Startup News Digest 09/27/24

Startup News Digest 09/27/24

New Senate bill would improve startups’ access to capital

#StartupsEverywhere: Johnson City, Tenn.

#StartupsEverywhere: Johnson City, Tenn.

ZenHammer's journey from a contractor-homeowner matchmaking platform to a cutting-edge construction data tracking tool is a story of resilience and innovation. Initially, on the brink of closure, the team pivoted in response to contractors' feedback and has since worked tirelessly to refine their product. We sat down with the founder, Edwin Williams, to discuss their challenges in raising capital and finding talent, as well as their strategic plans for ZenHammer’s upcoming launch, national expansion, and industry impact.

Startup News Digest 09/20/24

Startup News Digest 09/20/24

Startups weigh in on digital trade

Engine, INCOMPAS File Joint Amici Curiae Brief on the FCC’s 2024 Safeguarding the Open Internet Order

Engine, INCOMPAS File Joint Amici Curiae Brief on the FCC’s 2024 Safeguarding the Open Internet Order

Washington – As the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law plans a hearing Wednesday on the law that enables online services to host user-generated content, diverse organizations from academics to industry to public interest groups sent a letter to Subcommittee leaders. The letter acknowledges that Section 230 is the legal framework that enables anyone to create spaces online where user communities can gather and share content, to the benefit of Internet users and online expression. 

Startup News Digest 09/13/24

Startup News Digest 09/13/24

House advances AI legislation to authorize startup resources, boost AI workforce 

#StartupsEverywhere: New York, N.Y.

#StartupsEverywhere: New York, N.Y.

Constanza Gomez initially saw her interest in textile waste as just a hobby. However, that changed when she co-founded Sortile, a technology platform designed to identify textile types in order to facilitate recycling. We spoke with her about her passion for textile waste recycling, the difficulty securing public grant money, the role of AI, and the company’s future

Startup News Digest 09/06/24

Startup News Digest 09/06/24

Presidential race turns to tax policy

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

With a background in chemical engineering and economics, and a career spanning strategy consulting and tech product management, Maverick’s co-founder embarked on a new journey in 2019. After years in San Francisco’s tech scene, he and his co-founder launched Maverick, an AI-driven platform that creates personalized video content for e-commerce brands. In this blog post, we delve into how Maverick operates, its place in the AI ecosystem, and the impact of current policies and startup issues on its future.

The push for a new federal law regulating digital replicas and what it means for startups

The push for a new federal law regulating digital replicas and what it means for startups

The recent legislative and agency efforts directed at regulating digital replicas of individuals’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) have the potential to harm startups’ access to the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and chill innovation.

#StartupsEverywhere: St. Louis, Mo.

#StartupsEverywhere: St. Louis, Mo.

Hire Henry is leading the charge in revolutionizing industrial operations with cutting-edge autonomous software and robotics. The company’s flagship product, a robotic lawn mower designed for industrial application including airports, city parks, and military bases, seeks to transform the relationship between industry and robotics. We heard from co-founder and CEO George Holmes, PhD about the role of AI and automation in new technology, the importance of government funding programs for startups, and the future of Hire Henry.

Startup News Digest 08/09/24

Startup News Digest 08/09/24

Controversial California legislation threatens AI innovation

#StartupsEverywhere: Brooklyn, N.Y.

#StartupsEverywhere: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Terrament's journey began with a commitment to enhancing sustainable energy solutions and a desire to overcome the limitations of traditional energy storage methods. By leveraging shaft-digging technology from the mining industry, Terrament developed an innovative approach to replicate the energy storage capabilities of pumped hydro without needing mountains or water. We chatted with Founder Eric Chaves about how policymakers can support startups in the energy and climate space, the importance of government grant programs, and his vision for the future. 

Engine releases additional resources on startups and age verification

Engine releases additional resources on startups and age verification

To help policymakers better understand what these issues mean for startups and their users, we’re releasing an updated version of the report, one-pager, and video explainers of the impacts of age verification and the policy proposals that prompt it.