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NEWS FEED
Startup founders travel to Capitol Hill with Engine to talk data privacy
Data privacy has long been top of mind for policymakers, but in the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy framework, states have been passing their own unique privacy laws. That’s created pressure on policymakers in Washington to create national rules. When policymakers think about writing new rules for how companies can interact with consumer data, they often have only the practices of bad actors or the largest Internet companies in mind.
Moderator Mayhem: A game to test your content moderation skills
We’ve worked with Copia and Leveraged Play to launch Moderator Mayhem, a video game that has players navigate the inherent tradeoffs around content moderation.
Startup News Digest 04/07/23
The Big Story: States continue adding to tech regulatory landscape risking additional burdens for startups. State legislative sessions are in high gear this spring, advancing tech legislation and threatening to grow a patchwork of varying rules startups must navigate as they grow. This week, for example, the Washington Senate passed a bill governing health information and other personal data. Their effort joins several other states putting forward proposals aimed at privacy and data security, online safety, and content moderation—that each will have noticeable ripple effects for startups.
Startup News Digest 03/31/23
The Big Story: R&D tax credit changes create tax bill for startups. Startups and other companies are facing higher taxes this year after a provision from a 2017 tax law went into effect recently. The law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), triggers a change to how the research and development (R&D) tax credit operates. Unless policymakers step in, startups and small businesses will have to weather the blow to their cash flow and may consider limiting future R&D costs. This could ultimately result in an overall reduction in innovation in the U.S., slowed economic growth, and decreased ability for our innovation ecosystem to compete with other countries.
Startup News Digest 03/24/23
The Big Story: New research shows state privacy patchwork costs startups hundreds of thousands. Startups spend hundreds of thousands of their limited resources on privacy compliance, much of which goes to duplicative activities that don't further users' privacy, according to a report Engine is releasing today. The report, Privacy Patchwork Problem, chronicles the steps startups are taking to protect the data of their users and enumerates the costs, burdens, and barriers startups encounter—which reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It underscores the need to give for a federal privacy framework that creates uniformity, promotes clarity, and accounts for the resources of startups, while creating consistent rights for their users located in every state across the country.
Startup News Digest 03/17/23
The Big Story: SVB fallout puts startup banking needs in the spotlight. In the wake of last week’s collapse of a key startup-facing bank, many in the startup ecosystem are concerned about the banking options and funding landscape for startups across the country. Last week, California regulators and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shuttered and placed into receivership Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a mainstay bank for the global startup ecosystem. At the same time, startups scrambled to move funds and were unsure if they’d have the capital to pay their employees this week.
Lawmakers, entrepreneurs share Congressional Startup Day experiences
August 21st was the official celebration of Congressional Startup Day -- a unique opportunity for lawmakers to celebrate entrepreneurial excellence in their districts and states over the August congressional recess.
Engine's SXSW Guide
Going to SXSW? Love learning about startup policy? Come check out the panels and events we think you'll enjoy!
Engine's SXSW Guide
Going to SXSW? Love learning about startup policy? Come check out the panels and events we think you'll enjoy!
Event Recap: Private Solutions for Public Problems
Earlier this month, Engine held its first briefing of the year: a conversation around the ways that startups are harnessing big data to drive innovation and develop targeted solutions for some of society’s greatest challenges. The event was headlined by Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA), who were joined by a distinguished panel of startup leaders and policy analysts.
Engine's Day in DC: February 12
Here at Engine, our goal is to build better policy by providing opportunities for tech founders and policymakers to discuss the issues that impact our diverse community. On February 12th this year, Engine will be taking to D.C. to host a day of events celebrating entrepreneurship.
What Startups Want to Hear in the #SOTU
President Obama will kick off a highly-charged political year with his address to Congress and the country on the current State of the Union. For decades, this has been an opportunity for Presidents to lay out policy initiatives and bold ideas for the year ahead.
What Every Entrepreneurial City Can Learn From Austin
Last week was Startup Week in Austin, Texas and as I was sitting, meeting and writing on Congress Street I was reminded of Austin’s special place in the lineup of growing entrepreneurial communities across America, from New York to San Francisco. In addition to being proudly weird, Austin is providing a blueprint for other communities that want to strengthen their local economies by incubating the growth of young high-tech companies.
Celebrating #StartupDay Across America
This week, we’re excited to be kicking-off Startup Across America Day where 44 members of Congress will be meeting with technology startups in their home states and districts on August 29th and in the weeks immediately after, or getting the word out to their constituents through social media.
