Broadband program hits new roadblocks
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.
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.
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.
Airpals is a New York City, N.Y.-based platform working to close gaps in the local delivery logistics market. They have built their technology with “a triple bottom line approach”—focusing on people, the planet, and profit—in mind. We spoke to the Founder, CEO, & Creative Director Joshe Ordonez about the goals she has for Airpals, how she navigates building her workforce as a growing startup, and the ways in which policymakers can support the interconnected tech ecosystem.
The Big Story: SBIR reauthorization on the horizon, heads to the House. After months of negotiations, a key grant program for startups is expected to be reauthorized just in time for its scheduled expiration at the end of the month. The House is expected to vote next week to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, following a vote in the Senate to reauthorize the program for three years this past Tuesday. The program serves as a critical funding source for many startups engaged in research and development (R&D).
Ecobot is a mobile and cloud platform optimizing fieldwork by speeding along regulatory approval and lowering costs. We had a conversation with Co-Founder and CEO Lee Lance about Ecobot’s impact on environmental permitting fieldwork, his experience raising capital as an Asheville-based founder, and how the potential expansion of broadband impacts Ecobot’s work.
Last month, Senator Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced a bill to change the rules that govern what can be patented. Briefly, current patent eligibility law prevents companies from trying to own basic ideas and from trying to preclude others from building new businesses or innovations that rely on those underlying ideas.
The Big Story: Startups are collateral as policymakers talk past each other on tech policy. Over the last week we’ve seen several tech policy conversations where contradictory, party-line talking points are on full display that—if taken seriously as policy ideas on everything from privacy, to national security, to content moderation, and more—would make life much harder for thousands of startups across the country. Lawmakers’ competing and mutually exclusive visions for the Internet doesn’t stop them from threatening policy changes that would alter the way tech companies, including startups, have to operate, however, as we highlight in a new blog post.
Grapefruit Health is a B2B tech-enabled platform helping to solve one of the biggest problems in health care: the workforce shortage. We spoke with Founder and CEO Eric Alvarez about his background in health care, the importance of startup support organizations when it comes to generating early funding, and the company's own fundraising journey.
The Big Story: SBIR reauthorization remains at a standstill. Startups await the fate of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as lawmakers continue to deliberate its reauthorization ahead of its fast-approaching September 30 expiration. With fierce support from advocates and innovators—who recognize the positive impact the program has on the innovation ecosystem—alike, this critical funding stream for R&D and commercialization risks drying up without congressional action.
Eskuad is a field data platform designed to work offline, allowing fieldworkers to easily manage their data without the hassle of trying to find and connect to a signal. Founder and CEO Max Echeverria spoke with us about his experience working with accelerators and raising capital and how policymakers can better fill talent gaps.
The Big Story: Biden administration unveils student loan relief plan. After months of deliberation, President Joe Biden announced a three-part plan aimed at easing student loan debt, a move that could lower barriers for entrepreneurship in the U.S. The announcement—fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise—will cancel up to $10,000 in federal student debt for many borrowers and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients for those that earn less than $125,000 per year or $250,000 for households. It also includes steps to cap monthly payments, improve the forgiveness programs for borrowers who work in public service, and increase accountability around skyrocketing college costs.
Edison Marks makes small-and medium-sized enterprise owners more aware of the cybersecurity threats facing their businesses by creating personalized reports and simplifying the issue. Co-Founder and CEO Jeremiah Smith spoke to us about his company, his experience with the Small Business Association (SBA) and the Small Business Technology Council (SBTC), and what he thinks policymakers should consider when thinking about cybersecurity.
Startup Advocacy Week and Congressional Startup Day underscore the importance of pro-innovation policy. Startups are key drivers of innovation, they spur job growth, and invigorate the U.S. economy. We at Engine are lucky to work with a vast network of startups across the country who know, first-hand, how essential pro-innovation policies are to their success—and those policies can only become a reality when policymakers invite startup founders to the table to listen to their experiences and hear about their needs. Those very conversations took place during this Startup Advocacy Week and Congressional Startup Day.
The following statement is attributed to Kate Tummarello, Executive Director of Engine, on Congressional Startup Day, a central part of Startup Advocacy Week:
Statement:
“Engine is grateful to Congressional Startup Day Co-Chairs Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Reps. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), as well as all of the members of Congress taking time this week to meet with their startup constituents. We are proud to help organize Congressional Startup Day each year as an opportunity for tech entrepreneurs across the country to connect with their representatives and discuss how policymakers can support startups. The startup ecosystem is a vital part of the economy, and startups must have a seat at the table to ensure the best policies for encouraging innovation across the U.S.”
Background:
Congressional Startup Day, part of Startup Advocacy Week, is an opportunity for members of Congress to witness the innovation and entrepreneurship taking place in their states and districts. Throughout the week of August 15th, Engine helps lawmakers meet with members of the startup ecosystem from their state or district. In addition to the dozens of meetings taking place this year, we have facilitated over 400 meetings between startups and members of Congress as part of Congressional startup day since 2018. And this year, Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Rep. Tom Emmer (Minn.), and Rep. Veronica Escobar (Texas) are serving as co-chairs of Congressional Startup Day.
Follow the hashtags #CongressionalStartupDay and #StartupDay for updates from participating startups and government officials throughout the week.
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.
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