Twitter co-founder visits RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The co-founder of microblogging service Twitter came to Rhode Island on Friday with a message for Rhode Island's leaders: the first step to fixing the state's economy is demonstrating they want to.

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and mobile-payments company Square, said during a taping of myRITV's Executive Suite that Rhode Island should look for ways to make it easier for small businesses to set up shop in the state and grow from there.

"The big thing is stating that you want that, stating that you want small businesses, that you want more of them," Dorsey said. "And not just stating it but showing it, showing it with mentorship programs, showing it with subsidies of equipment, of space."

Dorsey, a 36-year-old billionaire, visited Rhode Island on Friday to give a talk at the Rhode Island School of Design titled "Square: Designing Commerce to Feel Amazing." He said the principles of art and design can help would-be entrepreneurs think creatively about making their businesses create a better world.

Dorsey's newest venture, Square, offers a simple way for companies to process customers' purchases by adding a small accessory to their iPhones and iPads. The company says it's processed $24 million worth of transactions in Rhode Island and now has more than 5,000 businesses and individuals using Square in the state.

WPRI.com reporter Ted Nesi's full interview with Dorsey will air on Executive Suite next weekend - Feb. 9 and 10 - and be posted on WPRI.com this coming Wednesday. Executive Suite airs Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. on myRITV.