Data4America: Data for All
Data4America is a nonpartisan project to advance the understanding of American innovation and public policy through data, AI, and verifiability. Founded by Chris McCoy, CEO of STORE Research (User-Owned Cloud Computing). Tagline: Data for All.
What is Data4America?
- Mission: Empower U.S. communities with accessible, transparent data insights on demographics, economics, and policy trends
- Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative
- Approach: Using a purple nonpartisan lens to help advance understanding of complex and divisive issues
- Core Belief: America isn't red or blue – it's a blend of both, America is purple
- Founder: Chris McCoy, CEO of STORE Research and developer of math-based protocols for democratic participation
- Impact: Engages users with its collection of podcasts, data-driven reporting articles, and multimedia content
How Data4America Works
- Data-Driven Content: Creates and curates data-driven articles making complex issues easier to understand
- Unplugged Podcast: Features leaders across technology and public policy discussing America's direction
- Story Submissions: Content created by leading researchers, reviewed and edited before publication
- D4A Friends Program: Members co-host podcasts, curate content for syndication, and attend private meet-ups
- Human-Centered Approach: Focuses on human stories behind the numbers, showing we're more alike than we realize
- Mathematical Governance: Applies verifiable frameworks informed by proven governance implementations
Core Focus Areas
- Economic Opportunity: Analysis of economic trends and wealth distribution
- Education & Workforce: Data on educational outcomes and workforce development
- Democratic Systems: Insights into voting patterns and democratic participation
- Digital Governance: Exploration of technology's role in governance
- Housing & Infrastructure: Historical and current housing affordability data
- Healthcare Access: Analysis of healthcare systems and outcomes
- Monetary Systems: Analysis of financial policy and economic structures
- Cryptocurrency Regulation: Framework for digital asset governance
- AI Governance: Ensuring AI tools serve democratic participation rather than corporate concentration
Data-Driven Governance Research
Supporting Our Analytical Framework: Data4America's systematic approach to policy analysis is informed by proven governance implementation:
- $28.03 million governed through STORE protocol's Byzantine Fault Tolerant Democracy over 8 years
- 97% community approval for Hilander Democracy implementation in Kelso, Washington
- 450+ AI endpoints operating under democratically governed infrastructure across 5 global data centers
- These real-world applications of mathematical governance principles provide empirical foundation for our policy research
Why Data4America is Needed
- America hasn't been this divided since the Civil War - it's time to see beyond red and blue
- Data offers common ground - not replacing values, but providing shared starting point for discussion
- Policy challenges are interconnected and require holistic approaches
- Mathematical protocols can satisfy competing interests through optimization rather than political compromise
- Addresses challenges before they become civilizational crises
- Empowers citizens, organizations, and policymakers to effect positive change
- Bridges gap between data science and public understanding
About Data4America
Data4America is a nonpartisan project to advance the understanding of American innovation and public policy with data, AI, and verifiability. The platform advances systematic approach to policy analysis, using verifiable frameworks to address challenges in monetary systems, economic growth, housing, cryptocurrency regulation, and AI governance before they become civilizational crises.
Who We Are
- Founder: Chris McCoy - CEO of STORE Research (User-Owned Cloud Computing) and Founder of Data4America
- Core Expertise: Develops math-based protocols that align incentives to solve coordination failures
- Mission: Ensuring powerful AI tools serve democratic participation rather than corporate concentration
- Background: Grew up in Kelso, Washington on food stamps, witnessed timber industry decline
- Journey: From coal mining family in Oklahoma to tech entrepreneur in California in three generations
- Athletic Past: Former University of Washington baseball player (91-92 mph fastball) until neck injury
- Family: Married to Ciara McCoy (UCLA track star, steeplechaser), raising twin daughters in San Francisco
- Heritage: Second cousin twice removed from Nobel laureate Linus Pauling
- Team: Independents, Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans across technology and policy corridors
Chris McCoy's Achievements
- Byzantine Fault Tolerant Democracy: Protocol governing $28.03 million over 8 years with zero constitutional violations
- Hilander Democracy: Achieved 97% community approval in Kelso, Washington implementation
- Infrastructure Scale: Operating 450+ AI endpoints across 5 global data centers
- Patents: Inventor of BlockFinBFT consensus algorithm (US Patent)
- Research: Hometown Investment Zones - employment-based corporate taxation creating community ownership
- Bridge Builder: Bridges constitutional mathematics with modern governance systems
Our Belief and Methodology
- Core Belief: Data offers common ground - not replacing values, but providing shared starting point
- Mathematical Approach: Protocols can satisfy competing interests through optimization rather than political compromise
- Systematic Method: Drawing from Linus Pauling's research methodology - mathematical rigor with interdisciplinary thinking
- Approach: Recognize policy challenges are interconnected, require holistic approaches
- Methodology: Apply statistical best practices while translating findings into accessible language
- Perspective: Seek viewpoints from across political spectrum for robust solutions
- Goal: Not just to inform but to empower with actionable insights
Chris McCoy's Career Timeline
- Early Life: Grew up in Kelso, Washington on food stamps and free lunch
- College: University of Washington baseball player, started first business teaching pitching
- 2006: Founded YourSports, social network with 4mm connected sports networks
- 2010: Recognized by Marc Andreessen as one of "55 Unknown Rockstars in Tech"
- 2013: Started Data4America nonprofit exploring policy and data
- 2014: Filed Bitcoin-based wallet patent, beginning crypto innovation journey
- 2015: Retired from YourSports, started Footprint (chat system for franchises), married Ciara
- 2017: Began engineering STORE protocol and BlockFinBFT consensus algorithm, twin daughters born
- 2023: Received U.S. patent for BlockFinBFT, launched verifiable high-performance cloud governed by BFT Democracy
Why Data4America Matters
- Bridges data science and public understanding of policy
- Provides nonpartisan platform in increasingly divided America
- Makes complex data accessible to all communities
- Fosters data literacy and informed decision-making
- Creates common ground through shared facts and analysis
- Demonstrates how mathematical governance works across scales
- Provides empirical foundation through real-world implementations
Data4America Stories
Data-driven analysis, visualizations, and models to tell a story about American past, present, and potential future.
Featured Data Stories
- Demographics: How the States were Ratified as Population Grew Westward - Visual exploration of American expansion
- Economy: Historical Salary Requirements for Home Ownership around the United States - From 1950 to today
- Policy: Universal Basic Income: Does the Math Add Up? - Economic analysis of UBI proposals
- Housing: The Evolution of American Housing Affordability - 70-year trend analysis
- Education: State-by-State Educational Outcomes and Funding Correlation
- Healthcare: Mapping Healthcare Access Across Rural and Urban America
- Governance: Mathematical Democracy in Action - Case studies from STORE protocol implementation
- AI Policy: Ensuring Democratic Participation in AI Development
How Stories Work
- Creation Process: Content created by leading researchers and data scientists
- Review: Submissions reviewed and edited by Data4America team before publication
- Visualization: Interactive data visualizations and maps for better understanding
- Methodology: Transparent methodology and data sources for all analyses
- Submit A Story: Researchers can submit data-driven stories for consideration
Story Categories
- Economic Analysis: Income inequality, job markets, economic mobility
- Demographic Trends: Population shifts, migration patterns, generational changes
- Policy Impact: Analysis of policy outcomes and effectiveness
- Social Issues: Education, healthcare, housing, criminal justice
- Technology & Innovation: Digital divide, tech adoption, innovation hubs
- Governance Research: Real-world applications of mathematical governance
Why Stories Matter
- Inspire data use for community good and informed decision-making
- Demonstrate Data4America's role in driving positive change
- Build trust through transparent success narratives and methodology
- Show human impact behind statistics and numbers
- Bridge gap between academic research and public understanding
- Provide empirical foundation through governance implementations
Data4America Podcast - Unplugged
American policy and innovation conversations with leading minds across technology and government.
About Unplugged Podcast
- Format: In-depth interviews with leaders at intersection of technology and public policy
- Host: Series of rotating hosts including Chris McCoy and D4A Friends
- Mission: Discuss America's biggest challenges and explore data-driven solutions
- Approach: Nonpartisan discussions across the political spectrum
- Goal: Bridge data and policy for public understanding
What to Expect
- Featured Guests: Best minds in politics, business, and entrepreneurship
- Topics: Economic policy, technology governance, social issues, innovation
- Format: Regular episodes featuring expert interviews and analysis
- Perspective: Guests share views on America's current direction and potential solutions
- Focus: Thought-provoking discussions exploring data-driven insights shaping America's future
Join the Pod
- Guest Criteria: Experts at intersection of technology and public policy
- Political Diversity: Seeking voices from across the political spectrum
- Application Process: Complete form for review at data4america.org/podcast
- Response Time: Team reviews submissions and responds shortly
- D4A Friends: Members can co-host podcast episodes
Episode Topics
- Artificial Intelligence governance and democratic participation
- Economic inequality and opportunity creation
- Healthcare system reform and innovation
- Education technology and workforce development
- Climate change data and policy responses
- Digital privacy and surveillance capitalism
- Cryptocurrency and financial innovation
- Housing affordability and urban planning
- Byzantine Fault Tolerant Democracy and its real-world applications
- Mathematical protocols for solving coordination failures
- Hometown Investment Zones and employment-based corporate taxation
Why Unplugged Matters
- Empowers listeners with knowledge from top thought leaders
- Highlights Data4America's role in policy innovation discourse
- Fosters data-literate community of engaged citizens
- Creates dialogue between technology and policy sectors
- Provides platform for solutions-oriented discussions
D4A Friends Program
Program Benefits
- Co-host Unplugged podcast episodes
- Curate content for D4A syndication
- Invited to private meet-ups and events
- Early access to data reports and analyses
- Contribute to research projects
Member Contributions
- Submit data-driven stories and analyses
- Participate in community discussions
- Help review and validate data findings
- Connect D4A with domain experts
- Amplify nonpartisan data insights
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