Consumer weather models are too coarse for farms and conservancies that are large enough to occupy their own microclimates. Dr. Carlos Gaitan started Benchmark Labs to solve this problem, leveraging artificial intelligence to create custom weather models for farmers and conservators—helping them increase their crop yield and better manage their land. Carlos recently sat down with us to discuss Benchmark Labs, his experience as an immigrant founder, the value of government funding for startups, and how policymakers should approach AI policy. 

David Knight is a seasoned veteran of the startup world and has seen multiple companies through to success. He started Terbine to disrupt the electric vehicle charging space, and we spoke with him about the best startup ecosystems to live in, what it means to startups to have government support, and how policymakers can support STEM education. 

José Padilla has an established track record of providing efficient, low-cost legal services. With LegalMente AI, he’s able to provide that same quality of work to those in need, including early-stage startups. We sat down with him to talk about what policymakers need to know about the uses of AI, how to keep the U.S. innovation ecosystem the most competitive globally, and his motivation to provide the most efficient work possible. 

After overcoming childhood shyness in the warmth of his local Caribbean-owned barbershop, Royon Jeffrey knows the power of the beauty industry firsthand. He set out to create ListedB, an online marketplace for beauty industry professionals. We spoke to him about the financial opportunity within the industry, navigating capital access and investors, and his desire to empower small businesses owners.

MegaMinds was created out of a need to make learning more creative, fun, and hands-on for students. In our conversation with Co-Founder and CEO Eric Tao, we learned about the growing popularity of immersive learning, the tricky regulatory landscape for a product like MegaMinds, and what it’s like for many first-time entrepreneurs to build businesses. 

Titan AI is committed to empower individuals with its wearable AI-enabled badge to enhance overall well-being. We talked to Founder and CEO Isaac Reed about AI and data privacy, hard tech manufacturing, and how serial entrepreneurs learn from previous ventures.

Based on past experiences in the workplace, Greg Gasperin created Merify to enable talent managers to equitably identify and reward top performers for valuable work. The platform also serves as a tool for employees to quantify and track their performance data. We spoke with him about the need for trust and accuracy in the workplace, Merify’s extensive use of independent contractors, and a much needed social safety net for startup founders. 

Tarik McMillan and Tamara Mohammed founded Greater Changes with the goal of making mental health services accessible for people, no matter their background. We spoke with them about the sometimes challenging process of developing a telehealth platform, ‘Change’, their experiences fighting stigma and operating out of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and their goals for 2024.

PilotoMail is ushering in a new age for mailroom automation and virtual mailboxes. While she is focused on growing her business and navigating the US Postal System, Founder and CEO Sofia Stolberg is also on a deeply personal mission to strengthen the Puerto Rican ecosystem. We heard from her about challenges and successes in the Puerto Rican startup ecosystem, regulatory changes that impact her company, and her goals for the future. 

MetaBronx is the leading startup accelerator in NYC for underrepresented founders – including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ who are inventing technology-based solutions to large-scale problems. It places youth from underrepresented communities in an innovation environment where they learn all the skills to succeed in the 21st century. We spoke with co-founder Alejandra Molina about the current challenges underrepresented founders face in raising capital, the important role of accelerators and incubators in the startup ecosystem, and how the US can create a welcoming environment for immigrant entrepreneurs. 

Cobble provides an answer to an age-old question posed by many couples and friend groups who desire quality time together, but are overwhelmed with the sheer number of activities out there. We sat down with Founder and CEO Jordan Scott to talk about the inspiration behind the platform and the roles AI and data security play in how Cobble operates.