Commonweal Ventures invests in sectors where evolving policies are reshaping markets and encouraging innovation.

Commonweal Ventures

Technological innovation and deployment are required to meet the generational challenges facing the US, from decarbonizing our economy to re-energizing American cities. We invest in entrepreneurs committed to the virtuous application of technology to these challenges and believe these entrepreneurs are the most likely to build category-defining and winning companies. 

For technology companies tackling challenges in areas like renewable energy, commercial real estate, and urban transportation, getting the politics right matters. Our team has deep venture investing experience, decades of national political leadership, and extensive networks at the intersection of technology and the public sphere. We help our portfolio companies to manage political risk, work with political leaders and regulators, enter new geographies, and build products and services that fit into policy-driven markets.

Landmark legislation around kids’ mental health is advancing in the Senate this week. Here are some of the key proposals: 

     -Internet companies cannot collect data on users below the age of 17   
      without consent (current rules prohibit collection on 13 y/o and younger)

     -“Duty of care” clause for tech companies with underage users

     -"Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens" to codify data privacy rules    
       and best practices

     -The FTC would create a Youth Marketing and Privacy Division 

Join us for a conversation with Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands; Titania Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parenting Officer of Bark; and Ruth Reader, a tech and healthcare reporter for POLITICO. 

We have rescheduled around a Senate vote—it will now be taking place on Friday, August 2nd at 3pm est! 

Email events@commonwealventures.com to attend.

What do the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Public Health Association, the National PTA all have in common?

They're all advocating for safeguards for kids using social media, doctors' orders. 

Come join me for a livestreamed conversation with three experts: Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands; Titania Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parenting Officer of Bark; and Ruth Reader, a tech and healthcare reporter for POLITICO. 

It'll be on Tuesday, July 30th at 2pm eastern.

RSVP with events@commonwealventures.com!

Parents and legislators have their eyes on social media companies.

     -California is considering legislation that would prohibit sending push           
      notifications to children at night and during school hours

     -The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would establish “duty of care” for tech 
      companies to protect their underage users. 

There are a lot of moving pieces here-- join me for a livestreamed conversation with three people who are in the know: Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands; Titania Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parenting Officer of Bark; and Ruth Reader, a tech and healthcare reporter for POLITICO. 

It'll be on Tuesday, July 30th at 2pm eastern.

RSVP with events@commonwealventures.com!

Biden is out. How does the Democratic Party actually pick a new nominee? 

The primary elections in each state are technically for delegates. Those delegates were pledged to Biden, but now are freed from their commitments. 

Based on current rules, which could change, the process is as follows:

(1) In a first round of voting, current elected delegates vote for a nominee.
(2) If one nominee gets a majority of votes, case closed.
(3) If not, the "super delegates", a collection of former Democratic elected officials and other senior party members, join the voting on the second round.
(4) Voting continues until a nominee gets a majority of votes.

The voting would historically have taken place at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19 - 22 in Chicago, but could in theory be done virtually, as the Biden campaign had originally planned.

The Surgeon General’s report on social media’s impacts on young people’s mental health ignited a media firestorm. Now, we’re seeing the real policy effects.

     -35 out of 50 states have either pending or active legislation on children’s                     
      use of social media.

     -New York passed a bill allowing parents to block their children from  
      getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm. 

     -By 2025, Florida will ban anyone under the age of 14 from opening or 
       having a social media account.

Meta, X, and Snapchat are huge companies and cornerstones of the American media landscape; the coming regulatory wave could radically change the status quo. 

Join me for a livestreamed discussion with Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands; Titania Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parenting Officer of Bark; and Ruth Reader, a tech and healthcare reporter for POLITICO. It'll be on Tuesday, July 30th at 2pm eastern. 

To RSVP, email events@commonwealventures.com!

Altana is building the Bloomberg Terminal for the global supply chain.

Why?

Because the only thing Democrats and Republicans agree on is the need for international trade restrictions, and last year governments created 3,000 new trade barriers around the world.

What is driving the retreat from global free trade, what does it mean for American companies, and what role will technology play in helping companies adapt?

Watch Episode 8 of Political Capital as I’m joined by Evan Smith, CEO of Altana Technologies, to discuss how Altana is helping governments and industry leaders map global trade, protect national security, and collaborate on public policy.

https://lnkd.in/exD6Qwkk

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Commonweal Ventures

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