Engine | Digital Entrepreneur Project

Digital Entrepreneurs Across the U.S.

Thanks to the Internet, launching a small business, creating content, selling products and services, and growing an audience has never been easier. The Digital Entrepreneur Project brings together those who create and sell their products and services online to ensure the Internet remains a place of unlimited possibility.

Digital Entrepreneur recording a song with a piano and guitar.

What is the Digital Entrepreneur Project?

From tutorial videos, to independent art and music, to recipe blog posts and to handmade goods—if you can dream it, there’s a Digital Entrepreneur out there making a business out of it. The Internet threw open doors for U.S.-based digital entrepreneurs to reach people all over the world, and now you no longer need a television or radio show, a brick-and-mortar store, or a book deal to have an audience and a customer base.

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What’s going on?

It’s easy to upload and share new writings, podcasts, videos, resources, or listings for hand-made goods on free or low-cost websites and apps. But policymakers often discuss changing the law in ways that could make it harder for Internet companies to host this kind of content. Lawmakers want to rein in large tech companies, but the legislation they’re considering could inadvertently make it harder for Digital Entrepreneurs to make and share their work on websites.

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How can you help?

How Can You Help? Join us in telling the story of the thousands of Digital Entrepreneurs across the country who use the Internet every day. Engine Advocacy, a non-profit voice for startups, founded the Digital Entrepreneur Project to help Digital Entrepreneurs share their stories so Congress can learn why it needs to be careful about changes to Internet policy.

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Engine - Digital Entrepreneur Project

About Us

The Digital Entrepreneur Project is an initiative of Engine Advocacy, a non-profit founded in 2011 to bridge the gap between policymakers and technology startups. Engine works with the government and a community of thousands of high-technology, growth-oriented startups across the nation to support the development of technology entrepreneurship through economic research, policy analysis, and advocacy on local and national issues.

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Natural, handcrafted home fragrances company, Wigenton Candle Co.

“Our company wouldn’t be where it is without the Internet. We’ve been able to find and grow a community of customers who want non-toxic home fragrances on places like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where we share videos about how to care for our candles, news about new products, and testimonials. Our products have been shared by high profile social media accounts, including British Vogue and Tabitha Brown!”

Stephanie Wigenton
Wigenton Candle Co.
Pittsburgh, PA
wigentoncandleco.com 

Rowan - The Seedling Budget

Financial educator, The Seedling Budget

“My business is entirely online. Instagram is my current main form of marketing, all the information about my offers is on my website, and I do all of my coaching and workshops virtually. I honestly don’t think my business could survive without the Internet. I would have to completely change the way I reach potential clients, and I would only be able to work with people in my geographic area. That would eliminate 90% of my current clients.”

Rowan Walker
The Seedling Budget
Pittsburgh, PA
theseedlingbudget.com

Custom ornament maker, Hound-works

“I sell pet-inspired custom holiday ornaments online through my Shopify-powered website, on Etsy, and on Amazon. I use social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for marketing. HoundWorks operates solely online because it is more profitable and a better use of time and resources for a small retail business, especially during the pandemic—HoundWorks wouldn’t exist in the same capacity without the Internet. It started out as a passion and love of dogs that has taken on a life of its own.”

Christine Petchenick
HoundWorks
Leesburg, VA
www.hound-works.com

Women’s shapewear inventor, Sispenders

“I do not think I would be anywhere as successful as I have been with Internet sales. All of my sales channels are online. All of my marketing is online. All raw materials are purchased online. Getting retail shelf space requires a lot of sales, marketing, and time on my part and would limit my exposure significantly. Using the Internet saves me money, lowers my overhead costs and makes Sispenders accessible to shoppers worldwide.”

Yuliya Loshinsky
Sispenders
Wilmington, North Carolina
www.sispenders.com

Data scientist and educator, Bachelor Data

“Bachelor Data wouldn’t exist without the Internet. I rely heavily on Excel/Google Sheets online and Instagram to share my data. I’ve now grown a digital course business around teaching my followers Google Sheets and Excel. We have grown primarily through organic sharing and being featured in articles/podcasts, and we rely heavily on our community to give us feedback on our analysis, colors, design and future analysis ideas. We love our community and really believe they are the backbone to our work!”

Suzana Somers
Bachelor Data
Boston, MA
bachelordata.com and Instagram

Singer-Songwriter, Emily Scott Robinson

“I might not have a successful career as a touring artist without the Internet! From the very beginning of my career in 2015, I started sharing my music for free on Bandcamp. I booked all my own tours for the first four years through email and social media contacts. My community of fans has personally funded the making of my two biggest albums, both of which helped me break into the music scene, receive national press and publicity, and sign a record deal. In April 2021, my fans fully funded my project to make my new album in less than 24 hours and ultimately donated more than double my goal amount. I was able to expand my project, hire a videographer and photographer, pay my musicians and producer more, and cover merchandise expenses.”

Emily Scott Robinson
Singer-Songwriter
Telluride, Colorado
emilyscottrobinson.com

Custom wedding giftery, Mackleys

“I use the Internet to reach brides across the country who are looking for personalized details for their wedding day, and social media is INTEGRAL to our success and growth. It’s how we gain new clients without having to hire a fancy marketing and advertising firm. Recently, I created a reel that went viral. It received 785,000 views, increased my follower count, and helped me book 5 new bridal clients!”

MacKenzie Morris
Mackleys
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
www.mackleys.co

Travel Planner, Girl In Alaska

“I was receiving the same Alaska travel questions from people, so I decided to turn it into a business and help people plan their vacations to Alaska. I have fostered a community of Alaska fans—over almost 30,000 followers—by wholeheartedly engaging with my audience and treating them as friends instead of numbers. In return, my followers continue to support everything I do online, they engage with my page, they purchase things from me, they ask me for advice and trust my opinion. My job would be impossible without the Internet.”

Danika Baldwin
Travel planner, @girl.in.alaska on Instagram and TikTok
Southcentral Alaska
www.GirlInAlaska.com

Home design and DIY blog, The Hady Life

“Without the Internet, my blog wouldn’t exist, and there would be no space for learning. I have been building this community for the past four years. On my blog and through social media, I talk about topics that are not spoken about commonly in our culture, including the struggles of motherhood. I show women, and moms especially, that they CAN go out of their comfort zone to create works of art in their homes and anywhere they go.”

Rehma Khan
DIY and home design blog, @thehadylife on Instagram
Columbia, Maryland
www.thehadylife.com

Personality-driven copywriting studio, JOUHCO

“We work with individuals in a variety of industries from all over the world who utilize the Internet to tell their brand story and make a name for themselves. We help articulate their vision and put it into words that best reflect their unique story through their website, emails, content on social media, and more. Showing up on different social media platforms and search engines allows me to attract and connect with individuals from all areas of the world. It’s been incredible building deep relationships with other entrepreneurs and business owners, whether that’s as a peer, a friend, a client, or a partner. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the ability to digitally connect.”

Jenn Jouhseik
Personality-driven copywriting studio, @jouhco_ on Instagram
Tampa, FL
www.jouhco.com

Animation Artist, @Adamient

“Using the Internet, I have built a community of various fandoms of animation or video games centered around my own art. I showcase my art on TikTok and Instagram, where I have tens of thousands of followers, and I reached a total of 1.4 million likes in just one year. My community also commissions me to create original artwork for them and several have donated to support my work on numerous occasions.”

Adam Johnson
Animation Artist, @Adamient on Instagram and TikTok
Kennesaw, GA

Clothing Brand & Company, AYDE Studios

“I’ve been able to find customers for both my clothing and art through Instagram and TikTok, where I share short form videos and images from photoshoots. My first art order was shipped all the way to California! The community I’ve built has contributed to my work in a positive way that I never would have expected. My first time showcasing my new clothing line was a big success in my eyes because I received so much support from my community.”

Ayden Roberts
Clothing Company, @AYDEStudios on Instagram and TikTok
Richmond, VA