Blog, Telecom
Jill Crosby
Uncertainty Surrounding the BEAD Program and ...

A federal program to boost broadband — a necessary component of startup founders and users ability to access the startup ecosystem — in states across the country is facing headwinds and delays as policymakers move the goalposts and risk making progress on closing the digital divide.

Uncertainty Surrounding the BEAD Program and Its Impact on Startups
@Engine, Weekly Digest, Digest, Access to Capital, Tax & Trade, Issues, IP, Telecom, Talent, Open Internet, Future Tech
The Engine Team
Startup News Digest 04/25/25

Broadband program hits new roadblocks

Startup News Digest 04/25/25
#StartupsEverywhere
Mitchell Winter
#StartupsEverywhere: Lincoln, Neb.

Timing the sowing and watering of crops is as important as ever in agriculture. Jessi Korinek and her co-founders at Nave Analytics are developing a software that uses satellite data to help farmers cut down on water costs for irrigation. We sat down with Jessi to discuss her product, the impact of tariffs on the agricultural industry, and the challenges she faced in receiving federal research and development (R&D) grants.

#StartupsEverywhere: Lincoln, Neb.
Blog, IP
Jill Crosby
Sacrificing Patent Quality for the Sake of ...

The Trump administration’s push for “efficiency” is undercutting key programs and tools that maintain balanced intellectual property frameworks that protect startups against low-quality patents and meritless, but expensive and time consuming, litigation.

Sacrificing Patent Quality for the Sake of “Efficiency”
Blog, Issues, Access to Capital
Jennifer Weinhart
The SBIR program is up for reauthorization ...

With a looming reauthorization deadline later this year, Congress has a chance to renew and improve a government funding program that can be critical to startups engaging in costly R&D.

The SBIR program is up for reauthorization again. It’s time for Congress to implement meaningful reform.
, , , , , , , ,

Startup News Digest 09/24/21

, , , , , , , ,
Startup News Digest 09/24/21

The Big Story: Congress hits roadblock on immigration reform

A potential pathway to citizenship for Dreamers—a group critical to the startup ecosystem—was derailed this week when the Senate Parliamentarian blocked Democrats’ efforts to include immigration reform in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. Many Dreamers are entrepreneurs, and, as a group, they employ over 86,000 individuals across the country. Legislators are now considering alternative proposals to ensure immigration provisions remain a priority.

#StartupsEverywhere: Chicago, Ill.

#StartupsEverywhere: Chicago, Ill.

Melon is a Chicago-based company working to build and implement e-commerce solutions for an array of businesses that are increasingly relying on digital consumers, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan Nicholson—Founder and CTO—told us why he founded Melon, the ongoing impact he’s seeing of COVID-19 on the businesses they work with, and how startups are looking for certainty across an array of policy topics.

,

Statement on the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021

,
Statement on the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021

The following statement is attributed to Kate Tummarello, Executive Director of Engine, regarding today’s introduction of the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021.

Statement:

“Engine is proud to support the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021, a bill that would expand startup access to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s resources and services. The legislation, introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), would lower barriers to entry for underrepresented founders interested in seeking high-quality patents and enhance the PTO’s presence across the country so that the government can do an even better job of meeting innovators where they are at.”

Tagged:

State Policy Update: The Nuts and Bolts of State Innovation Policy

State Policy Update: The Nuts and Bolts of State Innovation Policy

In a series of State Policy Updates, we are exploring how state initiatives are impacting the innovation happening in startup ecosystems across the country. While much of Engine’s work centers on policy advocacy and education in the federal landscape, state-based policymakers impact startup formation and growth through their own work. We’re tracking what’s working for startups, what’s falling short, and what federal policymakers can learn from their state-level counterparts.

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

WithClutch is a software company working to provide access to easily refinance car loans through credit unions. Based in San Francisco, Calif., Nicholas Hinrichsen—Co-Founder and CEO—told us how he founded WithClutch, the challenges he’s faced while navigating the immigration system as an entrepreneur, and how his company has benefitted from the innovative environment provided by a regulatory sandbox in Arizona.

, , , , , , , ,

Startup News Digest 09/10/21

, , , , , , , ,
Startup News Digest 09/10/21

The Big Story: Global governments complicate content moderation. This week, governments across the globe zeroed in on how companies treat user content online, with several countries advancing policies that would make content hosting and moderation more difficult for Internet companies and hinder free expression online.

#StartupsEverywhere: New York City, N.Y.

#StartupsEverywhere: New York City, N.Y.

Based in New York City, N.Y., Fund Black Founders is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to narrowing the racial capital access gap by connecting Black founders with the financial and community resources they need. Founder & CEO, Renee King is focused on building an organization that can provide a necessary “Family & Friends” funding round for founders who would otherwise lack access to such capital. We spoke with Ms. King about what led her to build Fund Black Founders, the importance of access to early stage funding for Black founders, and how government agencies can make existing resources more accessible to emerging entrepreneurs.

, ,

IP Recap - 09/08/21

, ,
IP Recap - 09/08/21

A recent court decision confirming limits around patent (in)eligibility also reveals how this area of the law can more quickly resolve cases where weak patent claims are broadly asserted against companies—including startups and small businesses. In PersonalWeb Techs. LLC v. Google LLC, the Federal Circuit applied § 101 of the Patent Act to cancel patent claims which should not have issued in the first place—but were part of a patent that had been asserted in nearly 170 lawsuits against numerous defendants.

, , , , , , , ,

Startup News Digest 08/27/21

, , , , , , , ,
Startup News Digest 08/27/21

The Big Story: Startups should watch as Congress works on reconciliation bill. The House this week moved ahead with two major legislative packages that will have varying impacts on the U.S. startup ecosystem. On Tuesday, the House voted to approve a budget resolution creating a path for Congress to write its $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, which could include immigration, childcare, and tax provisions. It also set a deadline to vote on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill in late September, which includes billions of dollars for broadband expansion.

#StartupsEverywhere: Mount Laurel, N.J.

#StartupsEverywhere: Mount Laurel, N.J.

TeacherCoach is an education technology company that is dedicated to providing accessible personal and professional development tools to educators and parents in school districts across the U.S. Based in Mount Laurel, N.J., Jared Scherz—Founder and CEO—told us about what led him to found TeacherCoach, the challenges he’s faced in building a social enterprise startup, and how he’s navigating the complexities of content moderation given their platform’s unique audience.

To Be a Champion for Startups, Policymakers Need to Listen to Them

To Be a Champion for Startups, Policymakers Need to Listen to Them

Like all small businesses, startups faced tremendous hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the country — and its policymakers — think about building back after the pandemic, startups have a valuable perspective as innovators, adaptors, and significant contributors to future economic and job growth. And every member of Congress represents parts of the startup ecosystem, because startups are everywhere — in every district and state across the country. Congressional Startup Day — taking place this week — gives policymakers the chance to hear from startups they represent directly.

, , , , , , ,

Startup News Digest 08/20/21

, , , , , , ,
Startup News Digest 08/20/21

The Big Story: Congressional Startup Day brings policymakers and innovators together. This week, members of Congress and startups across the country celebrated Congressional Startup Day, the annual bipartisan, bicameral celebration giving startups a chance to connect with the members of Congress who represent them and identify the ways in which policymakers can encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

, , , , , , ,

Startup News Digest 08/13/21

, , , , , , ,
Startup News Digest 08/13/21

The Big Story: Senate passes infrastructure bill, but crypto problems remain. This week, the Senate approved the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which has several provisions aimed at making broadband more accessible and affordable across the country, increasing opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. While those provisions are a big win for the startup ecosystem, the bill also contains a contentious provision that would create compliance burdens and data collection requirements on a large part of the cryptocurrency community.

#StartupsEverywhere: Newark, N.J.

#StartupsEverywhere: Newark, N.J.

Based in Newark, N.J., MoCaFi is a fintech company that provides a platform and tools designed to make financial services more accessible for all communities. MoCaFi—and its Founder & CEO, Wole Coaxum—are particularly focused on developing tools and technology that can help close the racial wealth gap that persists within the U.S. We spoke with Mr. Coaxum about what led him to MoCaFi, the importance of access to modern banking tools, and how public-private partnerships can help reach underresourced communities.

 

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used.


Careers

CONTACT US

700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003
info@engine.is
comms@engine.is