The Friday ADN article, “The pandemic pushed these Alaskans to quit their 9-to-5 jobs and start their own businesses — and they aren’t looking back” was a timely article about of the impact of entrepreneurship and innovation on the Alaska economy. In addition to the 26,000 firms created, the 2018 Report, “Alaska: State of Entrepreneurship” by the UAA/Center for Economic Study found that, “… Over the last decade, startups in Alaska consistently added 4,000 to 6,000 jobs to the economy each year. Firms that are aged five years or younger accounted for 89% of Alaska’s net employment growth in the private sector. …” The article’s stunning report of 26,000 new firms and the 2018 report of 5,000 jobs per year being created by our startup community should have the full attention of everyone who is interested in speeding Alaska’s pandemic recovery, strengthening our urban and rural communities and accelerating the growth of our state’s healthy economy for future generations.
To help promote and grow our startup community, the Alaska Startup Week is held each year to highlight the startup companies, programs and investable opportunities. Alaska is at a global crossroads of climate change, energy transition and cultural equity challenges and opportunities; our local solutions have global ramifications. The startup community is the foundation of our innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformations that are strengthening our current economy and investing in transitions to create a global new Alaska economy. This year’s Alaska’s Startup Week just started Friday, as the article was published, and continues for the week with more than 50 statewide events. Most events are free and online with some offered in a hybrid format or at the location of a startup business. Alaska is changing, and we can shape how our future unfolds. Please visit https://alaska.startupweek.co/ to see the schedule of events and support innovation and entrepreneurship in Alaska.
— Ky Holland
Co-Founder, Alaska Version 3
Anchorage
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