About Civoren
Civoren is building the central platform for elections in the United States. We make it easier for voters to see who is on their ballot and easier for candidates to build credible, effective campaigns.
The company was founded after the founders watched a friend run for local office in Ithaca and saw how hard it was for voters to find clear information about his campaign. That experience revealed a bigger problem: election information is scattered, campaign tools are fragmented, and both candidates and voters are left navigating a system that should be much simpler.
Civoren exists to fix that. We are building a two-sided platform because that is what elections require: better discovery and engagement for voters, and better tools and visibility for candidates. Our goal is to make running more accessible and participating more straightforward.
Sam and Adam using the original company name. Taken in Summer 2025.
The Founders
Adam Rose graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honors from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. His senior thesis, written under Professor Rosemary Batt, focused on policy and cybersecurity in healthcare. Before founding Civoren, Adam worked in local government, served as a campaign fellow on a congressional re-election campaign, and worked as a macro analyst at an investment bank in New York.
Sam Alston studied Computer Science at Cornell University and competed as a lightweight rower in the Varsity 8+, ultimately earning 2nd Team All-Ivy honors and racing at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Before joining Civoren full-time, he worked as a software engineer at a multi-strategy hedge fund in New York.
Strategic Advisor
Zach Leighton advises Civoren on our strategy, growth, and operations, bringing experience from across government, diplomacy, campaigns, and business.
He currently works with organizations, executives, and leaders at the intersection of politics, technology, and civic engagement. Previously, Zach was Senior Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Germany at the U.S. Department of State. He also served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Staff Secretary at the White House. In addition to his government service, he has worked on three presidential campaigns. Zach was a Munich Security Conference Young Leader and World Economic Forum Global Shaper.
Sam and Adam using the original company name. Taken in Summer 2025.