Disruption Now Episode 188 | Upgrading Government Tech: Startup Thinking for Public Service

Most people run from government bureaucracy. Pavan Parikh ran toward it—and decided to rewrite the system from the inside.He believes public service should move like a startup: fast, transparent, and built around people, not process.But when tradition, power, and red tape pushed back, he didn’t fold—he went to the statehouse to fight for reform.So how do you disrupt a 200-year-old system that was never built for speed or equity?In Episode 188 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Pavan breaks down how he’s modernizing Hamilton County’s court systems, digitizing paper-heavy workflows, and using AI and automation to reduce barriers to justice rather than create new ones. Whether you work in government, policy, law, or tech, you’ll see how startup tools and mindsets can create real impact, not just buzzwords.Pavan Parikh is the elected Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in Ohio, focused on increasing access to justice, improving customer service, and modernizing one of the county’s most important institutions. In this episode, we talk about what happens when a startup mindset collides with decades-old court processes, why culture eats technology for breakfast, and how AI can help everyday people navigate civil cases, evictions, and protection orders more effectively.You’ll also hear Pavan’s personal journey—from planning a career in medicine to 9/11 shifting him toward law and public service to ultimately leading one of the most prominent offices in Hamilton County. We get into fear of AI, job-loss anxiety within government, and how he’s reframing AI as a teammate that frees staff for higher-value work rather than replacing them.If you’ve ever looked at the justice system and thought “there has to be a better way,” this deep dive into startup thinking for government will show you what that better way can look like—and what it takes to build it from the inside.What you’ll learn in this episode:How startup thinking for government can reduce friction and errors in court processesWhy is Pavan obsessed with access to justice and end-user experience for everyday residents?How Hamilton County is digitizing records, streamlining evictions, and modernizing civil protection order filingWhere AI and automation can safely support court staff and help-center attorneysWhy change management is the real challenge—not the technologyHow local government can be a faster “lab” for responsible AI than federal agenciesWhat it really looks like to design systems around people, not paperworkChapters:00:00 Why the government needs startup thinking03:15 Pavan’s path from medicine to law and 9/11’s impact10:45 Modernizing Hamilton County courts and killing paper workflows22:10 AI, access to justice, and reimagining the Help Center35:30 Careers, values, and becoming a disruptor in public serviceQuick Q&A (for searchers):Q: What does “startup thinking for government” mean in this episode?A: Treating residents as end users, iterating on systems, and using tech and AI to automate low-value tasks so staff can focus on service and justice outcomes.Q: How is Hamilton County using technology to improve access to justice?A: By digitizing records, expanding the Help Center, improving online access to cases, limiting or removing outdated eviction records, and building easier online processes for civil protection orders.Q: Will AI replace court jobs?A: Pavan argues AI should handle repetitive questions and data lookups so humans can spend more time problem-solving, doing quality control, and helping people with complex issues.Connect with Pavan Parikh (verified/public handles):Website: PavanParikh.comX (Twitter): @KeepPavanClerkFacebook: Pavan Parikh for Clerk of Courts / @KeepPavanClerkInstagram: @KeepPavanClerkOffice channel: Hamilton County Clerk of Courts – @HamCoClerk on YouTubeDisruption Now resources:Subscribe to YouTube for more conversations at the intersection of AI, policy, government, and impact.Join the newsletter for weekly trends in AI and emerging tech for people who want to change systems, not just complain about them. bit.ly/newsletterDN#StartupThinking #GovTech #AccessToJusticeDisruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all. Website https://disruptionnow.com/podcast Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.comMusic credit:Embrace - Evgeny Bardyuzha