Engine Advocacy and Foundation

BestFarewell is a Chicago-based AI-powered platform that helps families navigate the complex logistics of estate planning and bereavement. We sat down with founder Jay Wilburn to discuss the development of his proprietary SageLink AI, the administrative burden on remote startups, modernized bereavement treatment, and the regulatory hurdles surrounding electronic wills. Learn more at the link in bio!

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Retail workers have long shifts and often little time for feedback. Evan Smith is a Starbucks Vice President turned first-time entrepreneur, building Ethosphere, an AI-powered platform that uses personalized microphones to listen to sales conversations and provide retail associates with feedback on where they shine and could improve. We sat down with Evan to discuss his product, the importance of incubators, navigating the patchwork of state privacy laws, and more. Learn more at the link in bio!

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Thank you to the founders who joined us last week on Capitol Hill for our annual fly-in! Jeremy Chow - Tactus Ankur Verma - Lightscline Olivia Walch - Arcascope Jason Brown - Deliveri Aidan Chau - Maple Jessi Korinek - Nave Analytics Jad Meouchy - BadVR Megan Pillsbury - Dunya Analytics Renée Rosillo - Prism Julia Somerdin - Labby This year, conversations focused on one of the most pressing challenges startups face: access to capital. From expanding who can invest in startups, to strengthening early-stage funding pathways like SBIR, to preserving clear acquisition opportunities and improving incentives like QSBS, founders shared how policy shapes every stage of the startup journey—from first check to exit. Across industries and backgrounds, founders shared real-world insight into how they’re building, hiring, and scaling—making it clear why startups must have a seat at the table as policymakers help shape the future of innovation. Thank you to Engine’s incredible team for all their hard work: Mitchell Winter, Emma Kortebein, Kate Tummarello, Jill Crosby, Nathan Lindfors, Alexander Wall, Danielle Germain, Jade Smith

After a career in corporate sustainability, Alison Rogers Cove founded USEFULL, based in Boston, Massachusetts, to tackle the plastic crisis at the source. USEFULL is a circular solution focused on college campuses that helps them eliminate single-use food packaging by replacing it with a returnable, plastic-free system. We sat down with Alison to discuss the challenges of fundraising as a founder, the impact of tariffs on sustainable businesses, higher education as a market, and the realities of navigating parenthood while running a startup. Learn more at the link in bio!

WEEKLY TECH POLICY FOR STARTUPS 📲 #tech #policy #startups #dc #entrepreneurs

Sascha Mayer, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Mamava, is closing the gap in support for breastfeeding parents with freestanding lactation pods. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Mamava provides private spaces in high-traffic areas like airports and workplaces, paired with a mobile app to help parents find them. We sat down with Sascha to discuss how design meets policy, the realities of U.S. manufacturing, and the importance of policy that supports parents. Learn more at the link in bio!

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Tracking water usage is critical in agriculture. Nave Analytics provides software utilizing satellite data to help farmers cut down on water costs for irrigation. This week, founder Jessi Korinek will be in D.C. to discuss acquisitions and the role of successful exit strategies for entrepreneurs.

Acquisitions are the overwhelming majority—and sometimes the only—type of successful exits in startup ecosystems across the country. Exits are a critical moment in the lifecycle of a startup: founders are rewarded, investors earn a return, and talent and capital are recycled back into the ecosystem to support the next generation of innovation. In many startup ecosystems, acquisitions create nearly all of the exit value and help fuel new investment in emerging companies. That’s why policymakers should be thoughtful about shaping incentives around acquisitions and competition, and avoid proposals that make it harder for startups to get acquired. Founders from across the startup ecosystem are in Washington, D.C. today and tomorrow highlighting why clear and predictable acquisition pathways matter for startups.

Music is for everyone, and should be enjoyed by all who want to. Tactus is developing bluetooth-integrated jackets and vests that translate audio into precise tactile vibrations, allowing the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to experience live musical performances. This week, founder Jeremy Chow will be in D.C. to highlight the importance of easy-to-understand applications for government grants like the Small Business Innovation Research grant.