By: Sara Ashley O’Brien –

Call it the Uber and Airbnb effect.

These companies have had to fight high-profile regulatory battles in cities across the country, going up against the taxi and hotel industries. But they’ve had one big ally on their side: the public.

Younger startups aren’t so lucky. Less established, they have smaller user bases to draw from — and entrenched interests are getting smarter about taking them on early.

“The fights are coming sooner and startups have to be prepared sooner,” according to regulatory adviser Bradley Tusk, who says he created his investment fund to solve political problems for startups.

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