White House Demo Day Explores the Intersection of Tech and Policy

The White House Demo Day was a unique opportunity for tech innovators to showcase their projects and connect with policymakers.

The event was organized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which has been actively working to bridge the gap between tech and policy.

Attendees included entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials, all of whom were eager to explore the intersection of technology and policy.

The event featured a series of pitches and demos, where innovators presented their projects and solutions to pressing policy challenges.

The White House hosted its first-ever Demo Day, a showcase for entrepreneurs and startups, on the State Floor. The event was like a grown-up science fair meets the TV show "Shark Tank."

President Barack Obama attended the event, joking that in 18 months he'll need a job and has some skills. He toured the State Floor where 30 startup owners showed off their businesses.

The entrepreneurs included representatives of Astrobotic, a company that hopes to become the FedEx or UPS to the moon. They're working on sending scientific instruments and personal mementos to the moon.

Astrobotic's "MoonMail" project allows individuals to send a personal memento to the moon for a few hundred dollars. It's a fraction of the cost for space agencies to send instruments to the moon.

The event also featured demonstrations from Emerald, a fall-detection system for the elderly, and Partpic, a technology that helps customers replace parts by taking pictures with a smartphone.

The Small Business Administration announced awards of $4.4 million to 88 startup accelerators and 27 prizes of $50,000 each to cities and Native American communities to help them start businesses.

Attendees included Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship and leaders in business, philanthropy, and non-profit sectors. They met with entrepreneurs showcasing their innovations.

Here are some of the entrepreneurs who were honored and invited to the White House Demo Day:

At the first-ever White House Demo Day, 30 startup owners showcased their businesses on the State Floor. The event was a mix of a science fair and the TV show "Shark Tank", with entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to President Barack Obama.

Talking teddy bears and space robots stood alongside perfectly tied bowties and smarter smartphone apps. The entrepreneurs were dreaming big, with some companies hoping to make a huge impact in their respective industries.

Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company, is working on sending everything from scientific instruments to personal mementos to the moon. Their project, "MoonMail", allows individuals to send personal items to the moon for a few hundred dollars.

The first delivery mission is scheduled to take place at the end of 2017. It's a game-changer for scientists who can save half a million dollars per pound by using Astrobotic's service.

Emerald, a fall-detection system for the elderly, was also showcased at the event. This technology has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of seniors.

Partpic, a technology that helps customers replace parts by taking pictures with a smartphone, was another innovation on display. It's a simple yet effective solution for everyday problems.

President Obama was impressed by the entrepreneurs and their ideas. He joked that in 18 months, he might need a job, given the skills he's picking up from the event.

The Small Business Administration announced awards of $4.4 million to 88 startup accelerators and 27 prizes of $50,000 each to cities and Native American communities to help them start businesses.