When folks hear the term "start-up," all sorts of images are easily conjured in one's mind. You think of energetic young people in Silicon Valley or maybe Boston or Austin creating new innovative businesses; like Facebook or Twitter — hip tech companies with new ideas that seemingly came out of nowhere and now are integral parts of our lives. The good news is this is only part of the story. As Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I've learned that start-ups can be found across America, from Boulder, Colo. to my backyard in Kansas City, and the types of companies and problems these companies seek to solve extend far beyond just the high-tech industry.
Image: James Lawler Duggan | Reuters - Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO).
