Welcome back, Founders & Operators. In today's update: a briefing on The Data Center Wars, AI in the Midterms, and upcoming NYC events.
RECAP & UPCOMING EVENTS
BREAKFAST CLUB WITH MERCURY
We were thrilled to host our first partner activation this morning with our friends at Mercury - a curated Founders Breakfast Club at our favorite café in West Village. Matcha, conversation, and co-working in great company. If you’re looking to partner with us, reach out here. We only have a limited number of partnership opportunities remaining for Q4.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Rooftop Social · Thursday · 6:30-8:30 PM · Lower East Side
Join fellow founders and operators for rooftop drinks and conversations on GTM, AI-Native Services, and more. Curated group, limited capacity.
Coffee & Co-Working · Next Thursday 8-10 AM · West Village
Coffee, croissants, matcha, and co-working with your fellow founders & operators. Bring a demo. Ask for advice. Or just enjoy the company and space.
The Data Center Wars - AI in the Midterms
The national debate around AI, in particular data centers, is taking center stage: The New York Times ran an extensive piece on this on Sunday. Data centers as a hot button issue are becoming an area of focus in TV ads and fundraising. Candidates in the midterms are racing to adjust their positions to bring them in line with popular sentiment and public opinion. Party strategists are trying to figure out how to best navigate it. 70-75% of Americans oppose the data center buildout - while the Federal government is pushing it aggressively. That gives Democratic candidates an opening, and for Republicans, it creates the need to toe the party line while being mindful of local community sentiment. The AI industry is also struggling to figure out where to go from here.
Given that backdrop, our friends at AI Policy Radar launched a public resource to help you navigate the turmoil. At aicongress.us, you can check your Senator’s or House Member’s positions on AI - from data centers to employment and governance. Candidates in key races in the Midterms are also covered. They’re planning on adding an interactive newsroom and additional features in the coming days. Take a look and let them know what you think ([email protected]).
GET INVOLVED
We’re onboarding a select number of community fellows and interns in the coming weeks. Reach out if you’re interested. Find the details here.
See you soon,
Stephan & Your F&O Team
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Social: Every now and then, Founders & Operators take a break from building and dip their toes in the city’s broader social scene. One special occasion is the annual Dionysus Group Fall Gala, co-hosted by a community member. It’s coming up on Sept 26 at The Surrogate’s Courthouse. Learn more here.
Tooling: Hiring internationally, or working on your SOC2 and GDPR compliance? Deel and CompAI are looking to meet with you to walk you through their product, so you can see if it’s a fit. You’ll be compensated for your time. If you meet the requirements, book a meeting here.