States gear up to work on AI
Startup policy outlook under second Trump term
Executive coaching should be accessible to anyone who is interested, but oftentimes scaling the education is not practical. With her company Zella Life, co-founder Remy Meraz is democratizing professional development using AI. We sat down with her to discuss AI, independent contractors, and more.
After working in the financial sector for over 20 years, Mical Jeanlys-White founded her own company, WealthMore, a wealth tech with a focus on tackling a key financial barrier—wealth building and management. Her company leverages technology to connect everyday Americans with accessible wealth management services, aiming to provide wealth creation for all. We sat down with her to discuss her journey in raising capital, navigating tax policy, the evolving role of AI, and more.
Vance Reavie is no stranger to entrepreneurship. Using his knowledge from previous ventures, he created an AI platform that intelligently automates manual marketing and merchandising workflows and content generation processes for brands and retailers. We sat down with Vance to discuss the startup ecosystem in Arkansas, AI policy and regulation, grant opportunities, and more.
Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) is a landmark law that has provided startups, copyright holders, and Internet users with a balanced framework to address allegations of online infringement. But Congress is considering revising the law, and in that process it is critical for policymakers to carefully consider the importance of the DMCA to the startups and creators that rely on its protections.
The Big Story: White House executive order threatens bedrock Internet law. President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday targeting “censorship” by online companies, a dangerous and misguided move that threatens to undermine the bedrock law that has allowed Internet platforms of all sizes to grow. The directive came after Twitter added fact-checking labels to several of President Trump’s tweets about mail-in ballots earlier this week.
As Americans continue to confront the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, startup founders are doing everything they can to support efforts to respond to the pandemic. We spoke with two startup founders who are working to leverage emerging technologies—including nanotechnology and automation—for the public good.
The White House’s executive order on “preventing online censorship” is a dangerous move that will encourage bad faith lawsuits, and dismantle the fundamental and commonsense legal framework that startups depend on to compete in today’s Internet ecosystem and keep their platforms free of objectionable content.
TLDR: The U.S. Copyright Office released a long-anticipated report last week which found that the system for resolving claims of online infringement should be updated. While the agency said that it was not recommending any wholesale changes to the current process, it has advocated for updates that would substantially alter the framework for startups that host user-generated content. With more Americans than ever before relying on digital services and online resources to create and share content during the pandemic, it’s critical for lawmakers and federal officials to carefully balance any changes to the law that could have an outsized impact on startups and their users.
The Big Story: Congress working to clarify small business loan program. The U.S. Senate this week tried to double the amount of time that recipients of Paycheck Protection Program loans have to spend the emergency funding, even as House Democrats plan to advance legislation next week that would change accessibility requirements and allow PPP loans to be used over an even longer 24-week timeframe.
HotelsByDay wants to make the hotel experience more hospitable by offering guests the opportunity to book hotel amenities and rooms for personal- and business-related uses during the day. Based in New York City, the startup is focused on monetizing unused hotel amenities and rooms by providing guests with a place to stay, conduct business, and relax outside of typical hotel booking times. We recently spoke with Yannis Moati, HotelsByDay’s CEO, to learn more about his idea for the startup, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his business, and how crowdfunding allows startups to diversify their investment sources.
TLDR: Federal officials are once again calling for Internet companies of all sizes to undermine secure end-to-end encryption by creating intentional vulnerabilities in their products to facilitate law enforcement access to user data, a move that would risk user privacy and security. The renewed push comes after the Justice Department announced that it unlocked two iPhones belonging to the shooter in last year’s Pensacola Naval Air Station shooting and found that he had been working with al Qaeda.
The Big Story: Broadband access in the time of COVID-19. House Democrats this week introduced the HEROES Act, their proposed $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that includes a dramatic expansion of pandemic-related broadband assistance to help close the digital divide. The inclusion of broadband funding in the proposed relief package comes as policymakers in recent weeks have grown more vocal about the importance of reliable Internet connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As local media outlets in the United States struggle with declining revenues, a South Carolina-based startup is working to engage readers across the Southeast by curating and creating localized content to spur greater participation and involvement in local communities. 6AM City, based in Greenville, provides daily newsletters with hyper-localized coverage to subscribers, and then works to encourage ongoing discussions, conversations, and engagement across social media. We spoke with Ryan Heafy, 6AM City’s co-founder and COO, to learn more about the startup’s approach to local content, the Greenville startup ecosystem, and how South Carolina’s lapsed angel tax credit promoted greater investments in startups.
Although the U.S. Small Business Administration officially postponed last week’s 57th annual National Small Business Week (NSBW), that didn’t stop policymakers, entrepreneurs, and founders from recognizing the importance of the nation’s 30.7 million startups and small businesses all across the country. With many businesses struggling right now as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, congressional leaders from across the political spectrum took the opportunity to voice their support for small business growth, innovation, and success.
TLDR: As people across the globe continue to depend upon digital services in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Internet firms are working overtime to keep their platforms free of misinformation related to the virus. But the rapid proliferation of COVID-19 conspiracy theories is highlighting just how difficult it is for online companies of all sizes to moderate content in a way that promotes user safety.
Located in one of California’s busiest farming regions, Woodland-based startup Nytch is working to foster greater engagement between consumers and their local small businesses. Since small brick-and-mortar businesses are unable to put their entire inventories online, the mobile service allows local businesses to use their greatest assets—knowledge, experience, and product awareness—to provide local consumers with more convenient retail services. We recently spoke with Nytch’s co-Founder, Grant Lea, to learn more about his startup’s work helping small businesses, the Woodland startup ecosystem, and what steps he believes policymakers should take to further support the startup community.
With many small businesses struggling as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, startups are stepping in to offer free services to help small firms navigate the economic uncertainty. Whether it’s opening up their platforms to keep small businesses engaged with their local communities, or aggregating available resources and federal loan information for struggling firms, startup founders are using their knowledge, experience, and services to support other entrepreneurs in need of assistance.
TLDR: Internet connectivity has become a critical resource for Americans coping with the pandemic, and the increased reliance on digital services is already highlighting gaps in Internet access and sufficient broadband infrastructure across the country. As Congress debates passing a phase four coronavirus relief package that would in part address broadband access concerns, it’s critical for policymakers to understand just how important connectivity is to U.S. startups and consumers.
The Big Story: Lawmakers propose freezing mergers during pandemic. Several congressional Democrats have proposed a temporary halt on certain “big” mergers and acquisitions during the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the outbreak could allow large companies to consolidate their power by buying up smaller firms. While larger tech companies have faced scrutiny in the past for allegedly acquiring potential competitors in order to protect their market share, acquisitions during the COVID-19 pandemic are far more likely to involve larger companies rescuing at-risk startups that would otherwise go out of business. It’s hard to see how blocking these types of acquisitions would promote competition. Efforts to curb what policymakers see as predatory behavior could instead deprive many startups of a critical lifeline they might need to remain in business.
The South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership includes 47 smart connected communities across Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan that are working together to improve economic development across the region. With five distinct committees focused on improving business opportunities, increasing per capita income, and improving quality of life, the largely volunteer-driven partnership is working to make the region a hub of economic activity. We recently spoke with Bethany Hartley—the partnership’s Director of Diversity & Inclusion—to learn more about the organization’s work improving diversity and inclusion programs for entrepreneurs across the region.
TLDR: Although the U.S. Small Business Administration is once again accepting applications from small businesses for Paycheck Protection Program loans, many startups still remain ineligible for the emergency funding that they need to survive the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s critical for lawmakers to pursue other policy proposals that will help startups and small businesses weather the current uncertainty.
The Big Story: Pandemic underscores the need for broadband boost. Congress voted this week on a $484 billion coronavirus relief package to help support small businesses and Americans who are struggling as a result of the pandemic, but policymakers are already discussing additional legislative measures to bolster the nation’s broadband infrastructure.
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