4 ms·

Ask HN: Are there any startups that work on improving or reinventing democracy?

4 points by brisky 4y ago

ElSinchi 4y ago
Valley mentality. Everything is solved with an app
- brisky 4y ago
  Maybe not solved, but improved. We have technology to give people a better way to express their democratic voice. Without innovation the democratic process becomes stale and broken. That is what we see today.
jstx1 4y ago
Not everything can be solved by a startup.
h2odragon 4y ago
Probably some nontraditional nonprofits but they're likely to be classified as "Terrorist organizations" by those who disagree with their goals... Defnitely a higher risk investment.
physicsgraph 4y ago
If "startup" is defined as a for-profit company, then I'm not aware of any. There are non-profit organizations that work on alternative voting (Approval voting [0] and STAR voting [1] and Instant Run-off/Rank Choice), non-partisan primaries, non-partisan districting, proportional representation (no districts), electoral college reform. [0] https://electionscience.org/ https://electionscience.org/ [1] https://www.starvoting.us/ https://www.starvoting.us/
- brisky 4y ago
  Thanks, this is helpful
- troydavis 4y ago
  If OP is looking for a high-impact way to work on this problem while also receiving some pay, The Center for Election Science is hiring a director of operations and outreach: https://electionscience.org/ces-updates/were-hiring-a-director-of-operations-and-outreach/ https://electionscience.org/ces-updates/were-hiring-a-direct... They’re entirely remote and use Discord, which has been neat to see as a supporter. (Disclosure: Although I’m not affiliated with the group, I’m a big fan and I’m co-leading the campaign to adopt approval voting in Seattle. In a sense, I’ve chosen to advocate for this change without pay, so I’m very biased!)
yuppie_scum 4y ago
Nonprofits are startup-like. You are just not going to get that six figure salary you are accustomed to. At least not til you reach the c-suite.
stevenalowe 4y ago
The main improvement to democracy was liberalism (the belief that individual rights trump majority rule). Is there an app for that?
ironmagma 4y ago
Yes, probably too many. Check AngelList.

4 points by brisky 4y ago

ElSinchi 4y ago

Valley mentality. Everything is solved with an app

brisky 4y ago
Maybe not solved, but improved. We have technology to give people a better way to express their democratic voice. Without innovation the democratic process becomes stale and broken. That is what we see today.

jstx1 4y ago

Not everything can be solved by a startup.

h2odragon 4y ago

Probably some nontraditional nonprofits but they're likely to be classified as "Terrorist organizations" by those who disagree with their goals... Defnitely a higher risk investment.

physicsgraph 4y ago

If "startup" is defined as a for-profit company, then I'm not aware of any. There are non-profit organizations that work on alternative voting (Approval voting [0] and STAR voting [1] and Instant Run-off/Rank Choice), non-partisan primaries, non-partisan districting, proportional representation (no districts), electoral college reform. [0] https://electionscience.org/ https://electionscience.org/ [1] https://www.starvoting.us/ https://www.starvoting.us/

brisky 4y ago
Thanks, this is helpful
troydavis 4y ago
If OP is looking for a high-impact way to work on this problem while also receiving some pay, The Center for Election Science is hiring a director of operations and outreach: https://electionscience.org/ces-updates/were-hiring-a-director-of-operations-and-outreach/ https://electionscience.org/ces-updates/were-hiring-a-direct... They’re entirely remote and use Discord, which has been neat to see as a supporter. (Disclosure: Although I’m not affiliated with the group, I’m a big fan and I’m co-leading the campaign to adopt approval voting in Seattle. In a sense, I’ve chosen to advocate for this change without pay, so I’m very biased!)

yuppie_scum 4y ago

Nonprofits are startup-like. You are just not going to get that six figure salary you are accustomed to. At least not til you reach the c-suite.

stevenalowe 4y ago

The main improvement to democracy was liberalism (the belief that individual rights trump majority rule). Is there an app for that?

ironmagma 4y ago

Yes, probably too many. Check AngelList.