Straddling the public/private sector: an entrepreneurial focus on government
Friday, 05 February 2010 07:38 | 
By Amy Biemiller
Successful entrepreneur Steve Welch has a thorn in his side, and the pain of it is spurring him on to public service.
Welch, founder and former CEO of the Mitos Group, a leader in biotechnology solutions; and co-founder of DreamIt Ventures, a unique venture firm that helps technology start-ups get off the ground, was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship. He picked up that thorn during his international travels with the program, while he investigated best practices for helping technology start-ups increase their chances of success and determined ways in which entrepreneurial communities within the United States can increase success rates.
“For the last year and a half I have visited a dozen countries, studying what is and is not working with their economies,” says Welch. “I find it upsetting that the rest of the world has figured out what the United States has traditionally done so well: decentralizing their societies and lowering barriers for business. Other countries are moving in that direction, while we are centralizing resources in Washington and getting involved in every aspect of our economy from the automotive industry to insurance.”
That painful realization has resulted in Welch campaigning for Congress.
“One of my motivations to run for Congress is to help make sure that our great nation continues to provide an environment where entrepreneurs and small businesses can reach their own American Dream,” he says. Reflecting on his own success as a business owner, Welch believes the role of government needs a tune up, in order to deliver economic prosperity. “The role of government is not to create jobs, but to institute policies that will ensure an environment exists for a thriving job-creating ecosystem. Most job creation comes from small, high growth companies. This requires taking responsible risks. It is critical that we encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses to continue to take prudent risks in order to stimulate job-creation,” he says.
Welch believes an environment that encourages prudent risk-taking was key to his success, and wants to maintain that environment for other entrepreneurs. “This centralized power in Washington, and the mind-set that government is the solution to all our problems is not what has made this country the economic engine of the world,” he says. “Our belief in personal responsibility and a free market system has created a culture which encourages risk taking while allowing both successful and unsuccessful outcomes. I want to help ensure that the next generation has these opportunities as well.”
But is an entrepreneur cut out for government? Welch thinks so, and is betting the timing is right.
“Congress has not been an entrepreneurial environment in recent years, but I think that is about to change out of necessity. Ordinary citizens like me are standing up and getting involved and I believe we are seeing the beginning of a return to citizen-legislators,” he says.
Welch believes his experience makes him an ideal citizen legislator. “Like many other candidates I have met throughout the country, I want to bring my experiences as a business owner who knows what it is like to meet a budget and make a payroll. We have too many elected officials today who have no experience dealing with these challenges, and don’t understand how government makes doing business more difficult.”
As a Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District, Welch is running on a three-pronged platform: job creation, balanced budget and responsible results. It’s just what he did when he started his businesses, and he’s running his campaign like a new enterprise. “As a first time candidate who has never run for public office, I’m doing what I would do if I was starting a company from scratch: I’m getting to know my audience, I’m working tirelessly to meet as many people as I can, and most importantly, I listen.”
Mention of political parties, issues or candidates does not constitute endorsement by the NASVF.
Successful entrepreneur Steve Welch has a thorn in his side, and the pain of it is spurring him on to public service.Welch, founder and former CEO of the Mitos Group, a leader in biotechnology solutions; and co-founder of DreamIt Ventures, a unique venture firm that helps technology start-ups get off the ground, was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship. He picked up that thorn during his international travels with the program, while he investigated best practices for helping technology start-ups increase their chances of success and determined ways in which entrepreneurial communities within the United States can increase success rates.
“For the last year and a half I have visited a dozen countries, studying what is and is not working with their economies,” says Welch. “I find it upsetting that the rest of the world has figured out what the United States has traditionally done so well: decentralizing their societies and lowering barriers for business. Other countries are moving in that direction, while we are centralizing resources in Washington and getting involved in every aspect of our economy from the automotive industry to insurance.”
That painful realization has resulted in Welch campaigning for Congress.
“One of my motivations to run for Congress is to help make sure that our great nation continues to provide an environment where entrepreneurs and small businesses can reach their own American Dream,” he says. Reflecting on his own success as a business owner, Welch believes the role of government needs a tune up, in order to deliver economic prosperity. “The role of government is not to create jobs, but to institute policies that will ensure an environment exists for a thriving job-creating ecosystem. Most job creation comes from small, high growth companies. This requires taking responsible risks. It is critical that we encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses to continue to take prudent risks in order to stimulate job-creation,” he says.
Welch believes an environment that encourages prudent risk-taking was key to his success, and wants to maintain that environment for other entrepreneurs. “This centralized power in Washington, and the mind-set that government is the solution to all our problems is not what has made this country the economic engine of the world,” he says. “Our belief in personal responsibility and a free market system has created a culture which encourages risk taking while allowing both successful and unsuccessful outcomes. I want to help ensure that the next generation has these opportunities as well.”
But is an entrepreneur cut out for government? Welch thinks so, and is betting the timing is right.
“Congress has not been an entrepreneurial environment in recent years, but I think that is about to change out of necessity. Ordinary citizens like me are standing up and getting involved and I believe we are seeing the beginning of a return to citizen-legislators,” he says.
Welch believes his experience makes him an ideal citizen legislator. “Like many other candidates I have met throughout the country, I want to bring my experiences as a business owner who knows what it is like to meet a budget and make a payroll. We have too many elected officials today who have no experience dealing with these challenges, and don’t understand how government makes doing business more difficult.”
As a Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District, Welch is running on a three-pronged platform: job creation, balanced budget and responsible results. It’s just what he did when he started his businesses, and he’s running his campaign like a new enterprise. “As a first time candidate who has never run for public office, I’m doing what I would do if I was starting a company from scratch: I’m getting to know my audience, I’m working tirelessly to meet as many people as I can, and most importantly, I listen.”
Mention of political parties, issues or candidates does not constitute endorsement by the NASVF.