From Hustle to Ownership: Unleashing the Next Generation of American Entrepreneurs

Sholdon Daniels is the small business candidate.

Let’s be real—if you want to borrow $200,000 to get a degree in gender studies, the government will hand it over with a smile. But if you want $200,000 to open a barbershop, food truck, software firm, or freight company? Now you’re suddenly a “credit risk.”

That’s not just backward—it’s intentional economic gatekeeping.

The system is rigged to keep wealth in the hands of those who already have it. That’s why I’m running on a plan to break open the gates and empower a new generation of entrepreneurs, especially those from working-class, minority, and rural backgrounds.

Here’s what we’re going to do:

1. End the “Accredited Investor” Scam

The current rules say you can’t invest in high-growth startups unless you’re already rich. That blocks regular people from building generational wealth—and keeps poor communities locked out of capital markets.

I’ll push to:

• Abolish the accredited investor rule altogether.

• Allow poor and working-class Americans to pool funds in investment clubs—legally and transparently.

• Create a federal business crowdfunding framework with built-in protections against predatory actors.

Let the people invest. Let the people grow.

2. Equal Access to Capital

If we can hand out student loans like candy, we can do the same for business loans.

I’ll introduce:

• The Federal Entrepreneur Loan Act—guaranteeing up to $250K in startup capital for qualified first-time business owners, with simplified underwriting and a grace period for repayment.

• Local lending partnerships with credit unions and community banks to decentralize access to capital and avoid red tape.

• Forgivable microloans for low-income founders who reinvest profits into their communities.

3. Mentorship and Protection for New Business Owners

A great idea without guidance often dies on the vine. That’s why mentorship isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

I’ll advocate for:

• A National Entrepreneur Mentorship Corps—a public-private partnership that matches new founders with experienced business owners, legal experts, and CPAs.

• Federal IP protection clinics in underserved areas, offering free help to minority inventors and creators.

• Startup legal defense grants to help protect entrepreneurs from having their ideas stolen or crushed by corporate giants.

4. Invest in the Indigent Innovators

Some of the most brilliant business ideas in America come from people with no capital, no connections, and no cushion. I’ve seen it firsthand in District 30. We need to start betting on genius over pedigree.

That means:

• Federal venture funds for “high potential, low capital” startups led by formerly incarcerated individuals, single parents, or residents of historically redlined zip codes.

• Fast-track certifications for businesses founded by veterans, formerly homeless citizens, and at-risk youth.

It’s time to stop just talking about equity and start creating ownership.

When people build, they protect.

When people own, they invest.

When communities create jobs from within—they rise, and they stay risen.

If you believe the American Dream shouldn’t be reserved for the elite—follow @SholdonDaniels on X and support our campaign to unlock entrepreneurship for the people.