@Engine, Weekly Digest, Future Tech, Digest, Privacy & Data Security, Telecom, Access to Capital, Talent, Issues
The Engine Team
Startup News Digest 05/10/24

State AI laws spark specter of burdensome patchwork

Startup News Digest 05/10/24
#StartupsEverywhere
Imani Webb
#StartupsEverywhere: Las Vegas, Nev.

David Knight is a seasoned veteran of the startup world and has seen multiple companies through to success. He started Terbine to disrupt the electric vehicle charging space, and we spoke with him about the best startup ecosystems to live in, what it means to startups to have government support, and how policymakers can support STEM education. 

#StartupsEverywhere: Las Vegas, Nev.
#StartupsEverywhere
Imani Webb
#StartupsEverywhere: San Antonio, Texas

José Padilla has an established track record of providing efficient, low-cost legal services. With LegalMente AI, he’s able to provide that same quality of work to those in need, including early-stage startups. We sat down with him to talk about what policymakers need to know about the uses of AI, how to keep the U.S. innovation ecosystem the most competitive globally, and his motivation to provide the most efficient work possible. 

#StartupsEverywhere: San Antonio, Texas
#StartupsEverywhere
Imani Webb
#StartupsEverywhere: Brooklyn, N.Y.

After overcoming childhood shyness in the warmth of his local Caribbean-owned barbershop, Royon Jeffrey knows the power of the beauty industry firsthand. He set out to create ListedB, an online marketplace for beauty industry professionals. We spoke to him about the financial opportunity within the industry, navigating capital access and investors, and his desire to empower small businesses owners.

#StartupsEverywhere: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Blog, @Engine, Tax & Trade
Nathan Lindfors
For startups’ sake, Congress needs to reorient ...

Foreign nations are saddling U.S. companies — including startups — with discriminatory burdens.

For startups’ sake, Congress needs to reorient U.S. trade agency
, ,

Four Years of the JOBS Act: Examining Its Impact and Looking Forward

, ,
Four Years of the JOBS Act: Examining Its Impact and Looking Forward

April 5, 2016 marked the four year anniversary of the enactment of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. While the statute is still relatively young, we have already begun to see the positive impacts that its provisions have had on startups’ ability to raise capital. It has made going public easier and created new pathways for startups to raise money through Regulation A+ and general solicitation under Regulation D. And with regulation crowdfunding set to finally go live in May, we are hopeful that a vibrant non-accredited investor crowdfunding market will emerge in the near future.

,

The Tech Community Is Mobilizing Against the Burr-Feinstein Encryption Bill

,
The Tech Community Is Mobilizing Against the Burr-Feinstein Encryption Bill

It is hard to overstate how incredibly dangerous and foolish the Burr-Feinstein “Compliance with Court Orders Act of 2016” draft legislation is and even harder to believe it was coauthored by California’s senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

,

Engine Statement on House Judiciary Committee Approval of ECPA Reform Bill

,
Engine Statement on House Judiciary Committee Approval of ECPA Reform Bill

Engine applauds the House Judiciary Committee’s action today to approve the Email Privacy Act, which makes much needed reforms to the outdated Electronic Communications and Privacy Act (ECPA) by explicitly requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing digital communications.

,

Engine Joins Letter Opposing House Rate Regulation Bill

,
Engine Joins Letter Opposing House Rate Regulation Bill

In the year since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved its historic Open Internet Order, net neutrality has faced countless attacks in both the courts and Congress. Once again, the Order and the FCC’s broader authority have come under fire. H.R. 2666, the “No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act,” threatens the FCC’s ability to fulfill its congressionally-mandated responsibilities and represents yet another attempt by anti-net neutrality lawmakers to undermine an open Internet.

, ,

Momentum in Miami: Lessons from an Emerging Startup Ecosystem

, ,
Momentum in Miami: Lessons from an Emerging Startup Ecosystem

Across the country and far beyond Silicon Valley, new centers of startup activity are on the rise. Among them, Miami, Florida is one of the more exciting and dynamic cities emerging as a hub for startups. Not only are more entrepreneurs calling Miami home, but a real ecosystem is forming, complete with a new co-working and events space in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood district, investor groups with a renewed commitment to South Florida entrepreneurs, and a slew of meet-ups, conferences, and hackathons attracting students, programmers, entrepreneurs, and investors eager to be part of this transformation.

,

Engine Adds Key Senior Staff Position to Growing Team

,
Engine Adds Key Senior Staff Position to Growing Team

I am excited to announce today that Paul Geller has joined our team as Engine’s new Managing Director. Paul will focus on corporate outreach, and joins Engine as a startup veteran who spent the last few years building technology applications for fashion and retail brands in New York. He previously served on the Audio Board of the Consumer Technology Association and as a partner at Hangar.

, , ,

Engine Submits Comments with Top Tech Companies in Copyright Inquiry

, , ,
Engine Submits Comments with Top Tech Companies in Copyright Inquiry

On New Year’s Eve 2015, while most people were out celebrating, the Copyright Office quietly issued an notice of inquiry seeking public input on an incredibly important topic: the effectiveness of Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). For those who didn’t skip their New Year’s Eve party to brush up on copyright policy, here’s a refresher: the DMCA is a law from 1998 that, among other things, grants online service providers (OSPs)—basically, all your favorite websites—a legal “safe harbor” from facing lawsuits arising from user copyright infringements.

,

What's Missing in the Conversation about Immigration Reform

,
What's Missing in the Conversation about Immigration Reform

Since the earliest days of this election cycle, the 2016 presidential candidates have been sparring about immigrants and immigration reform. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the country’s immigration policies are among the most important issues the next administration will need to tackle (and hopefully with the support of Congress). Yet, as enormous and all-encompassing as our country’s immigration problems are, only a narrow portion of them have been discussed by the candidates. 

, ,

The SEC could change the requirements for investing in startups, and that’s not good

, ,
The SEC could change the requirements for investing in startups, and that’s not good

As strange as it may seem, only a small percentage of Americans can legally invest in most startups today. Under long-standing rules governing who qualifies as a so-called “accredited investor,” only quite wealthy individuals (those make at least $200,000 in annual income or have $1 million in assets, excluding their home) can buy shares in a fast-growing, privately held company.

, ,

The VENUE Act: It's Time to Get Patent Trolls out of East Texas

, ,
The VENUE Act: It's Time to Get Patent Trolls out of East Texas

This week, Senators Flake, Gardner, and Lee introduced a piece of legislation targeting one of the most egregious—and, frankly, ridiculous—problems with our current patent system. Specifically, the Venue Equity and Non-Uniformity Elimination  (VENUE) Act would get patent cases out of the Eastern District of Texas, where patent trolls most commonly file their specious lawsuits. Together with the comprehensive reform legislation found in the PATENT Act, this bill would help put an end to a dangerous patent troll problem that continues to prey on this country’s startups and innovators.

,

We Graded the 2016 Candidates on Tech and Startups: Here's How They Ranked

,
We Graded the 2016 Candidates on Tech and Startups: Here's How They Ranked

It’s safe to say that 2016 election cycle has been like no other and, frankly, disturbing for a number of reasons. We are particularly concerned that the high drama has distracted from the important work of a campaign season—the public debate over the important issues of our time. Nowhere has this debate been more absent than in the tech and startup community, which is ironic, given the importance of tech and startups to our economy.

,

PRESS RELEASE: The 2016 Candidate Report Card

,
PRESS RELEASE: The 2016 Candidate Report Card

Today, Engine and Tusk Ventures released “Grading the Candidates on Tech,” the first report card that grades the 2016 presidential candidates on whether they are passing or failing on a number of issues critical to many startups and technology. Candidates were rated based on their level of support, understanding, and familiarity with technology, startups and the priorities of the tech community. Their final grades reflect candidates' positions on major issues including privacy and security, the on-demand economy and intellectual property.

,

We Need More Spectrum

,
We Need More Spectrum

As the world becomes increasingly mobile, it is essential that U.S. policymakers devise a strategy to meet the growing demand for wireless connectivity. Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee passed the MOBILE NOW Act, which aims to free up additional spectrum for commercial use and improve mobile infrastructure. The bill represents a significant step towards transforming our mobile future and encouraging technological innovation. The full Senate should take up and pass the bill at the earliest opportunity.

 

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used.


Careers

CONTACT US

700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003
info@engine.is
comms@engine.is