Startup Policy Digest: 1/29/2016

Our weekly take on some of the biggest stories in startup and tech policy. 

Safe Harbor Negotiations Continue, Judicial Redress Clears Hurdle. It has been more than three months since the U.S.-EU safe harbor agreement was invalidated. But time is running out for negotiators to reach an agreement by the January 31st deadline, and top negotiators are still clashing over both substance and turf. Some good news came on Thursday when the Judicial Redress Act passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, bringing it one step closer to becoming law. While not essential to advancing an updated safe harbor agreement, many EU negotiators see passage of the bill as a show of good faith by U.S. lawmakers. Still, it does not guarantee an agreement, and until a compromise is reached, startups with operations in the EU will be scrambling to prepare for a world without safe harbor.

Stanford Report: Binge On Violates Net Neutrality. A report from Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society contends T-Mobile’s Binge On data program is in violation of the FCC’s Open Internet Order. “Binge On is harming competition, innovation, user choice, and free speech on the Internet. As such, the program is likely to violate the FCC's general conduct rule and transparency rule,” writes the study’s author in a blog post. The report has been filed with the FCC, offering the agency an opportunity to more closely evaluate the program and decide whether to take action. The FCC’s Open Internet rules don’t explicitly outlaw “zero rating” programs, but the agency reviews them on a case-by-case basis whether the service harms consumers or businesses.

Student Debt a Major Barrier to Entrepreneurship. For young, aspiring entrepreneurs, paying off student loans is one of the greatest barriers to entrepreneurship, explains a new report detailing findings from a national poll of millennials—that's 18 to 34-year-olds. Nearly half those surveyed said student loans impeded their ability to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions, perhaps one reason why rates of business ownership among this age group have declined in the last couple of decades. The report is timely, as presidential hopefuls have begun to go on record with plans to tackle student debt crisis. This report further clarifies that reducing the now $1.3 trillion in outstanding student loans should be a priority for all policymakers. The future of American entrepreneurship depends on it.

Measuring the Gig Economy. Just how big is the gig economy? A survey last month revealed an estimated 45 million adults have offered services through an on-demand platform and now the government hopes to get a better handle on those figures. In a blog post this week, Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announced the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau will be surveying "contingent worker" arrangements as part of May 2017's current population survey. Perez writes it'll offer the government "reliable, credible insight into what’s going on" in this new economy, ultimately helping policymakers better prepare for regulating labor agreements in a changing workforce.

FAA Registers 300K Drone Users. Last week, the the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that in just 30 days, more than 300,000 people have used the agency’s online drone registration system. It is important to note that this does not mean 300,000 drones have been registered. As TechCrunch reports, “Because you essentially register yourself as a drone pilot, which allows you to affix your registration number to as many drones as you want to, the actual number of drones/quadcopters (and model aircraft and helicopters), is likely a bit higher.” Plus, there are still probably quite a few unregistered drones flying around. These numbers are seen as encouraging by the FAA, which was hit with a lawsuit challenging the registration requirement earlier this month.

Regulatory Troubles at Theranos. The Silicon Valley blood-testing startup, Theranos, valued at over $9 billion in 2014, is facing new scrutiny, this time from federal regulators. A recent inspection of a Theranos facility by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uncovered several major violations of federal law governing clinical labs. If the issues aren’t corrected within ten days, the lab could lose its certification. A series of recent journalistic investigations have revealed the company may not be as close to revolutionizing the blood-testing industry as its initial investors and supporters once thought.

2015 in Tech and Startup Policy

In 2015, Engine celebrated several political victories for the tech community, traveled across the country to emerging startup ecosystems, and published new research on the challenging issues facing startups and policymakers alike.

We’re especially grateful for all the support of our community of entrepreneurs, VCs, and technology experts. They helped us win net neutrality, signed our letters to Congress, joined us on Capitol Hill, and shared their stories to demonstrate why entrepreneurs and the startups they build are such a valuable part of our economy and our nation.

Watch this space to read about all the issues we tackled this year.

Engine Highlights in 2015: Major Wins and Moments for Technology Startups and Entrepreneurs

Net Neutrality: The FCC announced its historic net neutrality decision to keep the Internet open and fair. Engine has since defended attempts to undermine net neutrality in the courts.

Capital Access: The SEC finalized investment crowdfunding and Reg A+. Engine published a paper on improving investment crowdfunding policy for startups and investors.

Patent Reform: Over 140 venture capitalists and 200 startups signed letters in support of patent reform. We brought several groups of startups to the Hill and released a book of troll stories. And this summer, the PATENT Act and the Innovation Act were passed out of Judiciary Committees in both the Senate and House.

Diversity in Tech: Engine launched Congress’ first and only caucus uniquely dedicated to expanding diversity in the tech industry. We also launched efforts to support #VetsWhoTech with a briefing on Capitol Hill, support for the VET Act, and released a series of stories about veterans in the tech sector.

Telecom: We worked with a coalition to successfully stop Comcast’s attempted merger with Time Warner.

Digital Privacy: The state of California passed one of the strongest electronic communication privacy laws in the nation.

Startup Cities: Engine visited emerging startup ecosystems around the country, stopping with the #RiseofRest tour in Richmond, Raleigh-Durham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philly, Buffalo, and Manchester.

2016 Race: Engine hosted the first ever Iowa Presidential Tech Town Hall.

We hope you’ll join us in 2016 as we continue to fight for greater capital access, improved educational opportunities for tech workers and aspiring entrepreneurs, patent reform, and strong net neutrality protections.

Catch you next year!

2016 Candidates: What About Tech?

Since the 2016 presidential contenders declared their candidacies and more recently, garnered increasing attention from national media and the electorate, we’ve been listening closely to what they have to say about technology. From where we stand, there’s a lot at stake: the Labor Department expects over 1.3 million job openings in the industry by 2020, cybersecurity and privacy challenges continue to make headlines, and technology itself is only becoming more ubiquitous. That’s not to mention that many of the startups navigating these challenges are an invaluable part of the national economy: new firms are responsible for all net new job growth in the United States. Yet, aside from some vague musings about the gig economy, general statements about immigration reform, and outlandish ideas about the Internet, we haven’t heard much, at least much of substance.

As Engine’s Executive Director, Julie Samuels, explained in TechCrunch, candidates have thus far evaded questions on many of the issues that matter most to technology entrepreneurs and industry leaders, because “many of these tough issues split our traditional notions of the two-party system.” They also don’t have easy solutions.

In an effort to highlight some of these issues, Engine teamed up with the Technology Association of Iowa to host a forum on December 7 in Cedar Rapids. Iowa is not only the first state to hold primary elections, making it a popular destination for campaigns this time of the year, but it’s also home to a vibrant and growing technology and startup community. The tech industry is one of the fastest growing job sectors in the state and accounts for 8.8% of Iowa’s GDP.

The program started off with a panel discussion among Julie Samuels and local tech entrepreneurs to address why policy matters to this community in Iowa and all over the country. Eric Engelmann, founder of the Iowa Startup Accelerator, spoke about the importance of capital access to entrepreneurs building companies outside Silicon Valley. Helen Adeosun, CEO and co-founder of Care Academy, discussed the great need for industry diversity, and Bruce Lehrman, CEO of a Cedar Rapids-based data center company, noted the urgent challenge of finding technically trained workers.

We were later joined by 2016 candidates Gov. Martin O’Malley and Carly Fiorina who shared their own views on the talent shortage and access to capital, among other issues. As the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported, the candidates agreed that education is “vital to innovation” but, not surprisingly, disagreed on the federal government's role. O’Malley’s address focused on his track record as governor of Maryland; under his administration the state was rated number one for innovation and entrepreneurship by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and expanded STEM education offerings in Maryland schools. When pushed on his specific policy prescriptions for supporting innovation and the country’s entrepreneurs, however, his answers were less direct.

Fiorina took a different approach in her address, strongly condemning the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernadino before turning to the role of technology “as a tool and a weapon” in national security and cybersecurity efforts. “Having led the world’s largest technology company, I know what it will take for America to lead in this realm,” she added. When Engelmann asked about whether she’d repeal the Affordable Care Act, which he said allowed entrepreneurs to start their own ventures, she affirmed she would, arguing the free market could better provide healthcare solutions. And in response to how she’d support more women entrepreneurs, Fiorina underscored the layers of the bureaucracy that slow down all new business owners.

This week’s forum offered us a glimpse on where at least two candidates stand on a handful of these important issues. As we look to 2016, we hope to hear a lot more.

Tech Meets Politics in Cedar Rapids

This afternoon, Engine, in partnership with the Technology Association of Iowa, is hosting the first ever Presidential Tech Town Hall. We’ve invited presidential candidates to address over 200 entrepreneurs, technology leaders, and caucus-goers in Cedar Rapids. Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and Gov. Martin O’Malley will join us to share their platforms for supporting technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

Iowa is not only the first state to hold primary elections on February 1, but it’s also home to a vibrant technology and startup community. Major industry leaders including Google, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft all have offices in Iowa. Norand Corp, now part of Intermec in Cedar Rapids, developed the core technology for Wi-Fi. Entrepreneurs in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids are also building new startups every day.

What will the presidential contenders have to say to these tech-savvy and entrepreneurial-minded caucus-goers? You can join the conversation on Twitter at #IowaTech2016 and follow along by watching the livestream starting at 4pm CT at www.TheGazette.com.

Startup News Digest: 11/20/2015

Our weekly take on some of the biggest stories in startup and tech policy. 

Encryption Debates Resurface. Last week’s terrorists attacks in Paris reignited debates over encryption. Officials suspect the attackers may have used encrypted messaging systems to coordinate the plots, (though nothing has been confirmed.) Policymakers are again considering whether the law should require tech companies create “backdoors” for law enforcement, making it easier for officials to track and disrupt threats. Many in the tech community, including Apple, have publicly opposed such backdoors for government, arguing these restricted access points could make their systems more vulnerable.  

$100 Million in Grants for Tech Training. This week, White House representatives were in Baltimore to announce the expansion of its TechHire initiative with the launch of a $100 million grant competition. TechHire, which launched in March, involves education and employer partnerships in dozens of regions across the U.S., all dedicated to training, recruiting, and placing more Americans in tech jobs. Awards from this new grant will go to programs across the country that serve Americans who face barriers to entering the tech sector, whether those are educational, geographical or income-based.

Startup Equity in Highway Bill. A little known piece of startup-friendly legislation has made its way onto the highway bill, the massive federal transportation bill that lawmakers in the House and Senate are scrambling to finalize. This unrelated legislation is the RAISE Act, which would more easily allow startup employees to sell company equity to accredited investors. In October, the House passed the bill unanimously, but it hasn’t yet made its way to the Senate floor. We won’t know until December whether these new rules will remain in the highway bill - federal funding for roads has been extended to December 4 while Congress hashes out the details of the new bill.

Chicago Limits Drones. Chicago’s city council passed a bill banning certain uses of drones. The first bill of its kind, the rules will potentially hinder hobbyist use. Chicago’s ordinance, in line with FAA regulations, prohibits drones from flying above 400 feet, flying within five miles of and flying over schools, churches, hospitals, police stations, and any private property without consent. Chicago has experienced some uncomfortably close encounters with drones: one crashed Midway airport’s runway and another flew frightening close to crowds gathered at Lollapalooza.

Patent Reform will Encourage Innovation. Executive Director Julie Samuels was featured in a series of perspectives on patent reform in the Washington Post. Her perspective: if Congress does not pass patent reform legislation, patents will inhibit the innovation they set out to incentivize. Innovative inventors and young companies are being threatened by “patent trolls” that are wielding bad patents, frivolous infringement allegations, and exploiting loopholes in an expensive patent litigation system. Unfortunately, legislation that would help relieve startups and stop trolls is stalled in Congress - largely because of incumbent interests, e.g. the pharmaceutical industry (PhRMA). The bottom line: the one-size-fits-all patent system that has long worked for PhRMA is not working for software.

ICYMI: November is National Entrepreneurship Month. In other news from the White House, President Obama has issued an official presidential proclamation designating the month of November as National Entrepreneurship Month. “Since our Nation's founding, our progress has been fueled by an inherent sense of purpose and ingenuity in our people. Americans have more opportunities now than ever before to carry forward this legacy - to create something, to raise capital in creative ways, and to pursue aspirations,” states the proclamation. While we’re always celebrating the work of entrepreneurs, it’s great to see policymakers and organizations across the country rally behind them this month.

White House Expands Efforts to Get More Americans Working in Tech

Today, there are around 5.5 million unfilled jobs in the United States. According to the White House, over half of these openings are in technology fields including software development, network administration, and cybersecurity. These are just the current numbers. By 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates computer-related occupations will yield more than 1.3 million job openings - openings at major technology companies and yet-to-be-founded startups. Meanwhile, millions of Americans, notably young Americans, are out of work or under-employed. This significant gap inspired the White House’s TechHire initiative, which launched last March. The effort involves education and employer partnerships in dozens of regions across the U.S., all dedicated to training, recruiting, and placing more Americans in tech jobs.

This week, the administration announced it’s expanding the program with a $100 million grant competition for programs focused on supporting more Americans in accessing these high-demand, well-paying jobs with $50 million set aside for 17 to 29-year-olds. The Department of Labor has released the application for these grants and says awards will be made next year. It’s specifically looking for innovative programs that serve Americans who face barriers to entering the tech sector, whether those are educational, geographical or income-based.

The need for these programs is real. As we’ve highlighted and discussed at length, today’s tech sector is far too homogeneous in both its makeup of both employees as well as founders. This is bad for the industry: We know more diverse teams perform better. It’s bad for users: Technology’s tools are used by everyone, so should be developed by a greater diversity of thinkers with different experiences and backgrounds. And as the numbers show, it’s bad for our economy: We simply need more Americans filling these jobs.

Coding bootcamps are among the innovative educational programs this new grant could support. Bootcamps teach students job-ready web development languages at an accelerated pace, usually within a few months. Curriculums are often designed for and highly adaptable to market demand, allowing some bootcamps to boast job placement rates of over 90 percent. Yet, a majority of the students enrolling in coding bootcamps pay out of pocket - many programs are mpt accredited and therefore, ineligible for federal student aid. These students are also predominantly white men with bachelor’s degrees. Grant funding could expand access to these programs for more potential tech workers.

Representatives from the White House discussed the new grant at an event in Baltimore earlier this week, one of the 35 cities, states, and rural areas that have established TechHire-supported programs. Our trip to Baltimore last month showcased the city’s commitment to bringing more residents into its emerging tech workforce. National companies like Under Armour, and newer startups like ZeroFox, are leading the city’s startup ecosystem there. With concerted efforts to train more local talent, these companies could soon have new hiring pools to tap into. As one Baltimore investor told the audience, tech talent is more important to growing local companies than capital.

Expanding Opportunities for Foreign STEM Grads

Today, over one million students from foreign countries are pursuing their educations in the United States. And according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), about 38 percent of these students are studying in STEM fields, earning degrees in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the American economy. Despite the demand for STEM-educated workers, many of these students have limited options if they want to remain in the United States after graduation. One of these options, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, extends the F-1 student visa for a short period to offer graduates a runway to gain additional on-the-job skills, and hopefully, secure a longer-term visa sponsored by an employer. Last month, DHS announced it was reviewing this program and proposed to extend this 12 month runway by 24 months, specifically for STEM graduates.

Engine supports the proposed OPT extension for STEM-educated graduates. It may seem like a nominal change, but this extra time could radically change the career prospects for many of the world’s most talented young workers. For careers in information technology and software engineering, this kind of on-the-job, applied training is an important aspect of a post-graduate education. Further, by granting F-1 visa holders slightly more time in the U.S., these graduates may also have a better shot at finding an employer willing to sponsor a visa for more permanent work authorization.

Foreign students compete fiercely for admission into American universities, where they’re exposed to some of the world’s best technical and entrepreneurial training. Yet more often than not, it’s illegal for them to remain in the U.S. and dedicate their talents to American companies or even launch their own new ventures here. It makes no sense for the U.S. to continue training the world’s brightest and best, only to send them back home or to other countries with more welcoming immigration policies. While there remains a desperate need for large scale reform to allow foreign students to remain in the U.S. full time to contribute their much needed abilities to growing the U.S. tech economy, the OPT extension is an important step towards helping the U.S. retain talented individuals.

Share your support for the proposal with DHS on or before November 18, 2015 by submitting comments here.

Startup News Digest: 11/6/2015

Our weekly take on some of the biggest stories in startup and tech policy.

More Eyes on EU Data Laws. Congress examined international data issues at two separate hearings this week, covering everything from cross-border data flows to U.S. surveillance reform. But the main focus was the recent EU safe harbor decision. Negotiators have until the end of January 2016 to find a replacement for safe harbor. However, businesses of all sizes are already beginning to weigh whether they should simply move their data to European servers over concerns that alternative compliance mechanisms may not be valid. We’ve noted on our blog (and others agree), forced data localization would be incredibly costly - especially for smaller companies - and would have a chilling effect on internet innovation. We’re tracking.

Pros and Cons in SEC’s Crowdfunding Rules. The release of the SEC’s long-awaited investment crowdfunding rules is a huge victory in itself: it facilitates an entirely new form of fundraising for cash-strapped startups. But, are the rules themselves any good? We’ve written previously about changes we wanted to see to the proposed crowdfunding framework, and the SEC’s rules incorporate a few of the items on our wishlist. Specifically, funding portals are now allowed to subjectively decide whether or not to list certain companies on their platforms and may take an equity stake in issuers, too. But, while the new rules ease some of the high disclosure burdens of the proposed framework, they do not go far enough to make investment crowdfunding affordable for small companies. A more detailed look here.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Not Happening. Earlier this week, newly elected Speaker of the House Paul Ryan confirmed a suspicion most immigration reform advocates have sensed for years now: that the House will once again refuse to consider comprehensive immigration reform legislation. “I do not believe we should advance comprehensive immigration legislation with a president who’s proven himself untrustworthy on this issue,” Speaker Ryan announced emphatically on “Meet the Press” and repeated in an op-ed Tuesday. But while we won’t expect to see immigration reform on the legislative agenda, we at least expect to hear about it in the 2016 election cycle.

Anti-Airbnb Measures Fails in SF. On Tuesday, San Francisco voters struck down a measure that aimed to curb Airbnb rentals (and those offered by other homesharing services) in their city, where the convoluted conflict between tech and housing is alive and well. Winning the the vote 55-45, Airbnb far outspent its opposition with an $8 million television, billboard, and canvassing campaign against the measure. Among the lessons learned from its victory? Airbnb representatives have said its user base of hosts and guests is willing and ready to mobilize on the company’s behalf, a movement we could see in more cities as Airbnb and other companies come up against new regulatory challenges.

Internet for Everyone in Arkansas. The Arkansas legislature has promised it will have a plan to deliver high speed broadband access to every home, business, and institution in the state by October 2016.  The “call to action” was inspired by similar broadband expansion efforts in nearby states like Kentucky and Tennessee. Arkansas’ House speaker noted that broadband “has become the 4th rail of economic development. It is just as important as your transportation infrastructure, your educational and workforce infrastructure, your tax structure.” We couldn’t agree more and are pleased to see states acting to ensure all of their citizens have access this essential resource.

Former Twitter Engineer: Diversity is Difficult. An essay by a former lead engineer at Twitter is gaining momentum and attention, highlighting the challenges the tech industry continues to confront in making its workforce more inclusive. Leslie Miley recounts his efforts to increase employee diversity at the company, describing frustrating conversations with senior engineers who referred to diversity efforts as “lowering the bar.” The tipping point for Miley was when he pitched his proposal for hiring a ”Diversity Engineering Manager” and was met with suggestions from higher-ups that underscored “the unconscious tendency to ignore the complex forces of history, colonization, slavery and identity.” It was the culmination of these conversations and the refusal by leadership to acknowledge their own “blind spots” that drove Miley to leave.

Podcasting Tech Policy on a16z. Engine Executive Director, Julie Samuels, spoke with Techdirt’s Mike Masnick and the host of the Andreessen Horowitz podcast earlier this week. Together, they covered a “whirlwind tour of current policy issues in tech  -  from patents and IP in China to cybersecurity, privacy, and Safe Harbor in Europe…And the gig economy, talent, and immigration.” That’s a lot of tech policy, and all in under 60 minutes. Listen here!

#VetsWhoTech. In anticipation of veterans day, Engine is highlighting the success stories of veterans who’ve made strides as developers and founders in the tech industry. These stories showcase the great potential of this community to become leaders in the industry, as well as the ways in which government support for their efforts is falling short. Follow the series on Medium.

Cities Support Immigrants as Congress Refuses to Act

Earlier this week, newly elected Speaker of the House Paul Ryan confirmed a suspicion most immigration reform advocates have sensed for years now: that the House will once again refuse to consider comprehensive immigration reform legislation. “I do not believe we should advance comprehensive immigration legislation with a president who’s proven himself untrustworthy on this issue,” Speaker Ryan announced emphatically on “Meet the Press.”

The pronouncement was disappointing, but not surprising. Comprehensive immigration reform—which includes considering amnesty for the country’s 11.5 million undocumented immigrants, funding border security measures, as well as updating the nation’s high-skilled visa system to reflect changing economic demands—has long been a contentious political issue. Yet while comprehensive reform remains a pipedream until at least 2017, immigration reform advocates can look beyond Congress for incremental signs of progress.

The Partnership for a New American Economy, for instance, is highlighting the work being done in cities across the United States to welcome and support immigrants for their noteworthy contributions to these metropolitan areas. Two recent reports highlight immigrants’ impact on the local economies in Cincinnati and Denver. In addition to contributing billions of dollars in spending power, the immigrant community is particularly important to these cities’ tech industries. In Cincinnati, foreign-born workers represent more than 10 percent of local STEM workers, 6.8 percent of the high-tech workforce, and 11.3 percent of all information technology workers. In Denver, more than one in four professional, scientific, or technical service workers are foreign-born.

Other municipal leaders and business communities have recognized these positive results. In late September, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, a central Iowa business alliance, announced efforts to develop a plan to attract more immigrants to the region in order to boost the area's workforce. In Tennessee, where cities like Nashville have seen the foreign-born population double since 2000, a non-profit called Welcoming Tennessee was established in 2005 to highlight immigrants’ contributions to the local economy. The Atlantic reports on how  Welcoming Tennessee spurred a wider movement: “Welcoming America” is now a national network of organizations that help immigrants navigate their new homes and identify resources to help with everything from filing taxes to starting a business.

Earlier this year, we also wrote about several innovative models that support foreign-born entrepreneurs building their companies here in the U.S. The Entrepreneur in Residence program, pioneered in Massachusetts, has recently expanded to Colorado. A new startup fund called Unshackled enables immigrant entrepreneurs to focus on their new ventures by sponsoring their visas.

Finally, some of the President’s executive actions, (the purported reason Speaker Ryan refuses to move forward with comprehensive reform), announced about a year ago, could soon be implemented, making slight improvements to the pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) heard from entrepreneurs, investors, and startup advisors earlier this year when considering new guidelines for granting work visas. We hope to see these guidelines officially adopted soon to create more room for immigrants to start new companies and create new jobs here in the U.S.

As the White House initially stated in its announcement, “there is no substitute for legislation to fix our broken immigration system,” but while we wait for 2017, local policymakers and forward-thinking business leaders shouldn’t be deterred from finding ways to support immigrants and recognize the undeniable contributions they make to this country, particularly as innovators and entrepreneurs.

Inviting Presidential Candidates to Talk Tech in Iowa

On December 7, Engine is partnering with the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) and the Cedar Rapids Gazette to host the Iowa Presidential Tech Town Hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This first of its kind event offers candidates a platform to articulate their vision for supporting the innovation economy. Candidates will discuss issues including technology innovation, STEM education, broadband access, the sharing economy, and the promise of entrepreneurship.

The Presidential Tech Town Hall will also connect candidates to the Iowa technology and startup community. From Cedar Rapids to Des Moines to Iowa City, Iowa’s tech and startup community includes more than 76,000 workers from across the state and accounts for 9% of the state’s GDP. (Read more about Des Moines startups in our dispatch from Rise of the Rest last year.)

“The Technology Association of Iowa is excited to partner with Engine and The Gazette to deliver the Iowa Presidential Tech Town Hall. Iowa has a long history of creating technology solutions and investing in the future by supporting entrepreneurship,” said TAI President Brian Waller. “TAI members and Iowans are eager to hear from our presidential candidates on the topic of Technology and Entrepreneurship”

The Tech Town Hall will give candidates an opportunity to communicate directly with hundreds of caucus-goers, and well as many more watching the event via livestream around Iowa and across the country. In addition, The New Hampshire High Tech Council plans to host a live viewing event for their members and other primary voters in New Hampshire.

“It’s critical for the startup community to make its voice heard in this election cycle, and drive the conversation about tech and entrepreneurship,” said Engine Executive Director Julie Samuels. “The positions our next president takes will have far reaching impact, and will help determine whether even more Americans can launch and grow a startup and create good jobs - here in Iowa, and in communities all over the country. Engine is excited to engage in a thoughtful discussion with 2016 candidates, and we’re grateful to TAI and the Cedar Rapids Gazette for partnering with us on this event.”

For more information and to register to attend, visit www.PresTechTownHall.org. Join the conversation at #IowaTech2016.