The next Rise of the Rest Tour is heading for the Rust Belt

AOL cofounder and Revolution CEO Steve Case is taking the bus out on the road again this fall for the Rise of the Rest tour. This time, he’s bringing along a new partner in advocacy of spreading the venture wealth beyond San Francisco, New York and Boston.

For its sixth edition, the tour that’s designed to shine a light on tech communities outside the major hubs is heading for the midwest.

Along with Case, venture capitalist J.D. Vance will be on the bus. He joined Revolution and moved back to his home state of Ohio to invest in startups earlier this year. Vance came to prominence as his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, detailed growing up in the Rust Belt. During the 2016 election, it was also flagged as a key read for those looking to understand President Donald Trump’s rise.

In a Politico profile, Case called the election a “wake-up” call for technologists in the major hubs to start paying attention to what’s happening in other parts of the country, and how innovation is having an impact there.

The itinerary kicks off with a stop in Central Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, York and Lancaster) on Oct. 10. That’s the beginning of a four-day leg that also includes Ann Arbor, Mich., Indianapolis, Ind., and Columbus Ohio. The following week, the tour finishes up in Green Bay, Wisc., on Oct. 17.

The tour’s daily agenda will follow the pattern of past excursions, with Case meeting and visiting startups and ecosystem leaders in each city throughout the day. The day closes with a fireside chat and pitch competition, where Case invests $100,000 in a local company.