How successful exits help fuel the startup ecosystem
From her lived experience, Gloria Folaron identified a significant gap in support for neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, particularly in project management. She co-founded Leantime, where she is developing accessible work management solutions that promote motivation, connection, and engagement for all employees. We sat down with her to discuss open-source models, navigating the grant system, and more.
2025 will be a pivotal year for startups and tax policy, and one instrumental program that has been crucial to the success of the company I co-founded, Event Vesta Inc, is at risk of sunsetting.
Data is a fundamental resource that powers all AI systems. There are different types of data that are utilized for different functions in AI development, and varying sources of that data.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, Lithic Tech builds software for startups, non-profits, and other teams, and assists clients in launching new products with a strong foundation. We talked to Co-Founder Rob Galankis about his programming background, the importance of business incubators in smaller tech hubs, and how policymakers can craft reasonable patent laws and financial programs that enable innovators from all backgrounds to have the flexibility they need to take risks and grow.
Raydiant Oximetry, Inc. has developed a low-cost, non-invasive biomedical device to monitor oxygen levels in fetal blood and improve outcomes of both mothers and their children during childbirth. Neil P. Ray, Founder and CEO, opened up about his medical professional background, how Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding has impacted his company, and how policymakers can better support innovation that addresses the country’s critical needs.
Los Angeles-based Camino Financial supports entrepreneurs and small business owners from disadvantaged communities through its AI-powered direct lending platform. We sat down with Co-Founder and COO, Kenneth Salas, to learn more about the work his company is doing. He also spoke with us about the use of artificial intelligence, the importance of support for local startup ecosystems, and the benefits of a policy landscape that incentivizes investment in new, innovative companies.
George Hristov has found himself in a number of different roles within the startup ecosystem. Currently, he serves as Community Manager for Denver-based Colorado Startups, a community-building organization for founders, investors, and others to develop their startup network and share resources that can help them in their career pursuits. We spoke with George about what led him to Colorado Startups, how they approach building their startup community, and how policymakers can help develop environments that encourage innovative entrepreneurship.
Nixsheets is an innovative workflow and automation platform for accounting teams. By combining several software categories, Nixsheets simplifies accounting and reduces manual work. We spoke with Founder and CEO Sal Abdulla about how his varied background in finance and politics led him to launch his own company, the gap Nixsheets fills in the current market, the burdens of a state-by-state patchwork of privacy laws, and how policymakers can help facilitate (or at least not frustrate) critical interoperability.
Brandon Winfield is the Founder & CEO of Atlanta-based iAccess Innovations. After facing his own challenges finding spaces that would be accessible to his own mobility range, he decided to build a space where people with disabilities could share their accessibility experiences with public businesses and spaces. We spoke to Brandon about his journey building his company, the challenges of moderating user content as a small platform, and his company’s work to train other businesses on disability etiquette and inclusion.
Enployable is a new AI-powered platform that matches job openings with potential candidates through systems that identify cultural and personal priorities for all parties involved. Based in Tysons, Virginia, Founder and CEO Laura Truncellito walked us through the company’s platform and goals, the importance of building equitable artificial intelligence systems, and how she thinks policymakers can support AI startups.
Scroobious is an online platform and community connecting early-stage founders to investors and partners. Their Pitch it Plan™ provides founders with unique resources and tools for success throughout the pitching process. We spoke with Founder and CEO Allison Byers on how her platform has given her unique perspectives on underrepresented founders, what it means to be both a mother and an entrepreneur, and how policymakers can better support the tech ecosystem.
Chicago:Blend is a non-profit ecosystem support organization founded by a group of venture capitalists. Its purpose is to bridge equity gaps for underrepresented funders and founders and ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion remain integral parts of Chicago’s VC industry. We had the chance to talk with Executive Director Joey Mak about why representation is essential to societal and economic progress, and how venture capitalists can help keep equitable access at the top of policymakers’ minds.
Job Share Connect is a digital platform that provides a way for employees and employers to explore the world of job sharing. Their software enables interested candidates to look for job share opportunities and to match with potential job share partners. Co-Founder and Co-CEO Jessica Charlsen told us about what led her to Job Share Connect, the benefits of job sharing, and how policymakers can better support entrepreneurs through public policies that support accessing capital outside traditional technology hubs.
Neolth works to increase access to mental health support for students by offering technology solutions in schools, youth, and healthcare organizations. Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Katherine Grill spoke with us about her work within the intersection of education and healthcare, the challenges of navigating privacy laws and stigma, and what she hopes to achieve next.
shared and discovered through their proprietary music sharing platform. President and Co-Founder Rolf Locher told us about what led him to Cranberry Queues, the challenges he’s faced in building a technology startup, and how he’s navigating the complexities of things like privacy and content moderation given the platform’s unique features.
Fifth Star Funds is a venture philanthropy fund that seeks to create a more equitable start-up ecosystem in Chicago, Illinois through early-stage investment. We sat down with Samir Mirza, Co-Founder and Executive Director, and Francisco Martinez, Venture Associate and Head of Marketing Communications, to talk about their organization’s mission, the racial funding gap, and how policymakers can provide much-needed support to help underrepresented founders scale their businesses.
Based in Los Angeles, Calif., Abstract is working to enable access to and understanding of California legislative and government data. Co-Founders Patrick Utz and Matthew Chang spoke to us about their vision for the Abstract platform, the need for policies that enable growing startups' ability to access new talent, and why lawmakers should support tax incentives that encourage innovation.
Based in Los Angeles, Calif., Abstract is working to enable access to and understanding of California legislative and government data. Co-Founders Patrick Utz and Matthew Chang spoke to us about their vision for the Abstract platform, the need for policies that enable growing startups' ability to access new talent, and why lawmakers should support tax incentives that encourage innovation.
Bryght Labs is a connected gaming startup dedicated to making STEM-based games more accessible. Based in Overland Park, Kansas, Founder and CEO Jeff Wigh walked us through the company’s beginnings, the success they’ve seen with their launch product ChessUp, and how Wigh’s extensive experience with patents has informed his views of the US patent system.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Adhere Gear is focused on developing sustainable use IoT Smart Cargo Network for cargo operations and logistics. Founder, CEO and Chief Engineer Robert Buchanan took a moment to share with us the origins of Adhere Gear, how he and his team hope to improve the global use of cargo, and his vision for the company’s future.
Civil is a virtual resource library that provides educators with vetted, researched, and summarized political topics and lesson plans that help safely foster discussion around current events in the classroom. We spoke with Founder and CEO Max Tendero about what experiences led him to create Civil, how potential changes to current copyright regulations could present challenges to startups like his, and why alterations to current Internet frameworks could impact Civil’s growth in the future.
Based in Washington, D.C., Pruve Systems is leveraging a variety of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, to develop workflow systems that are easy, inclusive, and completely secure. Co-Founder and CEO Thomas Dawson, spoke to us about what led to the founding of Pruve, how it’s important to be inclusive in the development of new technologies, and why policymakers should reframe how we think about the development of tech talent.
Maurice Ng is the Co-founder and General Partner of Tings Capital, a minority-owned venture capital fund based in New York City, N.Y. looking to invest in underrepresented founders, including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, first generation immigrants, and people with disabilities. Ng took the time to share his immigrant experience, his unique mission behind the firm, and some of the barriers marginalized communities face in the startup space.
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