Jessica Alter, Co-Founder of Tech for Campaigns (Ep. 13)
Jessica Alter has been starting and growing some of Silicon Valley’s most impressive companies for her entire career, but her latest endeavor, Tech for Campaigns, is her most important startup yet. What started as a simple Google Doc shared among her friends and colleagues in the tech world to see who was interested in providing tech expertise to Democratic campaigns following the election of Donald Trump has since morphed into a full-fledged organization with an army of volunteer digital talent ready to be dispatched to progressive and centrist campaigns at a moment’s notice.
On episode 13 of Next Gen Dem, Jessica and I discuss how Tech for Campaigns came to be, how we can ensure technological innovations live on in future elections, why we need to focus on the state level, and how Democrats need to take a page out of the Chicago Cubs’ playbook.
Prior to founding Tech for Campaigns, Alter was most recently the Cofounder & CEO of FounderDating (acquired by OneVest), the premier network for entrepreneurs and advisors to connect, share and help one and other succeed. Previously, Jessica led Business Development and was GM of Platforms at Bebo (acquired by AOL), and worked in business development at Hands-On Mobile.
Quote of the Episode:
“We don’t want people to feel like to be a volunteer in politics you either have the option to knock on doors or you can quit your job. There needs to be things in the middle…and where it doesn’t consume all of your life and you have to change everything.”
Bonus Quote:
“All I heard in 2016 was the tech elite, the tech elite, the tech elite, and then we got our asses handed to us on tech. If they’re going to call us that, then let’s deliver and do something.
If you would like to learn more about Tech for Campaigns, please visit: https://www.techforcampaigns.org/
If you would like to take part in Tech for Campaigns’ crowdfunding campaign, please visit: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tech-for-campaigns-let-s-elect-more-progressives-democracy-technology#/
If you would like to be a guest on the Next Gen Dem podcast, or know someone who you think would be a good fit — or if you know of a good organization to feature — please email me at max@nextgendem.com.
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