, entrepreneurship, capital, innovation, collaboration and a shared joy & vision in the optimistic future of America and the world.
Why the name ‘National High Speed Rock ‘N Roll Venture Growth Program’? Well, who wouldn’t want to join, help, learn more about a National High Speed Rock ‘n Roll Venture Growth Program focused on uniting the country around growth & opportunity for all Americans? :)
· A self-sustaining platform focused on teamwork, unity, growth & opportunity for all.
· Courage and innovation that leads to richer & fuller lives for all citizens.
· Partner with the existing venture innovation community to complement and enhance existing programs, introduce new programs, and build value for all.
If you wanted to launch a platform that could scale and engage the entire country, how would it be structured and what capabilities would it include?
“If you build it, they will come.” — Field of Dreams
We have always been a country of new ventures & new adventures…the goal of this national venture platform is to help accelerate our ability to grow and succeed as a nation for decades (and centuries) to come; through both private and public-private partnerships we can work together over the next 50+ years, through our 250th year anniversary as a nation in 2026 and on through our 300th year anniversary in 2076 to create a better country for generations to come. Consider this part of a 50-year strategic plan for the United States.
It will require some ‘beyond our own lifetime’ thinking (BOOLT) along the way (all great generations think this way). At the same time, the platform would create impact and measurable success each and every year along the way.
We would share best practices across our network and extend to other countries who are also working to move their innovation economies forward in a sustained, successful manner…we want a vibrant coordinated global economy fueled by growth, teamwork, innovation, leadership, empathy and entrepreneurship.
“Sometimes, it is the people who no one imagines anything of…who do the things that no one can imagine.” ― The Imitation Game
The success of this effort aims to unite the country around some core themes…the Best of America:
Growth & Opportunity / Leadership / Empathy / Compassion / Entrepreneurship / Venture & Adventure / a Growth Mindset / Expanded Opportunities for All / A Life Well Lived / Courage / Teamwork / Innovation / Problem Solving / Accountability / Discourse / Service / Giving Back / Better Angels…pursuing the American Dream.
8 Core Pillars of the Platform
> Support & Empowerment
> Capital & Connections
> Investment & Growth
> Gameplans & Playbooks
> Leadership & Learning
> Teamwork & Problem Solving
> Skills & Opportunity
> Service & Empathy
“America is ‘an idea’. That’s how we see you around the world, as one of the greatest ideas in human history.” — Bono
Growing up in NY, this country afforded me an opportunity to serve (US Navy), learn (USNA / Wharton) and participate in the greatest period of innovation in the history of the world as a venture investor (Hummer Winblad, Steamboat/Disney, Powerplant…), work with inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders across industries and geographies. Have lived and worked all over the country the last 30 years, mostly in San Fran and Los Angeles, but also in Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and the heartland over the last 2 years in both Kentucky and Ohio.
The biggest insight gleaned over the last 30 years is that we are more alike than different, more powerful working together as a team across differences. We have much more in common than it would appear in daily media messaging…and we want to create richer and fuller lives for our families, our children, our friends and our neighbors…and future generations.
There is a once in a century opportunity to work together, across our differences, to embrace and accelerate innovation, engagement, success and well-being for all Americans. In fact, there has never been a better time in the history of America to execute on a program of this scope and scale.
We would be looking to build out a networked team of great leaders, operators, mentors, visionaries, engineers and problem solvers to help lead this effort across the nation.
“Rock and Roll is inclusive. It welcomes rockers of all races, religions, ages, ethnic backgrounds, alternative lifestyles.” — Maury Dean
Rock & Roll, Startups, Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Athletes & Artists all share some of the same qualities…freedom, possibility, connection, fun, creativity, innovation, dedication, storytelling, courage, complementary teamwork, rebellion, connection with the fan/customer, pushing the limits of the status quo.
We believe in the power of a ‘growth mindset’ and this platform effort would focus on supporting 12 key growth vectors relevant for all Americans.
1. Personal Growth
2. Professional Growth
3. High Growth Employment
4. High Growth Careers
5. High Growth Companies
6. High Growth Education
7. High Growth Leadership
8. High Growth Cities
9. High Growth States
10. High Growth Social Contracts
11. Highly Productive Public-Private Partnerships
12. High Growth Countries
“Talk about a dream, try to make it real” — Bruce Springsteen
Consider the outline below a working draft, we will spend more time over the next few weeks / months digging deeper on each program outlined below, and the key partners, teams and potential rollout timelines.
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” — William Howard Taft
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The National High Speed Rock ‘n Roll Venture Growth Platform
….an ‘American Good Deal’…an ‘American Growth Story’
…an America G.I.V.E.S. Focus (Growth — Innovation — Venture — Entrepreneurship — Service)
We designed the outline of this platform and key programs to be scalable, extensible…to be adopted by others so we can leverage a coordinated network of partners working together to create growth and opportunity across the country. We want to select the ‘best of the best’ to train, learn, launch and lead versions of the platform in their communities and organizations.
In the next 10 years we would like to see 100+ affiliated chapters, High Speed Rock ‘n Roll Growth Partners across the country…300+ affiliated chapters over the next 20 years.
10 Core Platform Divisions
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
You will see common components you find in traditional venture firms like dedicated investment funds, an incubation foundry, and supporting operations and advisory services.
We would also include core leadership, learning, service and partner modules to broaden the sustained impact of the overall platform and address some core friction areas that are driving divisions across the country.
Lastly, we would stress focus on the highest impact teams, projects and companies. We would leverage Growth Game Plans, Investment Playbooks, Success Checklists, Best Practices and Lessons Learned to optimize successful outcomes across our portfolio and partner network.
10 Core Components
BOA Platform — GAVP Programs — Capital & Connections — Ideation Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations & Support — Leadership Platform — Learning & Skills — Top 20X Focus
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Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Service
The platform would include a core service platform focused on working together to create growth & opportunities for all Americans across all geographies.
The Best of America (BOA) platform would focus on amplifying the best of American growth, innovation, leadership & entrepreneurship across the entire country. “community venturing @ scale”
Great American Venture Projects (GAVP) would create 50 ambitious programs, some private, some private-public partnerships, to tackle our countries 50 biggest problems / opportunities. “#growingtogether”
1. Best of America (BOA) Investment Network (Best of American Innovation, Growth, Leadership & Entrepreneurship)
“Community Venturing” @ Scale
a. 2020 Best of America Tour — national 2020 tour highlighting the Best of American Growth, Innovation, Service, Entrepreneurship & our network of platform partners
b. The Airwing 300 – 300 chapters, venture franchise partners across the country executing on the National Venture Growth Program locally, customized for a dedicated geography, company, organization. Each chapter (‘growth squadron’) looking to start, identify, fund, launch 20 growth companies. Reach 100 Chapters over next 10 years, 300 Chapters over next 20 years. Extend to 26 countries over the same 20 years.
c. 2026 Ken Burns Documentary — cover the history of American in 50 year periods, from 1776 through 2026..thru 1976–2026. Release one per year starting in 2021, the final episode will focus on the possibility of years 2026–2076. Focus on progress and innovation in each period & lessons learned. (*footnote…haven’t asked Ken to work on this…yet :) )
d. The Speedbrake 200 — the top 200 most dynamic, visionary, supportive, leadership driven companies in America — focusing on growth & opportunity for all
“Miracles will happen as we speak, but we’re never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy…” — Seal
“We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools” — MLK Jr (#growtogether)
“Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see” — Mark Twain (#community venturing @ scale)
2. Great American Venture Projects (GAVP)
#growtogether
a. The GrowZone 8000 — help develop and execute high growth game plans for all 8,000 designated Opportunity Zones across the country, turn them into ‘GrowZones’
(have read several reports that many Opportunity Zones will be tough to turn around — we are only as good as our most distressed communities — we have to turn them into ‘GrowZones’)
(work with key partners matched with each GrowZone to support best practice growth gameplans)
b. GrowZone Leaders Program — train 1mm young leaders to spend a year of service in a designated Opportunity Zone to help lead local economic growth efforts
c. 2076: The Moonshot 50 (50 Public Private Partnerships to solve the countries 50 largest problems over the next 50 years)
(50 Ambitious American ‘moonshots’ over 50 years, launched 50 years after successfully landing on the moon…)
*as much as we admire the spirit and energy of recent government proposals, we think the biggest risk factor to execution is the timeline…and the lack of public-private partnerships. If we can work together as a country on the 50 biggest problems / opportunities and solve them over the next 50 years, we will establish a new “Greatest Generation” benchmark for U.S. citizens to beat from 2076–3026. :) . As one small example, we can form a public-private partnership with $50B in awards (perhaps in partnership with the X Prize Foundation) for the entrepreneurs, innovators, teams that help solve our country’s most pressing problems. We want to solicit input and force rank the Top 50 venture projects that can have the greatest impact on the success of the United States and the well-being of its citizens over the next 50 years. This can form the basis of a strategic plan for our nation / measurable projects to improve our country, executed over a timeline with adequate resources to maximize the chance of success. Need great minds working together on this to map out The Moonshot 50 over the next 24 months. And we can replicate this globally, every country has a Moonshot 50 that they can map out and achieve.
i. In addition to National Moonshot 50, each state can create their Moonshot 10 (Top 10 Projects)
(550 Total Projects across national and state efforts)
some ideas / examples
1. 1mm Dynamic Academic Degrees awarded by 2026
2. $12B ‘Working Capital’ Fund established by 2021 for high growth skills training
3. 76% of citizens age 21–35 have completed 1 year of public service within 10 years
4. $120B Acute Care Health Fund established within 3 years
5. 1mm unemployed acquire $500k in net worth within 10 yrs, 10mm unemployed $1mm in net worth within 20 yrs
6. Cash flow positive compounding Social Security Funding within 20 years
7. …44 More
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” — Helen Keller
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” — Lord of the Rings (2076: Moonshots 50)
“Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.” — Good Will Hunting (The GrowZone 8000)
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Leadership & Lifelong Learning
It would include a dedicated leadership and lifelong learning platform to train and transition citizens into high growth industries, high growth employment, high growth careers, and train a generation of leaders who can excel in times of accelerating change, complexity, and uncertainty.
A core set of timeless & timely skill sets available to all. Lifelong learning partnerships to ensure a life well lived.
Dynamic degrees that focus on a set of superhero skills over a lifetime.
Collective C Leadership (Character, Competency, Confidence, Compassion, Curiosity, Courage, Collaboration, Communication)
Ensure every American can realize the fulfillment of their talent and potential.
3. National Leadership Academy Network
a. National Leadership Academy — network of 50 leadership academies across the country
b. Catapult Career Centers — focused on helping people transition to high growth employment & careers
c. Rezilliant Learning — teaching resilience, grit, growth mindset — set of personal skills for a successful life and a successful career
d. Decatur Knox — high impact VUCA leadership training
”Nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it ain’t how hard you can hit. It’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” — Rocky, from Rocky Balboa. (Rezilliant Learning)
4. Life Long Learning Skills Platform
a. Dynamic U — Dynamic Degree Life Long Learning platform
b. WeLearn — skills competency platform that mirrors karate belt color mastery levels
c. 121 Comps — top 121 competencies / skills expected, desired by top employers (Top 50 Most Admired Companies)
i. Connect to existing colleges and high schools to support, complement curriculums and courses
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.” — Reagan
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why” — Mark Twain
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Investment
It would include a dedicated family of investment funds supporting high growth opportunities across the country.
5. Capital & Connections / Family of Focused Funds
a. Startups / Early Stage / Emerging Growth / Growth / Fortune 1000
b. 10 Core Funds
c. Collectively turn $3B into $30B over next 20 years, part of overall $300B+ in value creation over next 20 years across entire network, $3T GDP bump (avg .8% yr)
d. Portfolio
i. portfolio to be announced
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Ideation Foundry
The platform would include a core ideation foundry and the capability to start, co-create new high growth companies with our partners.
6. Ideation Foundry [VX]
a. Dynamic U — national competency based curriculum platform with lifelong learning Dynamic Degree programs
b. ID8! — stealth personal identity platform
c. Better — stealth customer service platform
d. Covered — stealth next gen insurance platform
e. GoodPoint — next gen social discourse communication platform
f. More…
i. 56 Launches — rapid ideation prototype min viable launch service for Foundry & Fortune 1000 partners
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Partner Growth Programs
It would include a set of focused partner programs to collaborate and support growth efforts across corporations, universities, and key geographies.
It would also include working with key affinity leadership groups (women, immigrants, veterans, students, seniors, athletes & artists, the underserved).
7. Partner Growth Programs [11x]
i. Prototype — Gen Z network of founders sourcing early stage deals across the U.S. — launching proprietary ideas within Prototype Studio
ii. MVP — University Tech Transfer, Student Startups, professional sports team innovation partnerships
iii. I Formation — Fortune 1000 corporate venture and co-creation
iv. Airwing Founder Missions (AFM) — experienced founders with a unique idea focused on a big problem- seed / early stage funding program
v. Speed & Angels Development Corp (‘Top Gun for Startups) — work with existing accelerators, help most promising stalled companies pivot & grow, help SMB’s grow
vi. 2076 -50 moonshot solutions to large problems / opportunities in the U.S., executed over a 20+ year horizon (The Next 50 Years) — coordinate with Fortune 1000
vii. 56 Launches — rapid A/B service testing platform for new de novo launches within Airwing Funds and Airwing partnerships — partner with Fortune 1000
viii. Wingman — mentor network matching experienced innovation leaders with key Opportunity Zone constituents, entrepreneurs
ix. Building Blocks — micro growth concentrated startup space planning within Opportunity Zones that create growth “building blocks” within key areas
b. Events (Electric Event Network) — Airwing Media Network / KBOA — Strategic Ideation (Bottle of Lightning) = programs in support of portfolio, partner and platform initiatives
c. CXO3 – Best of America focused executive network tying the nation’s great leaders, Top 50 Most Admired Companies, Top 30 Tech, Forbes 400, YPO, Govt Leaders, Local Leaders
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other” — Abraham Lincoln
Investment — Foundry — Partner Growth Programs — Strategic Advisory — Operations — Support — Best Practices — Leadership — Learning — Service
Strategic Growth Advisory (Operations — Support — Best Practices)
It would include a Strategic Advisory service for portfolio companies and key partners. An Operations & Support platform of services, best practices, venture programs, startup co-creation, growth game plans and investment playbooks to help portfolio companies and partners create value and succeed.
8. Strategic Advisory [2020 Checklist — GEAR Up Strategies]
a. Strategic Growth Advisory to Fortune 1000
b. 2020 Success Checklist to design, fund, and build high growth programs and companies / new economic growth engines for our partners
c. Growth Gameplans, Investment Playbooks
9. Operations & Support
a. Best Practices
b. Top 10 Intros, Top 3 Impact Actions
c. CXO3 Network
d. Events — Media — Solutions Teams
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” — MLK Jr
Focus on High Impact Initiatives
It would include maintaining a focused list of key opportunities, partners and leaders at a local level and a broader high profile network of relationships and leaders at a national level.
10. Top 20X Focus
Focus map of opportunities, key partners and relationships to ensure highest chance of success
a. Top 20 Growth Opportunities
b. CXO3 Network
c. Top 10 Local Family Offices, Foundations, Entrepreneurs, Financial Services Firms
d. Top 30 Venture Partners, Service Providers, Tech Companies
e. Create Denser Innovation Clusters > 10x the # of High Growth Outcomes per community
f. Establish Faster Innovation Cycles > 100x the # of High Impact relationships per community member
i. 8,000 Opportunity Zones / Airwing 300 Key Partner Map
1. Fortune 1000
2. Forbes 400
3. Top 50 Most Admired Companies
4. Top 100 Tech Companies
5. Top 100 Universities
6. Top 250 Private Companies
7. Top 100 Tech Unicorns
8. 50 State Governors
9. Top 100 Metro Regions
10. Inc. 500
11. Top 30 Foundations
12. Top 100 Financial Services Firms
“You must do the things you think you cannot do” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Never, never, never give up” — Winston Churchill
More soon…
Dan & the Airwing team…
Please share, comment, ideate…we are a team, one team, one America, bound as brothers and sisters through the ages, fulfilling the destiny, efforts and ideas of many great people before us…let’s embrace our opportunity to work together to achieve great things. A glass half full view of America, of mankind and our collective interests in building a better world. This is the greatest time to be alive in history, so let’s make it so for every American across this great land. dan@airwing.vc TheAirwing300@airwing.vc highspeedgrowth@airwing.vc
