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NEWS FEED
Startup News Digest 08/26/22
The Big Story: Biden administration unveils student loan relief plan. After months of deliberation, President Joe Biden announced a three-part plan aimed at easing student loan debt, a move that could lower barriers for entrepreneurship in the U.S. The announcement—fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise—will cancel up to $10,000 in federal student debt for many borrowers and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients for those that earn less than $125,000 per year or $250,000 for households. It also includes steps to cap monthly payments, improve the forgiveness programs for borrowers who work in public service, and increase accountability around skyrocketing college costs.
#StartupsEverywhere: Asheville, N.C.
Edison Marks makes small-and medium-sized enterprise owners more aware of the cybersecurity threats facing their businesses by creating personalized reports and simplifying the issue. Co-Founder and CEO Jeremiah Smith spoke to us about his company, his experience with the Small Business Association (SBA) and the Small Business Technology Council (SBTC), and what he thinks policymakers should consider when thinking about cybersecurity.
Startup News Digest 08/19/22
Startup Advocacy Week and Congressional Startup Day underscore the importance of pro-innovation policy. Startups are key drivers of innovation, they spur job growth, and invigorate the U.S. economy. We at Engine are lucky to work with a vast network of startups across the country who know, first-hand, how essential pro-innovation policies are to their success—and those policies can only become a reality when policymakers invite startup founders to the table to listen to their experiences and hear about their needs. Those very conversations took place during this Startup Advocacy Week and Congressional Startup Day.
Engine Releases Policy Roadmap for Supporting Startups Everywhere
Today, Engine issued a paper focused on the policy insights needed—and the legislative actions required—to adequately support the expanse of the startup ecosystem, and to grow the innovation economy. We hope this paper can serve as a resource for policymakers considering a wide range of policy issues that impact early-stage companies across the country.
#StartupsEverywhere: Washington, DC
Actionfigure enables its customers to make decisions that best fit their needs by collecting and curating transportation intelligence data. Co-founder and CEO Matt Caywood spoke with us about his company, his experience working in the sustainability and transportation spaces, and how the federal government could help simplify the income tax process for startups.
Startup News Digest 08/12/22
The Big Story: Patent policy conversations need startup voices. Policymakers are continuing to evaluate several aspects of the patent system—one of many areas where policymakers need to account for startup voices and experiences to craft policy that promotes their success. This summer, IP subcommittees in both the Senate and the House held hearings about the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)—a venue within the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) that can take a second look at likely-invalid patents and weed out those that should not have issued.
Startup News Digest 08/05/22
The Big Story: Immigration reform is key for innovation, competitiveness. Pressure is building on lawmakers to address flaws in the country’s immigration system that keep the tech sector—including startups—from having the talent it needs. Following the recent passage of a sweeping competitiveness package, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) and Science Act, members of the tech industry are calling to attention the need for immigration reform to keep the sector competitive.
#StartupsEverywhere: Los Angeles, Calif.
Talyn’s eVTOL aircraft system is automating middle-mile cargo with aircraft that can take off and land without a runway. It utilizes two separate vehicles to bring aircrafts to a cruising altitude with 100 percent battery, allowing Talyn to fly faster and farther than its competitors, thus expediting the cargo delivery process. Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Gull spoke to us about his company, his experience working with various government entities, and his thoughts on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Statement on Patent Eligibility Restoration Act
The following statement is attributed to Kate Tummarello, Executive Director of Engine, regarding the introduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2022:
Statement:
“The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would open doors to the type of weak, overbroad patents that preempt innovation and harm competition. It would allow a few companies to use the patent system to tie up the fundamental building blocks startups currently rely on to build and grow, exposing startups to more threats of litigation over low-quality patents. As Congress continues to evaluate legislation in this area, we look forward to continuing to work with them toward proposals that can promote startup success.”
How the Wayfair decision changed online sales tax for startups
The Internet allows startups to reach customers throughout the country and around the world. Until recently, businesses only paid sales tax on products sold online in jurisdictions where they had physical presence.
Startup News Digest 07/29/22
The Big Story: New net neutrality bill would benefit startups. Lawmakers are restarting the stalled conversation around net neutrality, the idea that Internet service providers (ISPs) shouldn’t be able to charge websites and online services—including those run by startups—for better, faster access to their users. This week, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act—a bill that would reclassify broadband to give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to regulate ISPs, including on net neutrality.
#StartupsEverywhere: New York, NY.
PILOT’s virtual HR platform is designed to help organizations boost employee engagement, build better workplace relationships, and create a business culture that empowers employees. Founder & CEO Ben Brooks spoke with us about his company, his experience with startup incubators, and how he believes privacy legislation can impact the startup ecosystem.
Startup News Digest 07/22/22
The Big Story: CHIPS Act takes precedence in USICA developments. The Senate is moving forward with pared-down competitiveness legislation following Tuesday’s procedural vote, which cleared a key procedural hurdle. While the narrower package largely focuses on subsidies for the semiconductor industry, it is also expected to include some of the larger bill’s provisions to increase funding to broadly support U.S. innovation. Senators expect to tee up final passage next week, which would then send the bill to the House for consideration.
#StartupsEverywhere: Manhattan Beach, Calif.
BadVR’s immersive analytics platform uses virtual reality and machine learning to make complex datasets easier to understand for everyday users. Founder and CEO Suzanne Borders spoke to us about her company, her experience with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, and how she navigates varying state laws and regulations as a remote employer.
Startup News Digest 07/15/22
The Big Story: Hope fades for pro-startup provisions in U.S. competitiveness package. After months of negotiations, Congress has hit another roadblock to advancing a compromise version of two bills aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness: the Senate’s United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House’s America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act.
The 411 on SPACs
SPACs, or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, are publicly traded vehicles other companies use as an alternative way to go public. These companies, also known as “blank check” companies, are essentially shell companies that do not have commercial operations. They are formed with the sole purpose of raising capital and merging with or acquiring private companies, so that these acquisitions can go public faster and with fewer costs than a traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO).
#StartupsEverywhere: Minneapolis, Minn.
Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2) is an environmentally-focused company that employs biological sensing technology to monitor the presence of species in aquatic ecosystems. CEO Ed Rudberg spoke with us about his company, his experience with Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) funding, and policy areas of concern for startups and startup founders such as access to talent and affordable healthcare.
Startup News Digest 07/08/22
The Big Story: Copyright Office concludes ancillary copyright protections are not warranted. In a recent report, the U.S. Copyright Office explained why it does not recommend expanding or adopting new copyright-like protections for press publishers. The Copyright Office’s study was rooted in concerns about supporting vitally important local news media, but it focused specifically on whether policymakers should extend copyright-like protections (also known as “ancillary copyright”) to sharing hyperlinks and quoting news headlines or snippets of articles. Last week’s report concluded that it is not clear any new copyright-like protections would solve problems facing press publishers, while those sorts of copyright expansions would have “critical policy and Constitutional dimensions.”
#StartupsEverywhere: Boston, Mass.
Startup Boston is a community-building organization that provides New England-based startups with the programming, content, and initiatives to propel them toward success. Stephanie Roulic, Founder & Lead Organizer of Startup Boston, spoke with us about her organization, COVID-19’s effect on the startup ecosystem, and how policymakers can better support startup founders beyond the pandemic era.