Doug Rand

Maybe you didn't know the world as you know it depends largely on open-source software. This is important for a free and open society that supports innovation and collaboration. And, not to tie everything to AI, but AI software developing agents and assistants exist because they trained on open-source codebases. I'm glad there are humans focusing on this aspect of keeping the world turning.

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2026 federal funding update for ecosystem builders A week ago I wrote about where federal innovation funding stands for 2026. Here's what's changed in 7 days: What's now signed into law: The Commerce, Justice, and Science bill passed the Senate 82-15 on January 15 and is headed to the president's desk. This locks in: NSF → $8.75 billion (with protection against disproportionate cuts to any directorate) → Regional Innovation Engines: Up to $200 million EDA → Tech Hubs: $41 million → Build to Scale: $50 million → MEP: $175 million What passed the House, awaiting Senate action: The Financial Services bill passed 341-79 on January 14, confirming: SBA → Entrepreneurial development: $330 million (Congress rejected the proposed cut to $150M) → Regional Innovation Clusters: $9M → Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST): $9M → Growth Accelerator Fund Competition: $9M What's still in flux: Leaders just released a final bipartisan package for Defense, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD. The House may vote this week, with the January 30, 2026 deadline approaching. SBIR/STTR authorization remains expired. No new solicitations until reauthorization—though there's been some movement here. There's also a bunch of new AI policy I need to dig into still. The bottom line hasn't changed: You cannot build a 10-year innovation ecosystem on annual appropriations battles. The regions that succeed are strengthening their partnership infrastructure now, and leveraging federal funding as a bonus to accelerate outcomes. See the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/euDxDVkZ

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#FundraisingCatalyst | Donors are becoming more outcome-oriented and seeking impact opportunities aligned with their priorities. Leverage Sattva Consulting’s ecosystem knowledge and funder intelligence, powered by FundAssist, to build a market-resilient fundraising strategy that drives stronger conversions. FundAssist is our data-driven solution that assists organisations in identifying funders aligned with their priorities and focus areas. It offers valuable funder insights, backed by information about 37,000+ companies and funders about their CSR priorities, spending habits, and preferred funding model, to ensure that organisations are equipped to engage with the right funders. Contact us at impact@sattva.co.in to learn more. #SattvaFundraisingCatalyst #FundraisingAdvisory #NonProfitAdvisory Arun Nathan | Aarti Krishnan | Smruti Das | Nilav Kumar Pyne | Aishwarya Meena | Phuhaar Goel | Riya Gupta | Apoorva Prabhu

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A bit of a belated post, but I'm delighted to see SmartRaise featured in the latest Higher Ground Labs political tech landscape report! The report's fundraising section clearly signals a critical challenge: donor fatigue from oversaturated texts and emails (over a billion texts sent in Oct 2024 alone!). Donors are feeling overwhelmed, leading to disengagement. (Add to this Scam PACs and it's a grim picture). I hope this pushes campaigners towards smarter, more targeted engagement. Our tools have always prioritised long-term relationships. We're now seeing a rise in platforms offering smarter automation for donor retention and targeted outreach, alongside advancements in AI-driven tools and relational fundraising. These innovations collectively highlight a vital shift from sheer volume tactics to more thoughtful, strategic engagement. I believe European tools are also a key part of this picture, providing crucial independent diversification from big, centralised platforms. We need systems that build long-term trust and sustained relationships. Without this robust foundation, even the most innovative outreach risks falling flat. Read the full report in the link below.

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Air Aware capstone presentations are underway, highlighting the collaborative efforts between OUSD, HG, and the Sequoia Foundation to empower young people in East Oakland. This initiative focuses on the importance of Climate Action. Climate action is real and a critical aspect of our work.@Sequoia Climate Foundation. The presentations showcase the impactful projects developed by the youth, emphasizing their role in addressing climate challenges.

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We've interviewed dozens of investors and founders, and collated some real fundraising advice from the front lines of climate tech... What are investors really looking for? We spoke to leading voices from XPRESS Ventures, StarBeam Capital, Future Energy Ventures, and founders deep in the fundraising trenches. Here’s what they said 👇 💬 “50% team, 25% tech, 25% business model—most founders get that balance wrong.” 💬 “The best pitches tell a compelling story—ambitious, grounded, and commercial.” 💬 “Don’t underestimate how little investors know about your space. Educate, early.” 🔥 Quick takeaways: Lead with traction, not tech theory Keep your pitch simple, commercial, and aligned Fundraising is a marathon—stay focused on your mission 🔁 One founder pitched the same investor three times before securing funding. Another said: “Having a co-founder to share the emotional load saved made all the difference.” Full The Green Techpreneur read here. Subscribe for bimonthly insights → https://lnkd.in/etY2UKty #climatetech #startupfundraising #greentech #founderinsights #climateinvesting #startuplife

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Moving from statistical averages towards more citizen-centric distributions is exactly what the world needs right now. "We must invest in data stewards and expand their roles to include connecting communities, technologists, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. It is essential to embed feedback loops to ensure people see how their input can shape policy and affect their lives."

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This is big. We've co-launched a new lab with Zack Cooper providing breakthrough insights to improve understanding of rising health spending, to curb costs, and boost affordability. Health policy has often led the way in policy innovation & applied econ at Tobin Center & this is the latest in that trend. Thanks to partners Yale School of Public Health on this important collaboration, and to Andrea Harris, Delaney Parrish, and Elizabeth Jurinka.

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Our urban future will be better if we prepare for the one we want, instead of waiting for the one we will be handed. It is critical for cities to be proactive in preparing for that future. Planning demands increasing integration with new technologies such as autonomous mobility, mobile service robotics, and new land use planning demands and opportunities. This partnership between the Intelligent Community Forum and the Urban Robotics Foundation provides the essential knowledge network for implementing human-centered urban futures enabled by new digital technologies. (Adam Beck) #accessibility #airports #autonomouswheelchairs #bylaws #deliveryrobots #facilities #facilityoperators #HRI #hospitals #hospitalityrobots #intelligentcommunity #iso #lastmile #legislation #maintenancerobots #malls #mobilerobots #municipalities #patrolrobots #pedestrian #PMR #policerobots #publicareamobilerobots #publicrobots #regulations #robotbehaviour #robots #robotsafety #safety #securityrobots #sidewalkrobots #standards #sustainability #trafficplanning #urbandesign #urbanplanning #urbanrobots

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Sustainability in community projects requires intentional design. Effective initiatives are built on: ✅ Clear roles and boundaries ✅ Time-bound, focused support ✅ Skills and systems that last beyond the project lifecycle The most regenerative programs we engage with prioritize local ownership and transition planning from the outset. Building capability today creates a lasting impact tomorrow. Dependency is expensive. Capability compounds.

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A fundraising career has changed a lot over the last few years -- even over the last few MONTHS. Some of the skillsets that served us years ago, simply do not anymore. It's no longer just about writing RFPs, tracking open calls, finding a good grant writer. Fundraising is entirely built on relationships. On exploring aligned interests. On communicating in a way that resonates and helps bring in partners that can also fund. Fundraising is not just about galas, or email campaigns. It's about emotional ties to the work. To the cause. To trying to do one's part in the midst of all the noise. It's not just about check writing or monthly giving. It's about finding dedicated audiences and supporters who want to commit to your work for the long haul. The skillsets we need as fundraisers are changing. So we must change with those times. How have you seen the fundraising space change and evolve over the last few years?

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As I fly out to San Francisco to attend TrustCon 2025, I wanted to share some thoughts on why Internet Works was started and why its advocacy work is so important. Why Middle Tech Needs a Policy Voice Middle Tech companies — the innovative layer between Big Tech giants and early-stage startups — are the digital economy’s most overlooked powerhouses.  These firms span search, hosting, forums, video-sharing, communication, reviews, media, and more.  They serve millions of users daily, empower small businesses, and bring diversity, competition, and consumer choice to the internet — without the market dominance, vertical integration, or regulatory resources of the largest players.  Yet too often, public policy fails to reflect this diversity.  Regulations crafted to address the scale and practices of market dominant tech companies are frequently applied across the board, regardless of company size, technical capacity, or business model.  This “one-size-fits-all” approach risks undermining the very companies that foster innovation and offer real alternatives for users and businesses alike. Middle Tech companies: Are often the missing middle voice in policy conversations. They are not startups, but not Big Tech either — they include well-established platforms and services that shape the online experience for millions. Operate diverse business models across communications, media, marketplaces, and digital infrastructure. Don’t benefit from economies of scale, extensive legal teams, or policy leverage that Big Tech enjoys. Are disproportionately affected by regulatory complexity, legal uncertainty, and high compliance costs — despite posing vastly different risks. Know how to be pragmatic and solutions oriented, they want digital regulation to succeed. At the end of the day, Middle Tech doesn’t just need to be included in digital policy — it needs to be understood.  These companies operate responsibly, foster trust, and compete fairly, all while navigating a regulatory landscape not built with them in mind. A sustainable internet future depends on policymaking that recognizes the nuance in today’s tech ecosystem.

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