DC weekly roundup: A startup founder leaning into the unknown; the public sector prepares for AI; Washington Post lays off software biz staffers

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Former teacher builds AI platform to help schools

For Anne Spear, the mission behind her startup Plann Forward is personal. She’s a former teacher who sees a need to better support administrators. Plan Forward’s main product, which launched in September, is an AI-driven tool that aims to assess needs and monitor school program implementations through custom-made surveys

Spear’s also adamant that she’s still figuring it all out. 

“I’m in a learning curve of figuring out how to manage this type of stress and pressure,” she told me. “I’ve done a lot of hard things, so I know the cycle.”

Spear delved into the world of bootstrapping Plan Forward, how working in education influenced her present and her joy in making the “privileged choice” of becoming a founder. 

➡️ Read more about Spear’s journey here

DC CTO says city can safely use AI

The district’s acting chief technology officer assured at a recent panel that DC itself is “adequately prepared” to use AI transparently, ethically and safely. 

“We’ve done everything we can for the last couple years to understand the data,” Stephen Miller said on a recent panel of experts hosted by DC Tech Meetup. “We have everything ready on the back end. We’re ready for implementing AI.”

Other panelists did not embrace the public sector’s readiness as eagerly as Miller. As a whole, according to fellow speakers, how ready different entities actually are for AI use depends on factors like staff size and available talent.  

➡️ Learn more about how the public sector is handling AI use here

Promote your brand, support our work

Lawyers at Morgan Lewis are back with a new series of webinars that provide practical tips and address topics relevant to entrepreneurs and investors.

The Oct. 10 edition brings a look at IPOs and the path to liquidity for founders. The Nov. 21 session covers legal strategies for fintech and venture capital financing. On Dec. 11, lawyers discuss the trends affecting investing and fundraising for high-growth emergent companies. It’s all available totally free when you RSVP in advance.

➡️ See the full schedule with details and register online

This sponsored blurb supports our journalism. Want to see your message here? Find out more.

News Incubator: What else to know

• Silver Spring-based AI SaaS platform Statt emerged from stealth and announced a $2.8 million raise. [Semafor]

•  Former Byte Back CEO Joe Paul is nearing the first anniversary of his startup OptimaNova AI. His goal is to help businesses find ways to implement the technology. Byte Back closed its doors in July, shortly after Paul left in February to focus on OptimaNova. [Washington Business Journal/Technical.ly]

• Nearby Baltimore-based Constellation Energy will lead Microsoft’s effort to restart the nuclear plants on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. [Technical.ly]

•  The Washington Post laid off a quarter of its workforce at Arc XP, its publishing software business. [Washington Business Journal]

• Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks needs to pay back taxes for two properties in DC and Prince George’s County after improperly benefiting from tax breaks. [Washington Post]

 •  The Federal Aviation Administration, with offices on Independence Ave in DC, is seeking $633,009 in penalties from SpaceX. But the Elon Musk-founded firm is denying license violation allegations and refusing to pay up. [TechCrunch]

•  A study by the Federal Trade Commission found that several social media sites and streaming services are taking part in a “vast surveillance” of consumers. [New York Times]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• DC Tech Meetup is hosting its monthly event on Oct. 2. It’ll be all about fintech. [Details here]

• Cowork with fellow coders at a DC Code and Coffee event on Sept. 28 at the Southwest Library. [Details here]

• Network with climate tech professionals at Franklin Hall on Sept. 25. [Details here]