Democracy works better when everyone's paying attention.
Hakivo exists because staying informed about government shouldn't require a law degree, a political science background, or hours of free time you don't have.
The problem is simple: civic engagement is broken.
Most Americans can name their favorite reality TV contestants but not their state legislators. It's not because people don't care — it's because the system makes it nearly impossible to care effectively.
Bills are written in impenetrable legalese. Congressional schedules change without notice. Your representatives vote on dozens of issues that affect your daily life, and unless you're watching C-SPAN religiously, you'll never know about it.
We built Hakivo to change that. Not by dumbing things down, but by meeting people where they are — in their earbuds during their morning commute, in their inbox with clear summaries, and on their phones with one-tap action tools.
Clarity Over Complexity
AI transforms legal jargon into plain English. No PhD required.
Nonpartisan by Design
We present facts, not spin. Democracy works when everyone has the same information.
Audio-First Experience
Because informed citizenship should fit into your life, not the other way around.
Born from a hackathon. Built for a movement.
Hakivo was created for the LiquidMetal Devpost Hackathon, where developers were challenged to build applications that push the boundaries of what's possible with serverless edge computing and AI.
But this wasn't just an engineering exercise. The hackathon became a forcing function to build something I'd been thinking about for years: a tool that makes civic engagement as seamless as checking your favorite podcast app.
The result is a full-stack civic intelligence platform: real-time bill tracking from Congress.gov and all 50 state legislatures, AI-powered analysis using Claude, personalized audio briefings with Google's Gemini TTS, and the 100 Laws That Shaped America podcast auto-published to Spreaker. All running on Cloudflare Workers through LiquidMetal's Raindrop framework.
What does "Hakivo" mean?
I chose this name because it captures the core mission: democracy works best when every citizen has access to clear, unbiased information about what their government is doing. Hakivo is the voice that translates complex congressional action into something accessible—whether that's through semantic search, AI analysis, or audio briefings you can listen to during your morning commute. No spin. No agenda. Just the facts, delivered with clarity.
The name also reflects a commitment to amplifying diverse voices in civic engagement. Just as Swahili bridges cultures across East Africa, Hakivo aims to bridge the gap between Capitol Hill and Main Street—making democracy accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or how much time they have.
Built for everyone who cares
Hakivo serves anyone who believes an informed citizenry is the foundation of democracy.
Educators & Teachers
Bring civics to life in your classroom. Use Hakivo to track real bills in real time, show students how legislation actually moves through Congress, and spark discussions about issues affecting their communities.
- Real-time bill tracking for current events lessons
- AI summaries make complex legislation accessible
- 100 Laws podcast for engaging history content
Advocacy Groups & Nonprofits
Stay ahead of legislation that impacts your mission. Monitor bills across federal and state levels, mobilize your community with timely alerts, and give your members the tools to contact representatives effectively.
- Track unlimited bills across all 50 states
- Deep AI analysis of bill impacts and stakeholders
- One-tap representative contact tools
Journalists & Media Outlets
Never miss a story. Hakivo surfaces legislative activity the moment it happens, provides AI-powered context on complex bills, and tracks how representatives vote on issues your audience cares about.
- Real-time alerts on bill movements and votes
- Section-by-section bill breakdowns for reporting
- Representative voting records and contact info
Students & Young Voters
Your voice matters — and now you have the tools to use it. Hakivo makes it easy to understand what's happening in government, find your representatives, and take action on issues that affect your future.
- Daily audio briefings fit your busy schedule
- Plain-English explanations of complex issues
- Free tier perfect for getting started
Need Hakivo for your organization?
We offer special pricing for nonprofits, educational institutions, newsrooms, and civic organizations.
Contact UsHi, I'm Tarik. I'm not a developer.
At least, not in the traditional sense. I started my career studying architecture at Howard University, then spent 14 years in the Army Reserves as a signal officer. For the past two decades, I've worked in media and radio — most recently as Director of Innovation at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, where I launched 88Nine Labs and helped create HYFIN, an urban music station.
I've always been fascinated by the intersection of different worlds. My Substack, The Intersection, explores how food, music, technology, and culture collide to create something new. Hakivo is an extension of that philosophy.
I built Hakivo because I believe the most meaningful work finds you when you're not looking for it. After years of watching civic technology remain stuck in the "for wonks, by wonks" paradigm, I saw an opportunity to bring the accessibility mindset of media and podcasting to democratic participation.
Sometimes you don't need to be a developer to build something. You just need Claude, a clear vision, and the stubborn belief that democracy deserves better tools.
Built with care
Hakivo stands on the shoulders of incredible open source projects and APIs.
Special thanks to the LiquidMetal team for creating the infrastructure that makes Hakivo possible.
Ready to become a more informed citizen?
Join thousands who are taking control of their civic engagement.