Entrepreneurs launch Economic Innovation Group, a D.C. think tank

Silicon Valley is becoming more involved in Washington.

On Tuesday, a number of high-profile tech entrepreneurs launched the Economic Innovation Group, an ideas laboratory and advocacy organization dedicated to building a more entrepreneurial and innovative U.S. economy.

The group said it came together because members felt the recovery from the Great Recession was not as strong as it should be, and that the entrepreneurs and the investors that are “at the leading edge of our economy” are not at the table for economic policy debates. They hope to foster broad-based economic growth and revitalization through new public policy solutions.

“EIG brings entrepreneurs, policy experts and investors to the table to generate new solutions, and then works alongside policymakers to identify opportunities for bipartisan cooperation, build coalitions, engage private sector allies, and turn good ideas into successful legislation,” the group said in a statement Tuesday.

Its leadership includes policy experts, start-up founders, investors and academics.

Technology sector members include tech investor Ron Conway of SV Angel, Napster co-founder Sean Parker, L.A.-based investor Joe Sanberg and Dana Settle of Los Angeles venture capital firm Greycroft Partners.

“It’s time for those of us in the tech community to look beyond the borders of Silicon Valley, and to think long term about solutions to broader national challenges,” Parker said. “Our approach to public policy should leverage the lessons we learned as technology entrepreneurs and investors: take big risks, seek out innovative solutions, and don’t shy away from big problems.”

Priorities include finding new ways to drive private sector investment to economically distressed communities; promoting new business formation, modernizing the nation’s infrastructure and tackling the skills gap that could hamper the country’s workforce in a global economy.

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