Startup News Digest 03/22/24

Startup News Digest 03/22/24

Bipartisan tax legislation needed by startups remains in Senate limbo


#StartupsEverywhere: Portland, Ore.

#StartupsEverywhere: Portland, Ore.

Based on past experiences in the workplace, Greg Gasperin created Merify to enable talent managers to equitably identify and reward top performers for valuable work. The platform also serves as a tool for employees to quantify and track their performance data. We spoke with him about the need for trust and accuracy in the workplace, Merify’s extensive use of independent contractors, and a much needed social safety net for startup founders. 

Startup News Digest 03/15/24

Startup News Digest 03/15/24

Rule takes effect restricting startups’ ability to hire contract labor


#StartupsEverywhere: Pittsburgh, Pa.

#StartupsEverywhere: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ellie Gordon is a serial entrepreneur whose passion for improving people’s lives through technology led her to Behaivior. Leveraging AI-based technologies, Behaivior seeks to save lives through the use of wearable technology for crisis aversion. We had the opportunity to have Ellie walk us through her story, aspirations for Behaivior, and the policy landscape she faces.

Startup News Digest 03/08/24

Startup News Digest 03/08/24

House passes package expanding capital access for startups


#StartupsEverywhere: Frederiksted, V.I.

#StartupsEverywhere: Frederiksted, V.I.

Tarik McMillan and Tamara Mohammed founded Greater Changes with the goal of making mental health services accessible for people, no matter their background. We spoke with them about the sometimes challenging process of developing a telehealth platform, ‘Change’, their experiences fighting stigma and operating out of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and their goals for 2024.

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

#StartupsEverywhere: San Francisco, Calif.

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

 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 2024 Startup Agenda

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

Startup News Digest 2/02/24

Startup policy priorities for 2024 and how to get involved


#StartupsEverywhere: San Juan, P.R.

#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.