Humans don’t make very good multitaskers, but the same isn’t true for AI
Court hears arguments on net neutrality
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.
Today, Engine issued a paper focused on the policy insights needed—and the legislative actions required—to adequately support the expanse of the startup ecosystem, and to grow the innovation economy. We hope this paper can serve as a resource for policymakers considering a wide range of policy issues that impact early-stage companies across the country.
Actionfigure enables its customers to make decisions that best fit their needs by collecting and curating transportation intelligence data. Co-founder and CEO Matt Caywood spoke with us about his company, his experience working in the sustainability and transportation spaces, and how the federal government could help simplify the income tax process for startups.
The Big Story: Patent policy conversations need startup voices. Policymakers are continuing to evaluate several aspects of the patent system—one of many areas where policymakers need to account for startup voices and experiences to craft policy that promotes their success. This summer, IP subcommittees in both the Senate and the House held hearings about the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)—a venue within the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) that can take a second look at likely-invalid patents and weed out those that should not have issued.
The Big Story: Immigration reform is key for innovation, competitiveness. Pressure is building on lawmakers to address flaws in the country’s immigration system that keep the tech sector—including startups—from having the talent it needs. Following the recent passage of a sweeping competitiveness package, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) and Science Act, members of the tech industry are calling to attention the need for immigration reform to keep the sector competitive.
Talyn’s eVTOL aircraft system is automating middle-mile cargo with aircraft that can take off and land without a runway. It utilizes two separate vehicles to bring aircrafts to a cruising altitude with 100 percent battery, allowing Talyn to fly faster and farther than its competitors, thus expediting the cargo delivery process. Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Gull spoke to us about his company, his experience working with various government entities, and his thoughts on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
The following statement is attributed to Kate Tummarello, Executive Director of Engine, regarding the introduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2022:
Statement:
“The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would open doors to the type of weak, overbroad patents that preempt innovation and harm competition. It would allow a few companies to use the patent system to tie up the fundamental building blocks startups currently rely on to build and grow, exposing startups to more threats of litigation over low-quality patents. As Congress continues to evaluate legislation in this area, we look forward to continuing to work with them toward proposals that can promote startup success.”
The Big Story: New net neutrality bill would benefit startups. Lawmakers are restarting the stalled conversation around net neutrality, the idea that Internet service providers (ISPs) shouldn’t be able to charge websites and online services—including those run by startups—for better, faster access to their users. This week, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act—a bill that would reclassify broadband to give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to regulate ISPs, including on net neutrality.
PILOT’s virtual HR platform is designed to help organizations boost employee engagement, build better workplace relationships, and create a business culture that empowers employees. Founder & CEO Ben Brooks spoke with us about his company, his experience with startup incubators, and how he believes privacy legislation can impact the startup ecosystem.
The Big Story: CHIPS Act takes precedence in USICA developments. The Senate is moving forward with pared-down competitiveness legislation following Tuesday’s procedural vote, which cleared a key procedural hurdle. While the narrower package largely focuses on subsidies for the semiconductor industry, it is also expected to include some of the larger bill’s provisions to increase funding to broadly support U.S. innovation. Senators expect to tee up final passage next week, which would then send the bill to the House for consideration.
BadVR’s immersive analytics platform uses virtual reality and machine learning to make complex datasets easier to understand for everyday users. Founder and CEO Suzanne Borders spoke to us about her company, her experience with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, and how she navigates varying state laws and regulations as a remote employer.
The Big Story: Hope fades for pro-startup provisions in U.S. competitiveness package. After months of negotiations, Congress has hit another roadblock to advancing a compromise version of two bills aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness: the Senate’s United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House’s America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act.
SPACs, or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, are publicly traded vehicles other companies use as an alternative way to go public. These companies, also known as “blank check” companies, are essentially shell companies that do not have commercial operations. They are formed with the sole purpose of raising capital and merging with or acquiring private companies, so that these acquisitions can go public faster and with fewer costs than a traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2) is an environmentally-focused company that employs biological sensing technology to monitor the presence of species in aquatic ecosystems. CEO Ed Rudberg spoke with us about his company, his experience with Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) funding, and policy areas of concern for startups and startup founders such as access to talent and affordable healthcare.
The Big Story: Copyright Office concludes ancillary copyright protections are not warranted. In a recent report, the U.S. Copyright Office explained why it does not recommend expanding or adopting new copyright-like protections for press publishers. The Copyright Office’s study was rooted in concerns about supporting vitally important local news media, but it focused specifically on whether policymakers should extend copyright-like protections (also known as “ancillary copyright”) to sharing hyperlinks and quoting news headlines or snippets of articles. Last week’s report concluded that it is not clear any new copyright-like protections would solve problems facing press publishers, while those sorts of copyright expansions would have “critical policy and Constitutional dimensions.”
Startup Boston is a community-building organization that provides New England-based startups with the programming, content, and initiatives to propel them toward success. Stephanie Roulic, Founder & Lead Organizer of Startup Boston, spoke with us about her organization, COVID-19’s effect on the startup ecosystem, and how policymakers can better support startup founders beyond the pandemic era.
The Big Story: Patent policy discussions resurface in D.C. this week. This was an active week for patent policy conversations in D.C., with the Senate, House, and Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) all weighing in. Procedures for reviewing low-quality patents took center stage, with many focused on the role the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) plays in the startup and small business ecosystems. It is imperative that policymakers who want to understand the full impact of the PTAB—particularly in regards to U.S. startups—ensure startup voices have an equal seat at the table when the topics are discussed.
Availyst is a customizable delivery management platform that allows consumers to find and sort through local grocery, takeout, convenience, and spirit options. Mandy Poston, CEO of Availyst, spoke with us about her company, what policymakers can do to help bolster the success of new businesses, and the difficulties startups face trying to navigate American privacy law.
The Big Story: Possible federal privacy framework on the horizon. After years of discussions and negotiations, lawmakers are taking serious steps towards creating a much-needed federal privacy framework that would create consistency for startups and protections for consumers. Earlier this week, the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce held a hearing discussing the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA)—a draft bipartisan, bicameral bill that is the first meaningful step towards a federal privacy law following years of negotiations. Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) reportedly said this week that the subcommittee will consider and vote on the bill during a markup next week.
Congress is taking steps towards a much-needed federal privacy law that could help protect consumers while creating consistent obligations for startups. This week, the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection and commerce held a hearing discussing the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA). The ADPPA has support from key members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers and would replace a state-by-state patchwork of privacy laws, helping startups by easing compliance costs and lowering barriers. Engine has been a longtime advocate for such a law and commends lawmakers for taking an important step in developing a federal privacy standard.
Legal Karma is a software platform designed to expand the availability of legal services through a contract automation system that supports legal firms. Kory Kelly, Founder & CEO of Legal Karma, spoke with us about his business, the importance of programs that support founders through the process of building a startup, and the burdens that the differences in state tax and employment laws can place on startups hiring remote workers.
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