Engine released the 2025 Startup Policy Agenda showcasing how smart, thoughtful policy facilitates and encourages startup activity, leading to more innovation and more economic and job growth. The Agenda gives those working on policy an overview of the issues that are currently impacting—and the debates that stand to impact—startups.
There are startups in every state and congressional district across the country working with limited time and resources. Policy changes regarding everything from access to capital, to immigration, to trade (and everything in between) can radically shift the way startups make decisions about what products and services to offer, when and where to launch, and how they plan to grow. Their perspective should be—and is—incredibly important as policymakers consider technology, Internet, and entrepreneurship policy.
Take, for instance, the efforts currently underway to revise the tax code. Changes in tax policy can help encourage people to invest in and work at early stage companies, as well as help offset the expensive but important research and development work that leads to breakthrough innovation. Congress, agencies, and the courts will touch on many other issues that impact startups over the next year. Through capital formation and workforce policy, policymakers help determine who can invest in and join the startup ecosystem. Telecommunications and trade policy determine how easily startups can reach their users across the country and around the globe. Meanwhile, balanced intellectual property and intermediary liability frameworks help startups avoid ruinous and bad faith litigation. Uniform, bright line rules around things like data privacy and AI help startups know how to build their products.
Engine’s Startup Policy Agenda covers the main policy areas impacting the startup ecosystem—artificial intelligence, capital access, connectivity, platform issues, patents, privacy, talent, tax, trade, and how to advance equity in the ecosystem. If you’re interested in learning more about how policy can support innovation and entrepreneurship, please contact policy@engine.is.
Read the agenda here.
