Politics, Startups & Regulation: Bradley Tusk on Navigating the System
Don’t miss the spring session of the Startup Fundraising Summit (April 8) - Details at the end
Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Ventures, has built a career at the intersection of politics, regulation, and technology. After a career in politics, Bradley became Uber’s first political advisor in 2011, helping the company legalize ride-sharing across the U.S. Since then, he has worked with high-profile startups facing regulatory challenges, launched multiple venture funds, and pioneered the equity-for-services investment model. In addition to his work in tech and venture capital, Tusk is leading a mobile voting initiative to increase voter participation through secure, digital elections.
Bradley recently headlined our Politics of Fintech Innovation Summit, here’s the video recap and some of the key takeaways from his talk:
Don’t Ignore Regulation
A startup can have the best product, growth, and market fit—but if the government can shut them down overnight, none of that matters.
Understanding regulatory risk is as important as hiring great engineers or having a strong sales strategy. Some startups need regulatory help early (e.g., Lemonade needed insurance licenses), while others don’t face challenges until they scale (e.g., FanDuel faced a crackdown from 42 state attorney generals).
The lesson? Be proactive, not reactive. Founders should assess regulatory risk early, understand the political landscape, and know when to engage experts.
Politics Dictates Regulation—Not the Other Way Around
A common misconception is that policy decisions are based on logic, fairness, or economic impact. In reality, regulation is a function of political ambition.
Every politician makes decisions based on one thing: how it affects their next election.
Example: Gary Gensler’s stance on crypto was largely shaped by his goal of becoming Treasury Secretary.
Lesson: Startups must align their regulatory strategies with the political incentives of decision-makers.
If a founder needs a regulatory green light, they must demonstrate why it helps the politician (or why blocking it could hurt them).
Markets Hate Uncertainty—And Right Now, It’s Chaos
In the wake of Trump’s return to power, many VCs were optimistic about a more business-friendly regulatory climate. But just weeks into 2025, that optimism is fading.
The reasons?
Political instability → Markets dislike unpredictability.
Tariffs & Inflation → Trade policies could drive up costs, hurting consumer spending.
Regulatory Overhaul → Uncertainty around agencies like the SEC and FTC creates dealmaking hesitation.
The result? Many investors are pushing liquidity expectations to 2026 or later as M&A and IPO activity remains sluggish.
The Future of Voting? Mobile Elections Are Coming
Bradley is leading a philanthropic push for mobile voting. Since 2017, he has funded pilot programs in multiple states, proving that removing friction increases voter turnout.
The next step? Rolling out secure, open-source mobile voting technology for municipal elections. The goal isn’t to replace traditional voting, but to give people another option—just like Uber did with taxis.
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For founders, the biggest takeaway from this discussion is clear: regulation isn’t just red tape—it can make or break your startup.
Whether you're operating in fintech, transportation, or any industry touching government oversight, you need to:
✅ Understand your regulatory risk early
✅ Align with political incentives
✅ Leverage customer advocacy to influence policy
For investors, the market uncertainty means liquidity remains a challenge. But those who offer strategic value beyond capital—especially in complex industries—will continue to win.
Regulation, politics, and startups are more intertwined than ever. The best founders and investors will treat them as a core part of their strategy, not an afterthought.
To find all upcoming Lynx Collective events visit our Lu.ma/lynx page or follow Andrew’s linkedin profile.
Startup Fundraising Summit - By Investors, For Founders
On April 8th, we’re hosting our 2nd Startup Fundraising Summit—a half-day conference designed for NYC founders actively raising capital. This event brings together experienced investors to share practical insights and real-world fundraising advice. With candid discussions, actionable takeaways, and meaningful networking opportunities, founders will gain direct access to a diverse group of investors. If you're looking to refine your fundraising strategy and build key investor relationships, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Event details and request an invite
The Agenda
2:45 PM – Check-in & Founder Networking
Kick off the event by connecting with fellow founders and investors.
3:00 PM – Both Sides of The Table
Fundraising insights from people who have been both investors and founders.
Sanjiv Sanghavi – Co-Founder & CEO of Texture, Former Co-Founder of ClassPass, Former VC at Day One Ventures
Lindsay Kaplan - Co-Founder Chief, Investor at Next Wave NYC
Brett Martin – VC at Charge Ventures, Co-Founder of Kumospace, Former Co-Founder of Switch & Sonar, Adjunct Professor at Columbia
4:15 PM – Preparing for Your Fundraise
with Neil Toomey (Partner, Gunderson)
Neil has been a trusted legal partner to startups and venture funds in the NYC tech ecosystem.
4:30 PM – Understanding the Fundraising Process
with Chip Hazard (General Partner, Flybridge Capital)
Chip is a seed-stage investor backing founders shaping the AI-powered future. Flybridge Capital has over $1 billion under management across six seed funds and nine network funds.
5:30 PM – Unblocking Your Fundraising Process
A tactical session focused on overcoming common fundraising challenges, featuring:
Kendra Shultz – Investor at Benchstrength
Morgan Blumberg - Investor at M13
Bryce Johnson - Investor at Primary Venture Partners
6:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Investor & Founder Networking Reception
Meet and connect with 20+ VC and angel investors over drinks and conversation