For Margot Lee Schmorak, Hostfully and VC Backed Moms are the results of her years navigating the tech industry as a woman, mother, and mission-driven professional. While Hostfully promises a better property management experience, VC Backed Moms is the ultimate online community for founders in all stages of motherhood. We spoke with her about rental property management, increased STEM education, and the ways in which policymakers can support motherhood in entrepreneurship.
42 startups and support organizations sign letter supporting strong digital trade policy
A coalition of 42 U.S. startups, investors, and startup support organizations across 18 states sent a letter urging U.S. trade policymakers to support the growth and competitiveness of the startup ecosystem through smart digital trade policy. The letter calls on policymakers to support policies enabling cross-border data flows, making permanent the moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions, and providing resources to help startups compete abroad.
Engine releases Startup Policy Playbook for 2024
Engine released the 2024 Startup Policy Playbook, to help give members of the startup ecosystem—startup founders and employees, investors, and support organizations—an overview of the policy conversations happening this year and how they can get involved in amplifying the startup voice.
Engine releases 2024 Startup Agenda
Engine released the 2024 Startup Policy Agenda, highlighting for policymakers the issues impacting the startup ecosystem, including the startup companies, investors, and support organizations across the country. The Agenda features startup founders discussing in their own words the obstacles they’ve faced as they launch new and innovative businesses and the ways policies have helped and hurt them.
Startup News Digest 2/02/24
#StartupsEverywhere: San Juan, P.R.
PilotoMail is ushering in a new age for mailroom automation and virtual mailboxes. While she is focused on growing her business and navigating the US Postal System, Founder and CEO Sofia Stolberg is also on a deeply personal mission to strengthen the Puerto Rican ecosystem. We heard from her about challenges and successes in the Puerto Rican startup ecosystem, regulatory changes that impact her company, and her goals for the future.
Startup News Digest 1/26/24
#StartupsEverywhere: Bronx, N.Y.
MetaBronx is the leading startup accelerator in NYC for underrepresented founders – including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ who are inventing technology-based solutions to large-scale problems. It places youth from underrepresented communities in an innovation environment where they learn all the skills to succeed in the 21st century. We spoke with co-founder Alejandra Molina about the current challenges underrepresented founders face in raising capital, the important role of accelerators and incubators in the startup ecosystem, and how the US can create a welcoming environment for immigrant entrepreneurs.
Startup News Digest 1/19/24
#StartupsEverywhere: New York, N.Y.
Cobble provides an answer to an age-old question posed by many couples and friend groups who desire quality time together, but are overwhelmed with the sheer number of activities out there. We sat down with Founder and CEO Jordan Scott to talk about the inspiration behind the platform and the roles AI and data security play in how Cobble operates.
Startup News Digest 1/12/24
Startup News Digest 1/05/24
#StartupsEverywhere: Omaha, Neb.
Retail Aware helps brands, retailers, and their partners measure in-store product displays and shopper behavior data in real time. We talked to Founder and CEO Keith Fix about building a startup in the Midwest outside of a traditional tech hub, data privacy concerns, and the complex difficulties of immigration and visa issues for both startups and their employees.
Startup News Digest 12/15/23
#StartupsEverywhere: Chicago, Ill.
HAAS Alert connects first responders, towing and recovery fleets, and roadway workers with vehicles and motorists through real-time digital alerts on its Safety Cloud® platform to prevent collisions and enhance road safety for everyone. We talked to Founder and CEO Cory Hohs about interconnected transportation, the technology that fuels it, and the future of roadway safety.
Engine submitted an amicus brief to SCOTUS in Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton
Startup News Digest 12/08/23
#StartupsEverywhere: Arlington, Va.
Arcascope translates the power of circadian rhythms into actionable products that help prevent shift work burnout. We spoke with its CEO Olivia Walch about the impact of digital trade policies that enable cross-border data flows on her business, the current state of data privacy in the U.S., and her experience navigating recent changes in tax laws for startups.
Startup News Digest 12/01/23
#StartupsEverywhere: Santa Fe, N.M.
Skoden Ventures is a VC firm that backs startups led by Indigenous, Black, brown, and women founders, aiming to foster a more equitable and creative economy. In our conversation with founding partner Kelly Holmes, we explored the challenges she encountered while building her company and her aspirations to ease the path for the next generation of underrepresented founders.