DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week)

?? What was your DCSTW24 “wow” Moment? It's time to Share!?? DCSTW24 may have wrapped, but we’re still buzzing from the energy! ?? Was it a speaker who left you speechless? ??A new or re-united connection that could change everything? ??What insights did you share that sparked excitement in the room? ??What session did you attend and what was your takeaway? ??What product, service, or brand where you excited to have connected with? ??We’re buzzing to know! ??Share your favorite moments that made DC Startup & Tech Week 2024 experience unforgettable, below!?? #DCSTW24 #DoItAtDCSTW #InnovationStartsHere #TechAndStartups #WhatsYourDCSTWMoment

Huge thanks to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Crystal City for being one of our community sponsors for #DCSTW24 and providing an incredible space for our AI & Web3 tracks! If you didn’t know Alamo isn’t just for movies—they offer private theater rentals for almost any occasion imaginable! ?? There space was perfect for Day 2 of DCSTW where we took over National Landing. They hosted two of our content tracks and provided a great setting for our attendees to gain some great education, in extremely comfortable seating and premium food just a click away. Thank you, Alamo, for being a great sponsor and partner to DC Startup & Tech Week this year! ?? Next time you’re planning a corporate retreat, indie film screening, birthday party, engagement celebration, or conference, consider Alamo as your venue. Please visit https://lnkd.in/eMSMTj3c to learn more! #DoItAtDCSTW #InnovationStartsHere #DCSTW24 #alamo

October flashback!? What an eventful past month in DC, full of inspiring events and key conversations that further reinforce the District’s position as a global hub for #innovation and that DC is open for business! Here are just a few highlights!! ? I was honored to speak on panels alongside industry experts at the DC Fintech Summit co-hosted by the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) and DC Tech & Venture Coalition (DCTAV), and at DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week) to highlight #WhyDC is the ideal location for #fintech and #healthtech companies and the resources available to attract and support their growth in DC. Many thanks to the organizers, participants, and my colleagues Tamara Zeidan Kevin Morgan Adam Lattimore, MPA Emmanuel Smadja Meg Vorland Rachel Rath Cat Thoreson Chris Frew Deborah Hemingway, PhD Amy Adams Jack Miner Ashim Subedee Luis Gutiérrez ?? I had the pleasure of welcoming delegations from Hungary and Italy with my dear colleague Kathrine VanLiew to share ways we can support businesses land in DC. It was also wonderful to reconnect with Franziska Ehrhardt and Laurent Le Borgne of Berlin Business Office USA who were in town for DC Startup & Tech Week. And most recently this week, I had the opportunity to welcome and speak with a group of leaders and entrepreneurs from countries throughout Latin America. Many thanks to Kathrine VanLiew, ??Guc Ozenci Ashtan Moore Cultural Vistas International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Michelle Boquiren Urben Andres Osegueda ?? It's been a whirlwind of activity, from celebrating the DC business community with colleagues at the Washington DC Economic Partnership's #BusinessRetentionBlitz networking event, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Savor the Night Reception, and the DC Chamber of Commerce's Chamber's Choice Gala, to co-presenting key DC initiatives with my colleague Leah Riley and our partners Suzanne White and Leona Agouridis to the Cushman & Wakefield team. ? Lastly (but certainly not least), the month wrapped up on an energizing note at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development's “Building the Future: DC’s Economic Landscape” event, which highlighted the District’s strategic priorities including attracting high-growth industries, revitalizing Downtown, and addressing the evolution of the federal city. These collective initiatives exemplify the vibrancy of our ecosystem and collaboration that drives our city forward. Looking forward to the many opportunities to continue supporting the growth of DC’s vibrant business community!

DC is a pretty special place to start and grow a startup. When I started Describli 12 years ago, the DC startup scene felt like a pretty small slice of the world. After a few months of startup events I knew a handful of people in the room each time, and after a year I knew most of the people when I walked into a new event. That was great for a feeling of comraderie, and we all had the sense that we were building cool things together and taking on the world as a scrappy underdog. But it didn't feel like there was a whole lot of power in being a "DC startup" as opposed to any other city. Fast forward to the last five days of amazing learning, connection, and inspiration at DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week). There were hundreds of startups at various stages of growth. There were larger tech businesses, partners, students, ecosystem builders, and funders. I saw hundreds of new faces, and they represented a diversity of thought and experience as wide as DC itself. Here's where it gets special. Even though we're a bigger, more vibrant ecosystem, we haven't lost our feeling of comraderie. We're still building cool things together. We're still taking on the world. We're still cheering each other on and finding ways to help each other grow. But now we have a lot more power to make those things happen. We're not the underdog anymore. We're a powerful group united by changing the world. So watch out world, we're coming. #dcstartup #dmv #buildinDC DC Tech & Venture Coalition (DCTAV) Georgetown Entrepreneurship Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship Seema Alexander Rachel Koretsky Rick Gilchrist 1863? Ventures Halcyon Vannadium

Great event at Hera Hub DC on Research on the affects of Digital Technology and Social Media on Women's Mental Health and Thursday Nov 14 partnered with NIMH! Register below!

Cannabis takes the spotlight!! Great job Kaela Roeder Sameer Rao Thank you!! Carlo Manabat Seema Alexander Rachel Koretsky DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week) and everyone who made this a grandslam!!

?? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?? Last week, I had the chance to attend DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week), an incredible five-day event with 150+ sessions and 7,000+ attendees from the startup and tech community. It was a fantastic space for exchanging ideas and connecting with innovators across the DMV. ? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? My highlight was Noelle R. “Queen of AI” keynote on AI and the Future of Business. She broke down how AI is reshaping industries, from business processes to creative fields, with a focus on people. I had the chance to exchange thoughts afterwards and was thrilled to join her AI Leadership Institute, a knowledge-sharing community with workshops and resources I’m excited to dive into. ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? Throughout the week, I attended sessions shaping the future of tech and business across industries, from disruptive AI in business and emerging technologies (AR, VR, IoT, Blockchain) to insights on building resilient teams and meaningful relationships. The DMV's growing VC ecosystem offered insights into building a regional tech hub and driving investment. Workshops on post-Covid trends explored how AI and hybrid work models are redefining growth and workspace dynamics. Sessions on scaling, branding, and sustainable growth reinforced the impact of inclusive communities and support for diverse founders. ?? ?????? ???????????????? A strong theme throughout the week was the importance of people-centered innovation. Many sessions emphasized that the best solutions come from deeply understanding the people you're aiming to help. Discussions on disruptive AI, for instance, focused on user needs, identifying pain points, and ensuring AI enhances human potential rather than replacing it. This underscored the value of connecting directly with users to create meaningful, impactful solutions. ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????????????? I’m grateful to the GW Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, especially Kate Heath and Bob Smith, for creating a space at The George Washington University where students can explore new ideas with strong support and mentorship. It was also great to have my friend Elliott Irwin by my side throughout the event. It made a real difference to share ideas and discuss them in real-time. Huge thanks to the organizers, especially Rachel Koretsky and Seema Alexander, for putting together such a successful event. And to everyone who attended, thank you for making this week so engaging and inspiring. I’m excited to stay connected with such an amazing community! Together… step by step… we’re building a better working world! #DCSTW #AI #Tech #Business #Innovation #WashingtonDC #OnlyAtGW

Innovation, Passion, Community Reflecting on how incredible DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week) was this year ????.I’m grateful to be in a community with so many inspiring minds, movers, and shakers. Being part of the panel on ‘How Businesses & Industries are Using AI Right Now to Scale’ was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we are intentional about building with outcomes in mind. Thank you to Marcy Ewald for moderating such an insightful discussion and to my fellow panelists for dropping the gems ?????? Bethlehem B., Founder & CEO of Theory AI – Shared how AI extends her team’s capacity, turning data into insights that drive smarter decisions. Haroun Ansari, CTO of Pam AI – Kept the energy high and explained how AI is transforming customer experiences and streamlining operations. Khuram Zaman, CTO of University Startups – Shared insights on AI’s impact in education and the opportunities it creates for students. A special thank you to Seema Alexander and Rachel Koretsky for making this event possible and to everyone who attended with curiosity and engagement. Here are some highlights and takeaways that resonated with our audience: ?? AI as a Judgment-Free Mentor: We discussed how tools like ChatGPT give founders the freedom to experiment, troubleshoot, and learn without the fear of judgment. It’s a powerful resource for growing confidently at your own pace. ?? Automation for Productivity: Tools like ClickUp, Loom, and Otter.ai allow small teams to automate routine tasks, freeing up time to focus on strategic and creative work. ?? Staying Close to Customers: AI tools for sentiment analysis and personalized follow-ups enable us to better understand and engage with customers, keeping us connected to their needs in real time. ?? Experiment with Purpose: With so many tools emerging, we emphasized the importance of intentional experimentation. AI is exciting, but staying focused on goals and user needs is key. ?? Building Together: This panel reinforced the power of community. When we build networks of peers and mentors, we gain support, fresh perspectives, and the motivation to build again. Thankful for the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring community. If you’re exploring AI or interested in building with purpose, connect with us and keep this momentum going! #DCSTW2024 #AIforBusiness #CommunityBuilding #ScalingWithAI #Innovation #ELVTE #VirgentAI #AIadoption

Had a fantastic time volunteering at DC Startup & Tech Week (formerly DC Startup Week) at International Square! It was incredible to see how one event can bring the entire city together—businesses, people, and volunteers—all thanks to Seema Alexander and her amazing team, including Rachel Koretsky, Cristina Roman, and many more. I was truly inspired by the power of networking in action and grateful for the valuable tips shared by Todd Threats. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the process of connecting with incredible people and hearing their stories. It’s all about building meaningful relationships. Already looking forward to next year’s event! #Networking #Connections #Volunteering #DCSTW

America has a lot that needs fixing (especially relevant as we approach the elections!)—some things are broken, inefficient, even a little heartbreaking. But one thing America nails is creating opportunities. And opportunity here isn’t just handed out; it’s crafted by the people who call this country home. Buildings, roads, and empty spaces mean nothing without the people who breathe life into them. Pitched KLEENUP at DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week)—no shortcuts, just grit, vision, and relentless pursuit. For someone who came to this country in 2005 with $200 and limited command of the language, standing in front of an audience of this caliber felt incredible and nerve racking to an extent. To even be there is a privilege I don’t take lightly. A baseline for KLEENUP has been set. Now, I invite you to witness as we work to modernize the outdated and inefficient cleaning industry—an industry that too often takes advantage of cleaners and other minority groups, such as immigrants, unemployed individuals, and single parents, while also driving up costs for consumers and increasing our environmental impact. We're here to change that. Congratulations to Karen Maschi with Veza Innovations for clinching 1st place in our track! May your venture soar and turn into the next unicorn! A heartfelt thank you to Rachel Koretsky and Seema Alexander for creating this platform and giving us the spotlight. It’s people like them who give others like me a shot at something greater. By the way, these two powerhouse women sparked inspiration earlier today on Fox 5 DC, discussing how DC Startup & Tech Week is driving bold ideas and real innovation across the DMV and beyond. PS: check out the book Rachel Koretsky is holding in her hands. It’s been rumored that the author did a kick ass job with it (; #ansimpact #NationalEntrepreneurshipMonth #Opportunity #DCSTW #immigrantscompanion