Engine

To fully realize the potential of our startup ecosystem, we must dismantle the barriers that hinder underrepresented founders and ensure that entrepreneurship truly reflects the diversity of our society. Innovation can and should be accessible to all.

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: engine.is/news/startupse…

BestFarewell is a Chicago-based AI-powered platform that helps families navigate the complex logistics of estate planning and bereavement.

Policies that support paid leave, child care, and family stability help ensure more entrepreneurs can take part in building what comes next. engine.is/news/category/…

#Mother’s Day is a reminder that the startup ecosystem depends on people who are also caregivers, parents, and community builders.

This Mother’s Day, it’s worth recognizing that supporting mothers in the startup ecosystem is not just about celebrating them, it is also about building policies that make it possible for parents to start startups, join companies, and stay in the workforce.

We sat down with Evan to discuss his product, the importance of incubators, navigating the patchwork of state privacy laws, and more. Link: engine.is/news/startupse…

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.

Retail workers have long shifts and often little time for feedback.

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: engine.is/news/startupse…

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.

After a career in corporate sustainability, Alison Cove founded USEFULL, based in Boston, Massachusetts, to tackle the plastic crisis at the source.

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: engine.is/news/startupse…

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.

Sascha Mayer, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Mamava, is closing the gap in support for breastfeeding parents with freestanding lactation pods.