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NEWS FEED
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 how he has thought about navigating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
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.
Implications for startups of House online safety package
This week, a key House committee will consider a trove of online safety proposals, marking movement on one of the many intractable tech policy issues Congress perennially debates but rarely advances to the president’s desk. The proposed legislation comes with potential for a big impact on how startups design customer experiences, deliver their services, and interact with their users—regardless of those users’ ages.
AI policy impacts startup competitiveness
In every corner of the economy, there is a flourishing ecosystem of startups building AI, building with AI, and using AI to better everyday tasks. Some startups are building their own machine learning models to perform specific tasks. Most startups, though, are leveraging foundation models—either by licensing from market leaders or accessing open source—to fine-tune and build unique products.
#StartupsEverywhere: Durham N.C.
Based in Durham, North Carolina, Ver Coaching utilizes virtual reality to help athletes refine their visual skills and enhance their mental performance. We sat down with founder Michael Halpert and discussed grants that helped launch the platform, patents, accessibility and educational barriers, and the future of Ver Coaching.