Engine Advocacy and Foundation

Lately I’ve been sitting with so much gratitude for the work I get to do every day. I came into tech policy with zero experience, just a policy background, a willingness to learn, and a whole lot of curiosity. Somehow, I ended up in a role that stretches me, challenges me, and teaches me something new every single day. Engine has been one of the biggest blessings in my career. I get to work alongside a team that truly goes out of their way to teach me all NINE issue areas we cover (😭), and I get to learn directly from founders who are building the future. The way startup founders think, pivot, problem-solve, and create? It inspires me every single day, and it’s shaping the way I build Career Toolkits by Dee. I always tell people: You can do hard things. You can learn new things. And you can succeed in spaces you’ve never been in before, with the right team behind you. And as I look ahead to Q1, I’m excited to bring more of that energy into my content. I want to talk more about: • workplace advancement • navigating 1:1s • salary conversations • how to grow after you land the job • and continue discussing how policy affects your career, your business, and your opportunities If you take anything from this post, let it be this: founders are out here building incredible things, and they need policies that actually support innovation. If you’re an entrepreneur (or dreaming of becoming one), explore www.engine.is. There is so much there to help you understand the landscape you’re building in. And if you ever have questions about tech policy or anything happening in DC that impacts your work or business… ask me. I’m your Policy Plug! PS: I have SO many more policy plug videos on the way! 👩🏽‍💼📉💼🤓

🚨 Broadband delays are putting startups and small businesses at risk! 🚨 This week’s Startup News Digest dives into how funding setbacks could harm innovation and growth. Plus, big updates on AI policies—California’s new rules and federal plans to bring AI into K-12 education. 💡 Innovation thrives on connection. Let’s talk about it: How do you think broadband access impacts small businesses? Drop your thoughts below! 👇 #StartupNews #BroadbandAccess #AIUpdates #SmallBusinessSupport #InnovationMatters

Looking back on a productive #EngineFlyIn. Got a chance to have some #RealTalk about the challenges of accessing capital and opportunities for improving programs like #SBIR #STTR, especially for underrepresented founders with lived experience over academic degrees! #InnovationForAll

Earlier today, startup founders from diverse backgrounds discussed the challenges they’ve faced raising capital and shared their top asks for how policymakers can facilitate equitable access to capital for all founders as we unveil a new report, Innovation for All. In conjunction with the release of our report, we are currently hosting a two day fly-in with startup founders including women founders, founders of color, immigrant founders, and others, to discuss with policymakers the barriers they’ve faced launching and running companies! Visit: www.engine.is/innovationforall or the link in our bio! Today’s panelists included: Tomás Uribe, @mavity.co Renee King, @fundblackfounders Emily Brown, @attane_health Allison Byers, @scroobious #diversityandinclusion #underrepresentedfounders #equalentrepreneurship #innovationforall #startupdiversity #bipartisan #breakbarriers #congress #nonprofit #leveltheplayingfield #socialimpact #impactentrepreneurship #socialinnovation #democratizinginnovation #solvingglobalchallenges #startup #tech #policy #changemakers #buildingabetterfuture #startuptok #entrepreneurlife #getinvolved #joinus #engineflyin

On my way to the 2024 @engineorg event! 🚀 Looking forward to connecting with fellow founders and meeting with officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for startups and discuss policies such as capital access and employment. #startups #futureofwork #enployable

We’re heading to Washington! For the week of June 10, Kelly Holmes, Entrepreneur in Residence & Tribal Outreach Ambassador for Relevance Ventures, will be a part of @EngineOrg ’s Innovation For All Project and its advocacy efforts. Kelly will attend the event to foster an in-person dialogue between underrepresented startup founders and policymakers. The purpose of the fly-in is to highlight the results of Innovation For All and underscore the need for pro-innovation policies that support inclusivity and equity in the startup ecosystem to support diverse entrepreneurs. #venture #venturecapital #wellness #wellnessindustry #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #preventivecare #harmony #preventivehealthcare #native #nativeamerican #diversity #diversityinventure #diversefounders #diverseinvestors #DEI #impact #impactinvesting #impactventure #socialimpact

“You have to be crazy enough to believe it’s possible. That’s when the journey becomes real and you start to fall in love with the process.” 🤍 Investing in myself this year because I don’t want to look back and regret not starting sooner. Grateful for everyone and everything that got me here thus far. 🫶🏾 More glowing and growing to come! 🌻 - Dee 👩🏾‍💻 #explorepage #newcreator #newaccount #explore #startingfresh #contentcreator #selfcare #investinginyourself #selfgrowth #godsplan #godfirst #careerstrategy #linkedintips #cvwriting #professionaldevelopment #jobhunt #jobsearch #careeradvice #careercoach #resume #socialmedia #website #jobs #socialmediatips

I’m proud to lead as co-chair of the national #CongressionalStartupDay, alongside @repfrenchhill , and to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in West Michigan and across the country!

Last week I was proud to represent PILOT and other diverse-owned on Capitol Hill in 🇺🇸 Washington D.C. Startup founders from across our great country, from different industries, states, and origins, lobbied Members of Congress for unified Federal data privacy legislation. Our efforts were organized by Engine, the non-profit group that advocates and lobbies on behalf of startups to create a more level and competitive playing field for innovation in America. I had the pleasure of meeting with the offices of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and others. We shared how a patchwork of sometimes conflicting state privacy laws creates waste, reduces competition, increases prices, and slows our ability to create more jobs. Being in the U.S. Capitol building again and other Congressional office buildings was a thrill, as I witnessed the machine that is our democracy chugging along. A special thanks to the many professional and dedicated staffers who are the glue of our legislative body. It’s easy to get cynical about the news or the state of politics, but from my experience with successfully lobbying for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, we can and must influence our government to shape the country we desire to live in! 🫡 🗳️

Do you know what Free From Market is all about? Read an interview with Emily Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of Free From Market, who is an ardent believer that food is medicine. She has firsthand experience with the impact that a lack of access to healthy foods can have on health outcomes, and created an e-commerce service to address this very issue. We spoke with her about her thoughts on barriers to accessing capital, compliance with data privacy rules, and current restrictions around SNAP and EBT eligibility. https://www.engine.is/news/startupseverywhere-kansascity-mo-freefrommarket

This report by @engineorg , supported by Startup Genome data, demonstrates the relationship between startup exits, investment, and talent; the particular importance of startup acquisitions in the startup ecosystem; and how these relationships in the U.S. compare to non-U.S. ecosystems. Read more here at link in bio. #investments #talent #acquisitions #startups #startupecosystems #exits #startupcommunity #research #data

December is coming in HOT (or COLD?!) with #startup events in the #Boston and #NewEngland area. You have your pick of galas, award ceremonies, pitch events, workshops and so much more - both virtual and in-person. You'll find some pretty cool 🥶 events from organizations such as ❄️New England Venture Capital Association ❄️@venturecafecambridge @cicnow ❄️@myinnovationstudio ❄️@englishfornewbostonians ❄️@engineorg ❄️@tieboston And so much more!! Check them all out at /events #startups #startupevents #Entrepreneurship #founder #entrepreneur #founders