It is not unusual to hear stories of individuals who spent their lives building businesses that empower overlooked constituents of our society. But to find a seasoned community activist like Kent Dahlgren, who is leveraging technology to bring economic prosperity to the underrepresented 64% of Americans living outside incorporated towns, is nothing short of transformative. Leveraging his 35 years of grassroots activism, Dahlgren is reshaping the economic narrative of Americans living “below the fold” through his enterprise, 214 Alpha.
When asked about what motivated him to create his startup, Kent traces his inspiration to the predicament of the majority of American communities that haven’t felt the direct benefit of a government. He pointed to the high transaction fees claimed by “systems of convenience” such as Amazon and eBay as financial drainage on these communities. The solution proposed by his company encourages individuals to pay those hefty transaction fees into a community account instead, with the community determining how these funds get reinvested back into their area.
214 Alpha operates on an innovative model that delivers a self-funded economic stimulus without government assistance and puts the money traditionally funneled to “big tech” wealth back into the hands of the people. Dahlgren explained this model in a case study demonstrating how a small town like Caddo, Oklahoma, could rejuvenate its economy through his platform.
As we look to the future, Dahlgren sees seven unique features of the 214 Alpha platform as the future of technology: Haggle decision, the community keeping transaction fees, community transaction fee management, a no advertising policy, promotion based on earned reputation, community data ownership, and private-label app development. This innovatively flips the concept already presented when eBay debuted, however, with enhancements that deliver community benefits.
214 Alpha comes equipped with seven integrated features including identity verification, communication channels, marketplace functionality, community and private banking, reputation metrics, arbitration procedure, and governance mechanisms. These features enable community organizations to generate a robust revenue stream supporting both their operations and the larger community.
Dahlgren is no stranger to social impact. His activism has been recognized by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He has served on the board of the Tony Hawk Foundation and participated in the creation of a world-renowned skatepark in Portland, Oregon. Dahlgren’s accomplishments are not just the stuff of documentaries but powerful testimonies to the power of community determination and resilience.
Dahlgren’s passion and innovative outlook are already shattering conformity and bringing about positive change. His vision for 214 Alpha and the unincorporated communities it pledges to serve is audacious, relevant, and needed in the current state of our world. His endeavor is a testament to a life dedicated to empowering overlooked communities and the change-maker’s unwavering commitment to economic justice.
Through his world-class skatepark, Dahlgren broke conventions. Now as he trailblazes the path for economic revival in American unincorporated communities, Dahlgren’s work with 214 Alpha speaks to a continuation of that mission – a vision of empowerment and prosperity “below the fold” that is bringing real, tangible change to communities nationwide.
