Erin McPike spent years traveling the world for CNN and other outlets, reporting on global news. Now, she's adding international stories of innovation and technology to her repertoire as the new communications director for Washington, D.C.-based startup incubator and venture fund 1776.
"Startups are a huge part of what's happening in America and really everywhere and it's happening right in front of you." McPike explained to me in an interview. "Startups are remaking everything. 1776 is the tip of that startup spear. I'll be getting the 1776 message out on the national and international stage."
"1776 is the tip of that startup spear."
McPike will play a number of different roles at 1776. Much of her work will be at the executive level, working on press strategy for 1776, including both the incubator and the 1776 venture fund. She'll be tasked with connecting 1776 and member startups with the press, advising the members on the best way to tell their stories to the public and to the lawmakers and regulators who are frequently important to the kinds of companies 1776 wants to add to its membership. It all ties to the "regulatory hacking" idea of innovation in areas like education and transportation where the rules are often outdated if they exist at all for new technologies.
"1776 is a natural fit for me," McPike said. "I know the government aspect of regulatory hacking at different levels. I speak political discourse."
McPike certainly has the background in D.C. to speak authoritatively in that regard. An alumna of American University, McPike worked at National Journal, NBC and RealClearPolitics before joining CNN in 2013. She covered the White House and major international stories like the Boston Marathon bombing and Russia's invasion of Ukraine before leaving CNN in 2015 and moving to covering stories for Reuters and other wire services. 1776 is a decidedly new kind of adventure for her in some ways.
"I didn't know some of the business terminology, or that there were SEO firms," McPike said. "One thing I want to do is try to make the language more accessible. Like when a startup in the energy space explains what it does."
That challenge explains a lot of why McPike wanted to join 1776. She'd been seeking out a job in communications when a friend alerted her to the opening at the incubator. McPike knew about 1776 and had even attended a few events there. After weighing some of her other options and talking to 1776's co-founders, she decided that it was the best next step for her.
"[1776 founders] Donna [Harris] and Evan [Burfield] are two of the smartest people I've talked to in a long time," McPike said. "I had no idea of the depth and complexity of their business model."
In some ways, McPike's new job might seem in conflict with her time as a journalist. But, McPike pointed out that she's hardly unique in her career trajectory and that aspects of 1776 lessen any potential tension.
"There are a lot of people in politics and media making moves," McPike said. "They're shifting around and broadening their horizons. In this case it was very easy because 1776 is non-partisan. We're helping entrepreneurs, there's no conflict of interest."
The global nature of McPike's previous work will be a big help in her new job as 1776's works at becoming a global brand, not just during the Challenge Cup competition, but year-round. McPike said part of her work will be to understand what different cities care about and how they view startups. That naturally leads to finding openings for connecting member companies with those cities, expanding the overall footprint of 1776.
McPike is not the first prominent hire for 1776 this year. In January, the incubator hired former New York City and State chief digital officer Rachel Haot as managing director. Haot's current role capitalizes on her accumulated understanding of how government and politics interact with technology and tech startups, much as McPike's own background will help her hit the ground running connecting 1776 with an international array of cities.
"'I'll be getting the 1776 message out on the national and international stage," McPike said. "There are so many great stories to tell."
