Edwin Wee Arbus

The founders of Lake Oswego-based StrateSea Technology, Inc have been working at “lightning speed” to get their no-code artificial intelligence platform into the hands of subsea intelligence analysts. The startup launched in January, had a product by July and now has four pilots going. https://lnkd.in/geMGsUzK

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Portland software startup Knapsack raised $10 million from investors as it builds a platform to help enterprise product teams build digital products faster using new artificial intelligence workflows. https://lnkd.in/eq-f6cGV

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Nevada Grants for Founders Looking for funding? Here's a quick guide to #grants and #programs available in Nevada, including resources for a diverse range of business owners: Federal Grants: #SBIR and #STTR programs offer seed funding for tech startups. Link: SBIR.gov State Initiatives: The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (#GOED) has programs like the Nevada Small Business Credit Initiative (#SSBCI) to help local businesses. GOED Link: goed.nv.gov SSBCI Link: nevadasbdc.org/ssbci Local & Targeted Programs: Don't forget about city-specific grants and programs for diverse-owned businesses. City of Las Vegas #SBDC: sba.gov/district/nevada City of North Las Vegas #SBDC: https://lnkd.in/gxxUGd8g Minority-Owned Business Loans: https://lnkd.in/gPjBVDSC Women, Minority, & Veteran Business Assistance: https://lnkd.in/gMSZbZdM #Nevada #Grants #Funding #Startups #SmallBusiness #Tech #Founder #VeteranOwnedBusiness #DisabledVeteran #MinorityOwnedBusiness #WomenOwnedBusiness #LGBTQOwnedBusiness #BusinessFunding #NevadaBusiness #UnderservedCommunities #NativeAmericanOwnedBusiness #RuralBusiness #Community #PayItForward #TeachTheYouth

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It feels really important for states to take a proactive role on regulating AI when the feds have essentially abdicated that responsibility.

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This week Aaron Brown chatted about his new startup Rapta, Inc. and its work to help manufacturers catch errors on the factory floor before products ship. https://lnkd.in/gGfEVwzV

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Tech money fueled California Forever, an ambitious plan to build a city of the future in Solano County, but the effort could now rekindle a much older and more traditional Golden State industry. https://lnkd.in/e-4icnvJ

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🌍 Just published! Communities across California are taking environmental justice into their own hands with mobile air monitoring programs. These grassroots initiatives are revolutionizing how we detect and address pollution in underserved neighborhoods. The data doesn't lie - and now residents have the PROOF they need when facing industrial polluters! What's amazing is how these community-led efforts are creating accountability where traditional monitoring systems have failed. Residents equipped with portable sensors are mapping pollution hotspots that stationary monitors miss completely. The results? Real policy changes, enforcement actions, and a powerful shift in who controls environmental data. I'm seeing this movement spread nationwide - empowering communities to advocate with hard data rather than just concerns that get brushed aside. Who else believes environmental monitoring should be in the hands of those most affected? Drop a 💨 if you support this citizen science revolution! https://lnkd.in/eeaAm7MR

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If you are building in Climate, definitely join this session with Yvonne Chen to learn more about non-dilutive funding opportunities!

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I spend most of my time working on incredibly polarized, very stuck issues where people have already picked a side and are very resistant to opinion change. That’s why the work my team at Bully Pulpit International did for Waymo is so wild. Usually, opinion moves at a snail’s pace, getting the public on your side takes years of focused persuasion. But in San Francisco, we watched support for Waymo jump from 44% to 67% in just over two years. It’s honestly rare to see that many people change their minds that quickly, and a testament to the power of this technology. The people who live with it every day are increasingly, overwhelmingly supportive. Yet it is clear that there still much work to be done to define the narrative in the AV space. City leaders need to know that this is a politically winning issue for them. Great to see Brian and co sharing these numbers today, always love working with the best of the best!

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California's legislative session ends today and one bill I've been following closely is AB 1018. This bill would regulate virtually any computational process used in business operations. Even California's State Water Board warned that Excel workbooks could trigger regulatory requirements. Using four large language models to estimate compliance costs, I found individual firms could face $2 to $6 million over a decade in regulatory overhead. Even assuming only 5% of businesses comply, the total economic cost could reach the low trillions. The deeper problem is that AB 1018 forces one-size-fits-all compliance across vastly different sectors. A restaurant's scheduling algorithm faces the same regulatory framework as a bank's loan approval system, despite fundamentally different risk profiles. This isn't about being anti-regulation. It's about smart regulation that preserves beneficial innovation while addressing legitimate risks. When regulatory compliance becomes so expensive that it eliminates both the risks and the benefits of technological progress, we've missed the mark. Let me know what you think! https://lnkd.in/ewNDrDkN

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Just released! A new podcast episode with Denice Ross about the fragile state of federal data and why her new projects are tracking disruptions, removals, and policy windows across the federal statistical system. We discuss the implications for research, journalism, climate analysis, business decisions, and everyday public services — and why public data shouldn’t be taken for granted. If you rely on federal data (and honestly, we all do), this one is worth a listen. 🎙 https://lnkd.in/ehMuECJ6

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What if the solution to homelessness wasn’t more shelters, but fewer evictions? In #SantaClara County, a new model backed by tech money and data-driven strategy is redefining how a community tackles housing insecurity. Its method is simple: catch families before they fall into #homelessness. A county program works directly with landlords and provides short-term cash assistance for tenants facing eviction. Since 2017, over 18,400 households – more than 33,000 people – have been stabilized. More than 90% remained in their homes two years later. “One of the lessons in Santa Clara is that private investment can spur innovation and public investment can ensure sustainability,” says Jeff Olivet, senior adviser at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Initiative on Health and Homelessness. Linda Nguyen knows how quickly things can unravel. The #SanJose mom runs her business from home. Last winter, a mold infestation led to a serious health diagnosis, so she was forced to shut down temporarily. She and her 14-year-old son spent nights in their car to escape the toxic air inside their home. Then the county’s Homelessness Prevention System (HPS) stepped in. Within days, the program covered her deposit and first month’s rent. The help came just in time. “All it takes is one catastrophe – whether it’s mold in the house or your car breaks down,” says Ms. Nguyen, wiping away tears. “There has to be more resources for people like me who do work.” https://lnkd.in/e9qgZSct

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Curious to learn more about #quantum technologies? Berkeley Lab is here to help! Follow our #DiscoveryToDelivery campaign over the next two weeks to learn how our researchers are advancing discoveries in the quantum space, like designing new materials and discovering new drugs.

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In a political campaign, it's a very good sign when voters grow in support the more they get to know the candidate. And after almost two years of service, San Francisco voters know Waymo better than most, and according to this poll, support remains incredibly strong. I have no doubt the rest of America will soon feel the same as they get to experience Waymo in their cities. According to a recent poll commissioned by Advance SF, a massive 77% of San Francisco voters support allowing fully autonomous vehicles to provide passenger service and operate on city roads. 73% of voters feel safe with Waymos on their streets, and 68% say the vehicles have a positive impact on road safety. 68% of voters agree that they are proud to have Waymo in San Francisco. As local leaders noted in the release, getting three-in-four voters to agree on anything is remarkable. Waymo is not just shaping the future of transportation—it is actively strengthening San Francisco's identity as a global capital of entrepreneurship and technology.

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"Recent federal rollbacks on climate and clean energy policy have made looking abroad for signs of progress even more urgent. Because here’s the truth: Some of the most exciting and impactful climate tech revolutions today are happening beyond the U.S. — they’re unfolding in China and emerging markets like Vietnam and Pakistan. These countries aren’t just catching up. In some ways, they’re pulling ahead."

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Lobbying for less: #Meta Platforms announced a #California-focused political action committee to support state-level candidates favoring lighter technology regulation, particularly for artificial intelligence. Named "Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California," the PAC will back bipartisan candidates advocating AI innovation over strict rules. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to invest tens of millions, potentially ranking among California's top political spenders before the 2026 governor race. California, a leader in AI and social media regulation, will elect its next governor in November 2026.

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The White House Office of Management and Budget is piecing together guidance on AI to prevent "woke AI" in the federal government. This comes as agencies are getting blowback from contracting with xAI after it called itself "MechaHitler." https://lnkd.in/eyPJmXM5

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$8 billion - this amount of revenue is what our latest research projects the California Low Carbon Fuels Standard will channel to medium- and heavy-duty electrification in California through 2035. Why does this matter? - The LCFS is an existing program. No new battles need to be fought or won. - LCFS overcomes the chicken-and-egg problem, providing infrastructure providers a revenue guarantee before utilization reaches break-even levels - All incentives are self-funded through payments from fossil fuel producers to offset carbon credit deficits, driving the energy transition forward. The LCFS is an investment in a new energy ecosystem, generating construction jobs and making freight cleaner and more efficient. The transition is led by some amazing new infrastructure providers including Forum Mobility EV Realty WattEV, Inc. Terawatt, Voltera Zeem Solutions Greenlane™ Infrastructure and many more. Read the paper here https://lnkd.in/gZxeKcie

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