FastDemocracy has cleared an election cycle with its data product tracking legislation in all 50 states and nationally. The formerly two-person startup brought on a CEO to build the national brand and help ramp up sales of its commercial product.
Anatolij Gelimson Ph.D. FastDemocracy CTO, founder
“I was personally looking in a CEO for someone who is incredibly driven, and who can open up doors for us,” said Anatolij Gelimson, CTO, who founded the company with Chief Innovation Officer Sara Baker in 2018. “I think we’ve made a very, very good pick with Grant who is already pushing us to places we wouldn’t be otherwise.”
FastDemocracy tracks legislation as it moves through state and federal legislatures in an effort to make government more transparent by making it easy for voters to follow what legislators are doing. They have a website and an app. Their service is free for individuals and has a professional subscription for people who make their living following politics, like lobbyists and special interest groups.
“I come from a political background –campaigns — I spent a lot of time working with the Obama, both the administration (and) both of his campaigns. Was even Chief of Staff of Organizing for Action, (a) nonprofit that was started in 2013,” new CEO Grant Campbell told the 4thEst8. “The appeal to me about FastDemocracy… is I know intimately how much time, energy, effort, (and) money people spend on the campaign front, whereas the legislative front kind of gets ignored a little bit.”
Branding costs money
Grant Campbell, FastDemocracy CEO
“As an early stage startup… we’re kind of grassroots. Just seeking out customers, getting the sales and growing organically,” Campbell said. “As we’ve grown over the last year… that opens up more avenues in the marketing sector for us.”
