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NEWS FEED
Startup News Digest 04/17/26
Startup founders come to D.C. calling for expanded capital access policies
#StartupsEverywhere: Burlington, Vt.
Sascha Mayer, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Mamava, is closing the gap in support for breastfeeding parents with freestanding lactation pods. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Mamava provides private spaces in high-traffic areas like airports and workplaces, paired with a mobile app to help parents find them. We sat down with Sascha to discuss how design meets policy, the realities of U.S. manufacturing, and the importance of policy that supports parents.
#StartupsEverywhere: Mountain View, Calif.
After building a small chain of restaurants across the northeastern U.S., Sienam Ahuja created Bryckel AI, a contract analysis platform that saves commercial property owners time and money. We sat down with Sienam to discuss her company, her experience fundraising, her approach to working with AI, and more.
Congress debating controversial spying power that can impact startups’ competitiveness
With a pending expiration in mid-April, lawmakers appear poised to reauthorize an Internet surveillance law that, without needed reforms, could drain the limited resources startup founders depend on, erode user trust online, and further complicate the already fractured digital trade landscape.
Startup News Digest 04/03/26
Foundational trade policy lapses, opening the door to tariffs on digital goods
#StartupsEverywhere: Austin, Texas.
Throne Science, based in Austin, Texas, is bringing data-driven insights to an essential part of our daily routine. Co-founder Scott Hickle is utilizing his background in engineering and software product management, along with leveraging AI, to build a device that could change how people perceive gut health. We sat down with Scott to discuss his journey in founding Throne, the role of AI, the impact of tariffs on innovation, and what his fundraising journey has looked like.
Startup News Digest 03/27/26
Supreme Court says Internet intermediaries not liable for user actions
#StartupsEverywhere: Boston, Mass.
Tactus, a Boston-based startup, is on a mission to make music truly inclusive and accessible. Their Bluetooth-integrated jackets and vests translate audio into precise tactile vibrations, allowing the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to experience live musical performances. We sat down with Jeremy Chow, CEO and Founder of Tactus, to discuss their work and the various challenges they encounter, such as the barriers to federal research grants and the ways tariffs are raising manufacturing costs.
Digesting Trump’s AI wishlist for Congress
With states already putting forward over 1,600 AI-related proposals this year, startups are scrambling to understand which proposals might have legs and what they will mean for their companies.
Engine Statement regarding Supreme Court Decision in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
Engine Statement regarding Supreme Court Decision in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
#StartupsEverywhere: New York, n.y.
Ben Hills is a lifelong entrepreneur seeking to improve the procurement process without compromising the bedrock of standards and regulations that make public works projects reliable and trustworthy. His startup, Iris, provides an AI agent that converts the days and months of request for proposals (RFPs) applications and reviews of those applications into hours of work. We sat down with Ben to talk about his experience hiring talent in the startup ecosystem, the future of the human workforce, and more.
Engine statement regarding “The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act”
Engine statement regarding The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act.
Engine statement regarding the ‘‘Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act’’
Engine statement regarding the ‘‘Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act’’
Startups need foundational digital trade policy made permanent
At the end of this month, a critical digital trade policy relied upon by startups is set to expire unless policymakers act. March 26–29, the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) will convene in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions will expire if it is not renewed.
#StartupsEverywhere: New York, n.y.
From an investor at an acquired startup to the Senior Director of Engineering at Snap Inc., Chad DePue has spent his career working throughout the tech ecosystem. Now, Chad is bringing his experience to his own startup–Sitch–an AI-powered dating app that plays the role of matchmaker for its users. We sat down with Chad to talk about Section 230, the state of AI regulation, and more.
#StartupsEverywhere: Oxford, Neb.
When Sally Bunnell saw the sun setting on traditional music content production, she pivoted to user-generated content in the travel industry. Her app, NaviSavi, gives its users the opportunity to share and plan destination vacations based on the video content they and others share. We sat down with Sally to talk about her company, her approach to content moderation, and her experience building a company in Nebraska.