Darek DeFreece’s Post

Two of my favorite things in this event next week: emerging technology and advocacy! To all my West-Coast friends, you should make it a point to stop by this summit if you’re interested in how tech startups can better navigate today’s policy + reg landscape (and be sure to meet the incredible Hermine Wong!) There is an all-star lineup which, to be quite frank, is leaving me with serious fomo. This will certainly be on my radar for next year ⭐️ #entrepreneurship #emergingtech #publicpolicy #advocacy

P/PS: How emerging and disruptive tech #startups can shape their regulatory futures 🧐 Problem: Despite best intentions, emerging and disruptive tech often finds itself at odds with policymakers. Every #emergingtech startup founder and advisor knows by heart the top 5️⃣ things #investors look for in their pitch decks. But they couldn’t name the top 5️⃣ things #policymakers look for in tech briefings. The regulatory thrash and regulatory moats put startups at a severe disadvantage to influence their own regulatory landscape. 👉Proposed solution: Train startup #founders and #advisors on how to anticipate what policymakers will care about most when it comes to your roadmap. Make informed decisions about the startup’s future, rather than hoping that investor/customer interests will be aligned with policymaker interests. What makes this summit different: ❌No long-winded panels. ❌Not a bunch of experts telling you what to do. ✅ Instead, we have experts in #ai #web3 #socialmedia #4IR #crypto #internet showing you how it’s done. ✅ And we have former regulators/legislative staff to break it all down. ➕Added bonus: real-time media training! 🎬 Companies pay millions for law firms, comms firms, and lobbyists, but often late in their lifespan. At this university event, we can offer this for free, early in your lifespan. You’ll learn to anticipate what policymakers will care about your roadmap, and set your tech startup (and the broader tech ecosystem) up for long-term success. 🚀 💪 You'll get real, actionable takeaways, not crystal ball-gazing. 🔮 Join us for the summit, with lunch and a hosted networking session provided. 😋 Yes, it’s all FREE, but registration is limited!  See you next week, May 13th. Hosted by: Berkeley Center for Law and Business Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Berkeley Center for Responsible Decentralized Intelligence with support from Berkeley Space Center Special thanks to our sponsors: Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Ripple

P/PS: How emerging and disruptive tech hashtag #startups can shape their regulatory futures 🧐 Problem: Despite best intentions, emerging and disruptive tech often finds itself at odds with policymakers. Every hashtag #emergingtech startup founder and advisor knows by heart the top 5️⃣ things hashtag #investors look for in their pitch decks. But they couldn’t name the top 5️⃣ things hashtag #policymakers look for in tech briefings. The regulatory thrash and regulatory moats put startups at a severe disadvantage to influence their own regulatory landscape. 👉Proposed solution: Train startup hashtag #founders and hashtag #advisors on how to anticipate what policymakers will care about most when it comes to your roadmap. Make informed decisions about the startup’s future, rather than hoping that investor/customer interests will be aligned with policymaker interests. What makes this summit different: ❌No long-winded panels. ❌Not a bunch of experts telling you what to do. ✅ Instead, we have experts in hashtag #ai hashtag #web3 hashtag #socialmedia hashtag #4IR hashtag #crypto hashtag #internet showing you how it’s done. ✅ And we have former regulators/legislative staff to break it all down. ➕Added bonus: real-time media training! 🎬 Companies pay millions for law firms, comms firms, and lobbyists, but often late in their lifespan. At this university event, we can offer this for free, early in your lifespan. You’ll learn to anticipate what policymakers will care about your roadmap, and set your tech startup (and the broader tech ecosystem) up for long-term success. 🚀 💪 You'll get real, actionable takeaways, not crystal ball-gazing. 🔮 Join us for the summit, with lunch and a hosted networking session provided. 😋 Yes, it’s all FREE, but registration is limited! See you next week, May 13th. Hosted by: Berkeley Center for Law and Business Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Berkeley Center for Responsible Decentralized Intelligence with support from Berkeley Space Center Special thanks to our sponsors: Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Ripple https://lnkd.in/g39bHaDu

📣 Calling all the #emergingtech #founders and #builders out there. Do you ever worry that when the #regulators knock, they'll completely misunderstand what you're building? Do you feel like the headlines about your industry is more gossip than tech, but you're the one paying the price? Let's #disrupt this! 🚀 I've been working tirelessly to create a summit that will train you so you can lead the narrative, and stop playing defense. Join us at University of California, Berkeley on May 13th for TECHVocacy 2024: Emerging Tech Advocacy Summit! What makes this summit so different? No long winded panels to talk about the problem or to talk about the tech (#ai #crypto #web3 #av #socialmedia). We have 🔵 Experts to deliver lightning talks that will SHOW (not tell) how to talk about your emerging and disruptive tech with policymakers/regulators 🔵 Real-time media training demos Co-hosted by Berkeley Center for Law and Business Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Berkeley Center for Responsible Decentralized Intelligence with support from Berkeley Space Center. Admission is free, but registration is limited! Sign up soon!

Call For Applications: Tech Policy Fellowship 2024-25 The Tech Policy Fellowship is looking for a cohort of 6 fellows for 2024-25 committed to promoting equity, accountability and transparency to ensure underserved communities from the Global Majority have decision-making powers over technology design and governance. Specifically, the fellowship is interested in technologists, community organizers, activists and policy or legal professionals who are deeply embedded in their communities, are aligned with the fellowship’s mission, and are committed to building a safer, more open, more equitable, and inclusive Internet ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/gPdDkXB4 #Smart4Africa _ 🚀💻 #TechForAll #EdtechInnovation #FundingAnnouncement #TechInvestment #StartupFunding #InnovationFunding #InvestInTech #EdTechGrowth #AgriTechInnovation #SustainableFood #EcommerceExpansion #BusinessGrowth #Renda #TechInnovation #BusinessScalability #AfricanStartup

You know that feeling when you're so excited about something, you just can't help but jump into the frame? That's me with photobombing! 😄 It's my quirky way of spreading joy and showing my love, especially for startups that are making a real difference. Last night at a LexLab event (thanks for the invite, by the way! 🙏), I was at it again. I couldn't resist adding some extra flair to the shots. Here's the scoop: 1️⃣ Wave of Support for Justice Tech: I jumped into a photo with Neil and Alex from Societal, who are revolutionizing guardianship proceedings. Their 'Save Grandma' shirts are not just cool but meaningful. I mean, who wouldn't want one of those? 2️⃣ Cheering for Change: Then there was Luke, an incredible person doing groundbreaking work with Namesake Collaboration. His commitment to helping trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals be seen and respected is truly inspiring. 🌟🏳️🌈 So, was my photobombing subtle enough? 😜 I think it's a fun way to show my enthusiasm and support for these amazing people and their causes. Now, I've got three questions for you: Have you ever photobombed a picture? Share your funniest moment! What startups or causes are you passionate about? How do you show your support or celebrate the successes of others? #law #digitaltransformation #leadership -------- 💥I am Olga. 🔺Providing tips for in-house lawyers. 🔺Educating about disruptive technologies. 🔺Delivering keynotes on the intersection of business, law, and tech. Like this post? Want to see more? 🔔 Ring it on my Profile Follow #DailyOlga 🔝 Connect with me 🔝 Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

#founderfriday On October 8th, California passed Bill #54, mandating that VC firms release annual reports regarding the number of diverse founders they're investing in — making it the inaugural law focused on increasing diversity in VC funding in the U.S. Personally, I wish that change would happen faster without having to get the government involved. However, with it being almost 2024 and the statistics so unsettling, this will be interesting to watch. Bill #54 was a topic of discussion amongst founders at a conference I was at in Europe this week. Several are advocating for similar actions to be taken in their countries. First and foremost, diverse founders must have investor-ready companies. With that in play, perhaps transparency will help drive equality and more diverse founders to jump in. Please share your thoughts. Also, #54 is a lucky number - google it!

📣 Go Vocal (formerly CitizenLab) has a new name! 📣 Founded in 2015 by student entrepreneurs Wietse Van Ransbeeck, Aline Muylaert, and Koen Gmemelprez as CitizenLab, the company has rebranded to Go Vocal to reflect its evolution into a comprehensive digital hub for local democracy. This rebranding signifies a shift from being merely an engagement tool to becoming a platform that facilitates deeper democratic participation. To further enhance its capabilities, Go Vocal is significantly investing in its artificial intelligence module, aiming to streamline the participation process for residents and governments alike. Today, Go Vocal serves 500 governments and organizations globally, including major cities like Copenhagen, Dublin, Vienna, and Seattle. "We envision a world where every democratic city brings its participatory democracy online, making participation and democracy more accessible to millions. Go Vocal aims to offer the most complete infrastructure to governments to help achieve just that," concludes Wietse Van Ransbeeck. Click below to read more about this Capital Mills portfolio company. https://lnkd.in/eBWtXnfY

🚀 Excited to share the next online event from Third Sector Lab and SCVO - DigiShift 74: Big Tech Business Models, Human Rights, and Ethics - happening on 21 Nov 10-11am. This session will delve into the intersection of Big Tech, business models, and human rights, offering critical insights for anyone navigating the digital landscape. Expect thought-provoking discussions led by industry experts Tanya O'Carroll and Ganna Pogrebna. 🎟️ Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/em_YuRwx 📌 What you’ll learn: - The impact of Big Tech business models on society and individuals. - Essential steps we need to take to foster a more ethical digital environment. - Engage with like-minded individuals and expand your understanding in a lively discussion. 👥 Who should attend? - Digital leaders, non-profit professionals, and anyone interested in the ethical implications of digital technology. 🔄 Please share. #DigitalEthics #BigTech #HumanRights

Want to know what I think about Delaware as a Tech Hub? Interested in what the Tech Council of Delaware is doing to live up to this lofty designation? Check out my article to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eMGg5_vA #Delaware #techhub #leadership