As the nation marks National Small Business Week, we’re celebrating our way by bringing the voices of small tech innovators straight to Capitol Hill. From May 4 to 7, ACT | The App Association is convening more than 60 small business members from nearly 50 unique companies nationwide for our annual Global App Economy Conference: U.S. (GAEC: U.S.) in Washington, D.C.
Our members aren’t just industry leaders; they’re technologists, job creators, and community builders powering the $6.3 trillion app economy, and they’ll bring that firsthand experience directly to the policymakers writing the rules of the digital road.
Behind the Screens
Members of the App Association are building AI tools for classrooms and health clinics, designing secure platforms to protect user privacy, and advocating for smarter tech regulation that helps (not hinders) innovation. But behind the screens is where the real work happens.
It’s reworking a product to meet a privacy rule that’s still evolving. It’s adapting an interface to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s navigating government procurement systems that weren’t built for startups, and recalibrating hiring plans in response to changes in the R&D tax deduction. For small tech businesses, policy isn’t background noise; it’s a defining force.
GAEC: U.S. During Small Business Week 2025
The timing of the U.S. Global App Economy Conference couldn’t be more meaningful. As the country honors small businesses, our members are in the nation’s capital, bringing practical solutions and policy insights shaped by real-world experience. And they’re not just contributing to the conversation, they’re reframing it.
Our members lead with purpose and build with integrity. This week and every week, we’re proud to celebrate their impact, and even prouder to stand with them as they help shape what comes next!
Want to see how our members are shaping tech policy around the world? Learn more about GAEC: EU and GAEC: UK.