GovTech: Innovation & Trends w/ Rachel Stern

In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the rapid advancements in GovTech with Rachel Stern, an expert who has spent 15 years in the field. Stern shares her background, including founding InState Partners and GovTech Ventures, and highlighting the evolution of technology in government, notably AI and cloud adoption. She explains how GovTech companies, like Lyft and Zoom, interacted with governments and details the rise of early-stage startups employing equity-service deals. The conversation explores trends such as public safety, city planning, and disaster preparedness, with a focus on the impacts of AI and cybersecurity. Stern emphasizes the opportunity for early technology adoption in government, noting both the risks and benefits for cities to become early adopters. Asch and Stern conclude by discussing the role of AI in solving specific administrative pain points and the future potential for transformative technology in public sectors.