DC Startup & Tech Week: Full Schedule

We are so excited to share with you the DC Startup & Tech Week 2024 schedule! If you are early stage to growth stage founder, entrepreneur, investor, or looking to work with startups we have 14 tracks of content with over 150 sessions, 250 speakers that have been curated for you.

Ready to personalize your schedule and add sessions to your calendar? First register and purchase your ticket on Eventbrite, then you will receive an email to personalize your schedule. If you already registered, create your schedule today.

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9:30am EDT

Morning Coffee & Networking

Tuesday October 22, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Join us for a lovely morning with coffee and networking with DC's service-based ecosystem, founders, operators, VC's and ecosystem players.

Coffee will be provided.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

General

10:00am EDT

Welcome Remarks from Ryan Touhill, Director of Arlington Economic Development

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:00am - 10:05am EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Kick off Tuesday of DC Startup & Tech Week in National Landing with inspiring welcome remarks from Ryan Touhill, Director of Arlington Economic Development. Hear how Arlington is fueling innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and shaping the future of the DMV region as a thriving hub for startups and tech talent!

Speakers

Ryan Touhill

Director, Arlington Economic Development

Ryan Touhill is the Director of Arlington Economic Development. Mr. Touhill has extensive experience managing economic development agency operations and a proven track record implementing local small business grant and economic recovery programs. He has played a key role in fostering... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:00am - 10:05am EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

General

10:30am EDT

Scaling in a New Work Era: How AI & Post-Covid Trends Are Redefining Business, Workspaces & Growth with the Evan Regan-Levine the Head of Strategy for JBG Smith

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

In this insightful fireside chat, Seema Alexander, co-founder and president of Virgent AI, will sit down with Evan Regan-Levine, head of strategy for JBG Smith, one of the nation’s leading real estate developers, to explore how businesses are navigating the transformative forces shaping the future of work. From the rapid rise of AI-powered solutions to the lasting impact of post-Covid work trends, this conversation will dive deep into how companies can scale in a world that is redefining business operations, workspaces, and growth strategies. Evan will share his perspective on the evolving role of real estate in this new work era, including shifts in demand for hybrid and flexible office spaces, as well as JBG Smith’s approach to integrating innovation and AI into their developments. Whether you’re a business leader, founder, or innovator, this conversation will provide actionable insights on how to leverage technology and adapt to the ever-changing work environment to achieve sustainable growth.

Moderators

Seema Alexander

Co-founder & President, Virgent AI + DC Startup & Tech Week

Seema Alexander is a dynamic force in business, leveraging over two decades of experience to guide entrepreneurs and CEOs toward growth at the intersection of brand repositioning, innovation, and community.As Co-Founder and President of Virgent AI, she is at the forefront of AI innovation... Read More →

Speakers

Evan Regan-Levine

CSO, JBG Smith

Evan Regan-Levine has serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at JBG Smith. Prior he served as Executive Vice President of Research and Strategic Innovation in their Investments Group since 2018. In that role he was responsible for guiding the firm’s investment strategy with data and... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track General Emerging Tech and AI Track

10:45am EDT

Finding our "silicon" - How to build a Trillion dollar startup & venture ecosystem

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:45am - 11:25am EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Silicon Valley wasn’t always the epicenter of venture. It wasn’t born; it was made. Learn about the efforts over the past 20+ years to sow the seeds in our region: people, innovation, technology, capital.

Most importantly: where do we go from here???

Speakers

Katherine Hill Ritchie

Senior Director, Venture Funds, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)

Katherine Hill Ritchie has more than 19 years of finance and investment experience. She is a frequent speaker and content provider to investment conferences and publications world-wide. She founded Private Capital Investments, LLC while she was working in Geneva, Switzerland in 2009... Read More →

Tom Weithman

Managing Director, Virginia Venture Partners

Tom Weithman is Chief Investment Officer for the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation and Managing Director of Virginia Venture Partners (VVP), a strategic investment platform pursuing complementary direct and indirect investment strategies to further the economic development... Read More →

Frank Taylor

VC, Virginia Venture Partners

Frank Taylor is an early stage VC, angel investor, and syndicate lead focused on pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A investments in autonomous systems and dual-use technologies. Frank currently serves as an Investment Associate at Virginia Venture Partners and Entrepreneur in Residence at... Read More →

Paige Soya

Managing Partner, K Street Capital

Paige Soya is the Managing Director of K-Street-Capital, a DC-based venture syndicate investing ~$5M/year in seed-growth-late stage tech companies, where she leads due diligence and advises on multiple portfolio company boards. She is also the chair of Everest Capital Group, a consulting... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 10:45am - 11:25am EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Early-Stage Founder Track Growth-Stage Founder Track

11:00am EDT

VC Math: What Founders MUST Know

Tuesday October 22, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

Experienced investors see founder math mistakes All. The. Time.
Jen O’Daniel, Senior Investment Director, and Dustin Dunbar, Senior Associate, will walk you through an interactive workshop so founders don’t make mistakes when:
-Allocating stock to early advisors
-Crafting their friends and family round
-Deciding how to value their company early on
-Talk about future rounds and calculating exit

Speakers

Steven Ryan

Partner - Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Steve Ryan advises companies on venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance matters with a strong emphasis on representing private high-growth companies and venture capital investment firms.

Jennifer O’Daniel

Senior Investment Director, VIPC | Virginia Venture Partners

Jennifer O'Daniel joined Virginia Venture Partners (formerly CIT GAP Funds) in 2003, where she leads pre-seed and seed-stage investments in tech companies with a concentration on cybersecurity and enterprise software. A senior member of the investment team, O’Daniel has led over... Read More →

Dustin Dunbar

Senior Investment Associate, Virginia Venture Partners | VIPC

Senior Investment Associate focused on investing in the most promising Virginia-based tech companies and nurturing tech startups through their critical early stages of development. US Army Veteran.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track Early-Stage Founder Track

11:30am EDT

Unlocking Opportunities: Growth Strategies for Startups with CTA and CES

Tuesday October 22, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Unlocking access to vital resources and a powerful network can be a game-changer for your tech startup. In this fireside chat, you'll discover the unique opportunities offered by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and CES, from direct connections with top industry leaders and investors to gaining membership in the Entrepreneur Council. You'll also explore how to leverage market research and expert mentoring to fuel your growth. Learn how CTA can empower your startup and how you can take advantage of Eureka Park at CES, designed especially for startups, where innovators from around the world exhibit and maximize their ROI. This session is essential for uncovering opportunities to help you scale your business for long-term success.

Speakers

Ximena Gates

CEO, Buildwithin

Dr. Ximena Gates-Hartsock is a serial tech entrepreneur, co-founder, and Chief Executive Officer of BuildWithin, a venture-backed technology company based in Washington, DC. BuildWithin's innovative skills technology simplifies the process for organizations to implement effective... Read More →

Tiffany Moore

Senior Vice President, Consumer Technology Association

As the Senior Vice President of Political and Industry Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), I lead advocacy efforts at the federal level on issues that affect the consumer technology industry. I also drive the association’s political strategy and programs and lead... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track Early-Stage Founder Track

12:00pm EDT

Lunch & Networking

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Join us for a lunch hour during the conference. Refuel and connect with fellow attendees while enjoying a delicious meal. It's the perfect opportunity to network and discuss the day's insights in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere.

Given DC Startup and Tech Week is a community based event, we do our try to partner with local food vendors to provide a portion of the food. Food is on a is first come first serve basis.

Additional Food Options are available at the Water Bar located a short 2 minute walk from JBG Smith Experience Center.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

General

12:30pm EDT

Common Strategic Mistakes by SaaS founders in Building the Software Products, and How to Avoid Them

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

SaaS founders looses time and money by adopting wrong steps and strategies in building their software products. I have worked on around 100 SaaS products/MVP products in last 14 years and I have seen several common mistakes repeated by founders. In my presentation, I would be discussing 5-6 most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Speakers

Piyush Jain

CEO, Simpalm

I am the CEO and Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl. I founded Simpalm, a custom software development company in 2009, which has served 300 clients in last 14 years. I am a tech-entrepreneur at heart and jumped into startup world after completing my PhD from Johns Hopkins to live my... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Technology Sub-Track

12:30pm EDT

The Present & Future of Creator Economy

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

This panel will discuss how creators can diversify their income streams beyond traditional social media platforms, leveraging decentralized tools, fan-driven models, and direct sales to establish a more sustainable business.

Moderators

Janey Park

Founder, Content Creator, Podcaster, Writer, The Digital Runway

Janey Park is a Global Fashion & Beauty expert with 15+ years of Marketing and Retail Strategy expertise honed at brands like LVMH, Elizabeth Arden, and Lippincott. She led Marketing/Growth/PR/Web3 at a Digital Fashion House, launching NFTs, AR Filters, and brand partnerships with... Read More →

Speakers

Sophia Moshasha

Client Engagement Manager, The World Bank

Sophia Moshasha is a leading strategist in emerging technologies, with over a decade of experience driving impactful solutions utilizing spatial & cloud computing, AI, XR, and other interconnecting emerging technologies. Sophia is renowned for her ability to translate complex technologies... Read More →

Erich Kottke

CEO / FOUNDER, CreativeOwls.io - WebbieSocial - EZDISPLAY

Erich Kottke, also known as CreativeOwls in the Web3 community, is a seasoned Software Developer and Digital Marketing Specialist with over 16 years of experience. He has collaborated with prestigious clients, including the Department of Defense (DOD), FBI, and US Geological Survey... Read More →

Vinnie Hager

Artist, Vinnie Hager Art

Artist

Tuesday October 22, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Web 3 Sub-Track Emerging Tech and AI Track

1:00pm EDT

Afternoon Kickoff & Welcome by Joe Benevento, VIPC President and CEO

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:05pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Joe Benevento, VIPC President and CEO will kickoff the afternoon session of impactful talks!

Speakers

Joe Benevento

Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:05pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track

1:00pm EDT

The Business of AI: The Foundations Every Founder Needs to Know That Will Drive Innovation for Decades to Come

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show

In this session, we’ll explore how AI is reshaping the business landscape and the key foundational elements every founder needs to grasp in order to leverage AI successfully. From understanding AI’s core technologies to navigating the ethical considerations and data challenges that accompany its adoption, this presentation will provide some core actionable insights to help founders innovate and future-proof their businesses.

Participants will learn:

• The different types of AI and their real-world applications.
• The critical role of data in AI strategy, and how founders can harness it for long-term innovation.
• Case studies of AI-driven startups that have transformed industries and scaled quickly.

Speakers

Jason Michael Perry

Fractional Chief AI Officer, Perry Labs

Jason Michael Perry is a Fractional Chief AI Officer and seasoned executive with over two decades of experience. He is the author of the free weekly newsletter "Thoughts on Tech & Things" and his upcoming book, The AI Evolution available for pre-order. Jason led the award-winning... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Emerging Tech and AI Track

1:00pm EDT

Supercharge Your Startup: Unlocking IRA & Local Incentives for Growth

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:40pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

This panel will dive into how startups and tech companies can tap into funding opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and various state and local incentive programs to accelerate their growth. Experts will share insights on navigating these funding landscapes, practical strategies for accessing resources, and success stories from companies that have turned these opportunities into real-world gains. Attendees will walk away with a clear roadmap on leveraging these powerful tools to propel their businesses forward.

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Moderators

Anjali Mahadevia

Head of business Development, Future

I'm on a mission towards a world with less waste. My personal belief is that corporate intervention is one of the greatest vehicles to combat climate change. Along with two others, I co-founded a climate-tech startup called Ampliphi. We provide businesses with a data-driven approach... Read More →

Speakers

Krishna Matturi

Cofounder, Ampere

Krishna Matturi is the co-founder of Ampere, a platform focused on clean energy and electrification solutions for small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses. Before founding Ampere, he served as a climate advisor at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he worked... Read More →

Nicole Whalen

Founder & CEO, Green Compass LLC

Nicole Whalen is the founder and CEO of Green Compass, a DC-based company building nature based solutions that generate environmental credits to rapidly reduce the emissions of the built environment. She has an interdisciplinary background in earth science and economics with a MA... Read More →

Ian Magruder

Director of Market Mobilization, Rewiring America

Ian Magruder leads private sector partnerships at Rewiring America, the nation’s leading electrification nonprofit. Rewiring America was instrumental in crafting many of the home electrification policies within the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate emissions... Read More →

Skye Lawrence

Co-Founder, Ampere

I'm the co-founder of Ampere, a fintech startup developing the next generation of financial technology for the electrification of SMBs. With over 10 years of experience in economic development and industrials, commercialization of tech and finance I'm committed to supporting SMBs... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:00pm - 1:40pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

1:05pm EDT

How Do I Become a Unicorn Company?

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:05pm - 1:45pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Hear from self-styled “unicorn hunters” on *exactly* what they’re looking for from companies in the areas of:
-Market size (and when this is flexible)
-Growth rate – and why this *isn’t* flexible
-Customer acquisition
-Technology moats and
-so much more!
Not every venture investor is looking for a unicorn – especially in our ecosystem. True unicorn hunters are willing to take big swings early on and need to see specific criteria to move forward.

What have you been missing? What can you improve?

Speakers

Lister Delgado

Managing Partner, IDEA Fund Partners

Lister is the co-founder and managing partner of IDEA Fund Partners, an early-stage Venture Capital firm headquartered in Durham, NC. He is passionate about helping technology entrepreneurs build the next set of technology startups that will change the world.

Craig Snodgrass

Venture Partner, Valor Ventures

Craig Snodgrass has deep leadership and operational expertise in analytics, optimization, and product development across startups, scale-ups, and established companies. He has honed his capabilities with challenging roles, including 12 years as Chief Data Officer at Cardlytics spanning... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:05pm - 1:45pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track

1:30pm EDT

Generative AI Use Cases That Are Disrupting Industry

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show

In this 30-minute show-and-tell session, a Partner from McKinsey & Company will take you on a journey through some of the most groundbreaking generative AI use cases transforming industries today. From automating labor-intensive tasks to creating new market opportunities, generative AI is reshaping how businesses operate and innovate

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how these AI-driven use cases are already delivering real value across industries and what steps founders and business leaders can take to adopt similar technologies to stay ahead in a competitive landscape.

This description zeroes in on practical examples and specific industries, helping attendees visualize how

Speakers

Varshik Nimmagadda

Partner, McKinsey & Company

McKinsey global co-lead for Software and Services GTM and Pricing. I lead McKinsey's thinking around GenAI use cases specially in sales and marketing and have led multiple GenAI strategy and transformation efforts at tech players.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Emerging Tech and AI Track

1:30pm EDT

Web3 Funding Trends: What Are VCs Investing In?

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

This panel will explore the latest funding trends in the Web3 space, focusing on what venture capitalists (VCs) are backing today. From decentralized finance (DeFi) to blockchain infrastructure and creator economy projects. Attendees will gain insights into the types of startups attracting capital, how VCs are assessing risk in a volatile market, and emerging opportunities for entrepreneurs in the decentralized technology landscape.

Speakers

Patrick Murck

Principal, Plural.vc

Patrick is Founder and CEO of Surus and has been involved in a number of startups as a founder, employee, investor, advisor and counsel including co-founder and Principal of Plural.vc. Most recently, he was the President and CLO of Transparent Systems and prior to that co-led the... Read More →

Mike Chan

Managing Partner, Deep Ventures

Mike Chan is the Managing Partner at Deep Ventures, a VC syndicate that has invested $15 million into crypto, AI, and deep tech early-stage startups. Mike has over 20 years of experience in venture capital, marketing, biz dev, product, and operations. He has started multiple companies... Read More →

J. Ayo Akinyele

CEO, Bolt Labs

PhD in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University, specializing in applied cryptography and cryptographic engineering. In 2018, Ayo co-founded Bolt, a mission-driven startup focused on security and privacy technology. As CEO, he leads a passionate team dedicated to delivering... Read More →

Joshua Howard

Associate, Redbeard Ventures

Joshua Howard is an Investor at Redbeard Ventures. He previously was at Bessemer, Atento Capital, and Ripple Ventures, as well as was a Web3 Founder.He focuses on DeAI at Redbeard, with interested in DePIN, gaming, and traditional infra.

Kabir Kumar

Partner and Founding Team, Flourish Ventures

I am part of the founding team of Flourish Ventures, a unique evergreen investor, which spun out from the Omidyar Network. I invest in early stage fintech both in the US and globally and drive Flourish's ecosystem efforts. I have 20 years of experience in the financial sector spanning... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Web 3 Sub-Track

1:30pm EDT

Introduction to User Centered Design for Startup Founders

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

Was founding your startup your first venture into the field of technology? You're not alone! Most founders are passionate experts in their field who find themselves lost and uncertain about how to pull off their big vision for the product they're trying to launch. In this presentation we'll discuss simple strategies that founders can apply to ensure their product is validated and focused on real user needs.

Speakers

Javi Calderon

UX & Product Design, Product Management, Content Strategy & Education, General Assemly

Multidisciplinary tech industry professional with experience across design, content strategy, product marketing, facilitation and business development. Full-time instructor, part-time design consultant, life- long learner and innovation advocate.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Technology Sub-Track

1:50pm EDT

From Local Solutions to Global Impact: Lessons in Scaling and Adaptability with Gravity Water's Founder, Danny Wright

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:50pm - 2:20pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

Join us for an inspiring keynote by Danny Wright, CEO of Gravity Water, as he shares his vision for tackling global water scarcity through innovative, sustainable solutions. Under Danny’s leadership, Gravity Water has pioneered systems that harness gravity to provide clean drinking water to underserved communities, transforming lives and promoting health. In this session, Danny will discuss the challenges of water accessibility, the importance of community-driven initiatives, and the role of technology in creating lasting change. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a passionate leader dedicated to making a difference in the world!

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Speakers

Danny Wright

Founder, Exec. Director, Gravity Water

Danny Wright is the Founder and Executive Director of Gravity Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating scalable solutions for at-risk communities through place-based technology and innovative finance tools. With a passion for integrating environmental sustainability and... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:50pm - 2:20pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

1:50pm EDT

What’s Getting Funded – and Why???

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:50pm - 2:30pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

With many many investors pulling back and conserving cash, hear from active investors about what is *actually* getting funded now.
Hear from the investors on the ground that are screening hundreds (1000’s?) of companies each year and see exactly what is happening

Speakers

Anthony Obi Jr

Senior Investment Associate, Virginia Venture Partners

Anthony Obi Jr. is an investor at Virginia Venture Partners, where he focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage startups. He began his career as part of the founding team at PreopMD, a digital health startup addressing inefficiencies in the pre-op and post-op space. This experience, which... Read More →

William Leonard

Investor, Valor VC

William Leonard is an Investor at Valor Ventures, an ATL-based VC firm leading seed rounds for B2B SaaS startups in the Census South. William is at the forefront of sourcing, diligence, execution, and works with portfolio founders to scale to next rounds. Outside of work, William... Read More →

Christopher C. King

Managing Partner, Theo Advisors

Christopher C. King, M.P.A, M.B.A. is a venture partner, startup investor, activist entrepreneur, adjunct professor, and author recognized by Black Enterprise, Disrupt Magazine, Village Capital, and the National Institute of Health. He is Managing Partner at Theo Advisors, a consultancy... Read More →

Billy Taki

Senior Associate, ResilienceVC

Billy is a Senior Associate at ResilienceVC, a seed-stage fintech fund that invests in companies that drive financial resilience for all Americans. He has prior experience working with companies seeking to improve financial health in underserved communities across 4 continents, most... Read More →

Kate Goodall

Cofounder & Managing Partner, Halcyon Venture Partners

Kate Goodall (she/her) is the Cofounder & Managing Partner of Halcyon Venture Partners, investing in seed-stage climate, health and equity-tech ventures. Prior to her current role she cofounded Halcyon, an incubator for early-stage impact-driven ventures, and served as CEO for its... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 1:50pm - 2:30pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Early-Stage Founder Track Growth-Stage Founder Track

2:00pm EDT

The Disruptor’s Blueprint: How to Build AI Products in an Uncertain World

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:00pm - 2:40pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, building AI products presents both incredible opportunities and unique challenges. This panel brings together leading innovators and AI disruptors to share their playbook for creating AI-driven products in a world defined by uncertainty. From navigating volatile markets to addressing ethical concerns, panelists will discuss how they turn uncertainty into innovation while staying ahead of industry shifts.

Key topics to be covered:

• Strategies for building adaptable AI products that can thrive in unpredictable environments.
• How to balance speed of innovation with responsible AI development and regulation.
• Navigating data challenges, privacy, and bias to ensure ethical AI product deployment.
• Real-world examples of AI products that are transforming industries despite economic and regulatory hurdles.
• The role of collaboration between startups, enterprises, and regulators in advancing AI innovation.

This panel will equip founders and entrepreneurs with actionable insights on how to design, develop, and scale AI products that are built to last, even in the face of continuous change.

Moderators

Seema Alexander

Co-founder & President, Virgent AI + DC Startup & Tech Week

Speakers

Marcus Finley

Chief Solution Officer, Virgent

Marcus Finley is an accomplished technologist and digital visionary who blends expertise in technology, business strategy, and leadership. With a foundation in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University, Marcus has successfully managed over $15 million in tech projects... Read More →

Banjo Obayomi

Senior Developer Advocate, AWS

Banjo is a Senior Developer Advocate at AWS, where he helps builders get excited about building solutions. Banjo is passionate about building with generative AI and has started a meetup, newsletter and open-source projects. When not building the next big thing, Banjo likes to relax... Read More →

Jess Hall

Principal, Hallway Studio

Jessica Hall is an accomplished product, design, and AI strategy consultant who helps companies craft compelling narratives, launch innovative products, and elevate teams globally. She co-authored "The Product Mindset" and is a TEDx speaker. Jessica's expertise stems from product... Read More →

Marcy Ewald

COO, ThinkNimble

Marcy Ewald is COO and co-founder at ThinkNimble, and a former executive at an exited startup, Aspire. Marcy now works with founders to create successful businesses built with great technology, regardless of founders' technical background. She created the product processes and coaching... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:00pm - 2:40pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Emerging Tech and AI Track

2:15pm EDT

Bridging Traditional Finance & Digital Assets: Institutional Investments in Crypto

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

As digital assets gain momentum, institutional investors are integrating crypto into traditional portfolios. This session explores the growing role of ETFs, retirement plans, and other vehicles providing direct and indirect exposure to crypto.

Moderators

Shailee Adinolfi

Head of Business Development, Trust Machines

Shailee's experience is at the intersection of crypto, payments, international institutions and governments. She leads Business Development for Trust Machines, focused on making Bitcoin productive through products and services. She previously led business development for MetaMask... Read More →

Speakers

Asi De Silva

Chief Investment Officer, Capital Squared Financial

Asi De Silva is partner and Chief Investment Officer of Capital Squared Financial (CSF), a Rockville MD based Investment Advisor. He previously founded RockDen Advisor that allocated a portion of client retirement portfolios to digital assets and managed a private liquid crypto fund... Read More →

Jackson Mueller

Policy Director, The Digital Chamber

Jackson Mueller serves as Policy Director for The Digital Chamber. For the past 15 years, Jackson has helped policymakers, c-suite executives, and the broader public better understand and navigate the complex and ever-evolving intersection of financial services, policy, and technological... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Web 3 Sub-Track

2:20pm EDT

Unlocking Impact Through Private & Public Partnerships in the $5TR Water Industry

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:20pm - 3:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring industry leaders Jennie Graham, Investment Associate at Burnt Island Ventures; Dr. Cat Shrier, CEO of Water Citizen; and Danny Wright, CEO of Gravity Water. Together, they will explore transformative ways to unlock impact through strategic partnerships and innovative funding models. This engaging conversation will delve into the power of collaboration in addressing pressing global challenges, from water access to sustainable development. Attendees will gain insights into successful funding strategies, the importance of aligning missions, and how to leverage partnerships for maximum social impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts at the forefront of change and discover actionable strategies for driving your initiatives forward!

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Moderators

Dr. Cat Shrier

CEO, WaterCitizen.Org

Dr. Cat Shrier has more than 30 years of experience in Water Engineering, Planning and Policy particularly focused on Water Innovations and Entrepreneurship. WaterCitizen supports Water Professionals and Entrepreneurs to be Leaders.

Speakers

Danny Wright

Founder, Exec. Director, Gravity Water

Thaddeus Payton

Jennie Graham

Associate, Burnt Island Ventures

Jennie is an Associate at Burnt Island Ventures, an early stage fund focused on water technologies. Jennie has a background in social enterprise, spending several years supporting founders to build sustainable businesses across Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Middle East, and as Entrepreneur... Read More →

Ian Fisk

., Mentor Capital Network

Ian Fisk coordinates the Mentor Capital Network — more than 1,200 individuals who have built, managed, invested in, or studied social enterprises. He has directly supported more than a thousand companies who are changing the way the world does business. He has worked to build the... Read More →

Susan Springsteen

President, H2O Connected LLC

Susan is Co-founder and CEO of H2O Connected, LLC, a company whose multi-patented product line helps nearly everyone with a toilet save water and save money.In 2006, Susan co-founded nth Solutions LLC, a vertically integrated product development, business incubation, and manufacturing... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:20pm - 3:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

2:30pm EDT

Optimizing Your Onboarding Experience: A Mini UX Audit

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

A good user experience is critical to product success in today’s competitive market. Our workshop will walk SaaS product founders and teams through a mini UX audit exercise to identify product opportunities based on our SaaS UX best practices checklist, then conduct a rapid impact vs effort matrix analysis of the opportunities to produce a prioritized backlog of ideas. Attendees will receive templates and checklists to support the activity and to take with them to use in future product discovery work. We’ll also share supporting information and resources about some of our other favorite rapid discovery exercises.

Speakers

Erin Stewart

Founder, Scenic West Design

Erin Stewart is the founder of Scenic West Design, a boutique product strategy and user experience agency that focuses on B2B SaaS products. She brings over 15 years of digital product and design leadership experience and has personally worked with over 50 SaaS startups to create... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Technology Sub-Track

2:35pm EDT

A Look Behind the Curtain, How Investors Approach Early Stage Diligence

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:35pm - 3:25pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

It's difficult to understand what goes on behind the scenes at Venture Capital firms. How do they think about startups? What are they really looking for in diligence? Hear from several investors on what they look for.

Speakers

Jackson Lefelar

Associate, Fenway Summer

Jack joined Fenway Summer in 2023, where he serves as a member of the Investment Team. Jack supports the firm’s investment processes, from due diligence and decision-making to supporting portfolio companies and innovative founders. Previously, Jack worked in fintech as employee... Read More →

Emma Park

VP, Impact Venture, JPMorgan Case

Emma Park is a DC-based impact venture investor with more than a decade of private markets finance experience across middle market investment banking, private equity, growth equity, and venture. Emma brings expertise in deal sourcing, diligence, and execution with a proven track record... Read More →

Blaire Rowe Rakowicz

Founding Investor, Cross Impact Capital

Blaire is a founding team member at Cross Impact Capital (CIC), where she leverages her expertise in impact investing and sustainable finance.Prior to joining CIC, Blaire was a credit investor at Oak Hill Advisors (OHA), focusing on consumer, food, and industrial businesses. At OHA... Read More →

Bryson Hearne

Investor, ResilienceVC

Bryson has robust experience in the fintech space, having worked with dozens of financial health startups. Formerly, Bryson Hearne led financial health accelerator programs at Village Capital and assisted the Financial Health Innovation Fund in investing in several early stage fintechs... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:35pm - 3:25pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Early-Stage Founder Track

2:55pm EDT

Cyber Wars: A Debate on How AI and Tools Empower Both Sides of the Fight and What Founders Need to Know Be Safe

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:55pm - 3:35pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show

This panel demonstration will have panelists each play either the Hostile or Defender and will battle it through escalating scenarios… such as attacks on common household threats, corporate threats, and large infrastructure threats to the utility grid or air traffic controller towers! Through these battles, you’ll learn some of the thinking and techniques behind how hostiles attack and most importantly some insight on how to defend from these attacks.

Moderators

Jim McCubbin

EVP & CFO, Virgent.ai

Mr. McCubbin is the EVP & CFO Virgent.Ai and the CEO of Marmac Corporate Advisors, LLC. Mr. McCubbin has over 30+ years of progressive experience in scaling and leading dynamic teams in a range of industries and emerging markets both domestically and internationally.

Speakers

Tina Williams-Koroma

Founder/CEO, CyDeploy, Inc.

Tina C. Williams-Koroma, Esq., CISSP, PMP, is a serial entrepreneur – Founder/CEO of TCecure, and most recently, Founder of CyDeploy (https://www.cydeploy.com) which is a AWS, Google, and Techstars funded tech venture. She is a Maryland licensed attorney and possesses a B.S. in... Read More →

David Tohn

CEO, BTS Software Solutions

David Tohn is the Chief Executive Officer at BTS Software Solutions (BTS) in Colombia, Maryland; co-founder of the BTS spinoff, Verb8tm™, Inc.; Chairman of the Board of Directors for Steer™, LLC; Chairman of the Technology Board of the Maryland Technology Council; Board Member... Read More →

Kevin Keaton

Founding Partner, CIO/CISO at Red Cell Partners., Red Cell Partners

Kevin Keaton is the Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Red Cell. Mr. Keaton is also the co-founder and CEO of Eyris, a Red Cell Incubation delivering unprecedented levels of data-centric security and control to counter pervasive cybersecurity... Read More →

Dave Wynegar

CTO, 1Marksman

Dave brings senior leadership to 1Marksman as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) by providing cross-functional business, technical and cyber security roles within the company. He promotes business growth by helping clients through technological changes, security enhancements, and... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 2:55pm - 3:35pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Emerging Tech and AI Track

3:00pm EDT

The RASA Story: Building, Funding, and Scaling a Disruptive Hospitality Venture

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Join us for an inspiring session as we dive into The RASA Story, a behind-the-scenes look at how this innovative hospitality brand has shaken up the fast-casual dining scene. From its humble beginnings to becoming a beloved favorite, the founders of RASA will share their journey of building a unique restaurant concept, securing funding, and scaling their venture while staying true to their mission and values. They will also share how they started to use AI to create a better customer experience. This session is packed with insights on overcoming challenges, disrupting a competitive industry, and driving growth in a purpose-driven way. In this fireside chat, you’ll leave finding valuable lessons in RASA’s story.

Moderators

Rachel Koretsky

Founder & CEO, Upace & DC Startup & Tech Week

Rachel Koretsky is the Founder and CEO of Upace: the #1 Mobile App for member experience and reservations platform for recreation centers specializing in JCCs, YMCAs and Parks & Recreation. She has directly supported hundreds of recreation centers to transition to utilizing technology... Read More →

Speakers

Sahil Rahman

Co-Founder & Co-CEO, RASA

Sahil Rahman is the co-founder of RASA, a growing fast casual Indian restaurant based in Washington, DC that is focused on opening minds through power of food.Born to Indian parents from two different religious backgrounds, and influenced deeply by travels across our world, he has... Read More →

Rahul Vinod

Co-CEO / Co-Founder, RASA

Rahul Vinod is the co-founder of Washington, D.C.'s emerging fast-casual Indian restaurant brand, RASA. A former Wall Street Investment Banker at BNP Paribas turned restaurateur, Rahul grew up in the industry as the son of one of the nation’s prominent Indian chefs. As a child... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Growth-Stage Founder Track

3:05pm EDT

Can AI Solve the Challenges It's Creating? Renewably Powering Data Centers

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:05pm - 3:40pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

Join leading VCs and pioneering industry experts as we explore the growing renewable energy demands driven by energy-intensive sectors like data centers. This discussion will go deep into how AI-driven innovations are helping manage renewable energy supply to meet escalating demands sustainably and efficiently. Attendees will hear from industry practitioners and investors who are shaping strategies and developing real-world applications to enhance resilience and sustainability in the energy sector.

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Moderators

Abid Siddiqui

Principal, AI Fund

Abid is a Principal at AI Fund where he is focused on building and investing in AI-based startups. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurial roles, he has a strong background in working with founders to take products from 0-1. Prior to the AI Fund, Abid advised BARDA, a... Read More →

Speakers

Chris Eng

Principal, Sands Capital

Chris is a Principal at Sands Capital where he focuses on early-stage investments in the AI and cybersecurity sectors. Prior to Sands Capital, Chris worked at cybersecurity VC funds ForgePoint Capital and YL Ventures. He started his career as a consultant at Promontory Financial Group... Read More →

Julia Lundin

Director, Digital Solutions, AES

Julia Lundin is the Director of Digital Solutions within the innovation team at AES, a global energy company. She focuses on identifying new business ventures that could use Artificial Intelligence to support clean energy and climate objectives. In her prior role at AES, Julia developed... Read More →

Michael Bauer

Founder Partner, Paradigm Energy Partners

A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, Michael has built several successful companies across the energy sector. Most recently, he founded Sentient Energy, a distribution grid management and analytics platform, and led it to acquisition by Koch Industries. He previously joined the... Read More →

Aalok Mehta

Responsible AI Policy Manager, Google

Aalok Mehta is the Responsible AI Policy Manager at Google, where he oversees policy development and analysis on AI testing, governance, evaluation, development, and other issues. He previously was OpenAI's U.S. policy lead and a senior advisor at SeedAI. He has also worked on technology... Read More →

Osman Ashai

CEO, PwrQ

With over a decade of leadership the power distribution industry, Osman Ashai is the CEO of PwrQ, a leading US manufacturer of electrification products for mission-critical facilities from datacenters, to ports, and renewable energy infrastructure. Osman has led PwrQ through significant... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:05pm - 3:40pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

3:05pm EDT

DeFi: The Rise of Community-Driven Finance in Web3

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:05pm - 3:50pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is transforming the financial landscape by empowering communities to take control of their economic future. This session explores how DeFi protocols are democratizing access to financial services, removing intermediaries, and creating new opportunities for peer-to-peer transactions. Learn how community-driven innovation is reshaping the Web3 economy, from lending and borrowing to staking and yield farming, and what this means for the future of finance

Moderators

Bryan Colligan

Founder, AlphaGrowth

Bryan Colligan is the founder of AlphaGrowth, a strategy & BD firm on a mission to help TradFi into the crypto industry. Upon the introduction of DeFi in 2020 Bryan left FT Partners investment bank to pursue his passion in helping build the Future of Decentralized Finance. Previously... Read More →

Speakers

Maurice Chalfin

Head of Growth, Lulo

My name is Maurice, I am a Web3 native working full time in the Solana ecosystem since Q1 2021.I had neighbors mining Bitcoin on home computers in 2011/12 and have been in or around the blockchain space ever since. I believe deeply in the promise of blockchain technology as the world’s... Read More →

Marcia Blacken

Advisor, Glo Dollar

Marcia currently serves as an advisor to the Glo Foundation after having worked full time for the last year and a half working to launch Glo Dollar and laying the groundwork for its go-to-market strategy. Marcia has 11 years experience working in the financial services industry, currently... Read More →

Karima Williams

Head of Growth, Umoja Protocal

Karima Williams is a community builder and digital strategist with a knack for connecting people with emerging technologies. Her experience spans from launching healthcare exchanges to growing one of the largest blockchain meetups in the US, and now focuses on helping businesses build... Read More →

Christian Duffus

Founder & CEO, Fonbnk

Christian ("Chris") Duffus is the Founder & CEO of Fonbnk, a leading global onramp to Web3, targeting mobile-first, cash-based economies using prepaid airtime as a medium of exchange. Chris is a leading Fintech & Telecom and Web3 advisor with a significant background in working with... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:05pm - 3:50pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Web 3 Sub-Track

3:30pm EDT

Bootstrapping to ARR with No-Code/Low-Code

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

Are you an aspiring founder, or a new founder with an idea? You can build the MVP and test your idea with less than $8K.

Hear how a first-time, non-technical founder who prototyped an app, built the beta in a no-code / low-code solution, and used that to acquire the first 10 paying customers. Discussion will include the pros & cons of no-code / low-code and how to get started on your own.

Speakers

Kathryn Adabonyan

CEO & Founder, GoPursue, PBC

Kathryn Adabonyan is the CEO & founder of GoPursue, dedicated to empowering the next generation of talent while bridging the gap between education & employers.Kathryn is a proud alum of entrepreneurial fellowships including Camelback Ventures, Halcyon, and Founder Institute. Previously... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:30pm - 4:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Technology Sub-Track

3:35pm EDT

Scaling Smarter: The Power of Strategic Partnerships To Accelerate Your Startup Growth

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:35pm - 4:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Growing a startup is challenging, but one hidden secret to success is finding the right partnerships that can accelerate your path to success. In this panel, seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders will explore how strategic partnerships can fuel your growth by supporting key areas like securing investment, enhancing decision-making, and boosting marketing and sales efforts. Discover how partners can open doors to investors, provide valuable insights for smarter business decisions, and help expand your customer base through joint marketing and sales initiatives. Whether you're seeking capital or trying to scale your operations, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to find and leverage the right partnerships that drive sustainable growth for your startup.

Moderators

Irfan Siddiqui

Vice President, Business Development, NobleReach Foundation, Head of Partnerships, DC Startup and Tech Week

Irfan Siddiqui is the head of Business Development at NobleReach Foundation, where he focuses on commercializing technology innovation from US government-funded R&D initiatives, collaborating with government, academia, and industry. Previously, he served as VP of Engineering at In-Q-Tel... Read More →

Speakers

Amelia DeSorrento

Management Consulting + Business Strategy, Solestiss

After years of advising small and mid-sized businesses on nights and weekends, Amelia finally took the plunge to commit to full-time consulting and found Desoco. Prior to starting Desoco, Amelia spent four years at Capital One, where she held roles leading ventures teams, innovation... Read More →

Lisa Friedlander

CRO, NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers/Citrine Angels

Lisa Friedlander is an attorney, entrepreneur, investor, and a strategic advisor/mentor to numerous startups. After practicing corporate and telecommunications law for 15+ years in both large and small firms, as well as serving in a VP General Counsel role for a satellite telecom... Read More →

Ximena Gates

CEO, Buildwithin

Michael Stiefvater

Director, Business Investment, Arlington Economic Development

Michael is the Director of Business Investment at Arlington Economic Development, where he oversees Arlington’s efforts in business recruitment and retention, international trade, entrepreneur support and catalyzing the innovation economy. Since taking a leadership role in late... Read More →

Max Frank

Technology Commercial Banking Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:35pm - 4:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Early-Stage Founder Track Growth-Stage Founder Track

3:40pm EDT

Beyond Chatbots: Unlocking the Future of AI & Business with Personalized, Autonomous Agents

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:40pm - 4:10pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Speakers

Marcus Finley

Chief Solution Officer, Virgent

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:40pm - 4:10pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Emerging Tech and AI Track

3:45pm EDT

Becoming a B-Corp Movement: How it's profitable to do good - Climate Edition

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:45pm - 4:25pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

Join us for an enlightening session on the transformative potential of B-Corp certification and how it can enhance your business’s profitability while making a positive impact on society and the environment. This event will feature expert speakers who will explore the benefits of becoming a B-Corp, including increased consumer trust, access to a growing market of socially conscious customers, and opportunities for collaboration with like-minded businesses. Attendees will learn how aligning their business practices with the rigorous standards of B-Corp certification can drive growth, foster employee engagement, and improve overall brand reputation. Discover how doing good can also mean doing well, and find out the steps to start your journey toward B-Corp certification!

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Speakers

Max Hayes

Karen Lickteig

Senior Manager, Events & Activations, B Lab U.S. & Canada

Hazel Horvath

Founder & CEO, Ecolytics

Hazel is the founder and CEO of Ecolytics, a software platform enabling companies to build data-driven sustainability programs. In 2022, Ecolytics was accepted into Techstars, a highly selective business accelerator program. Hazel currently serves on the board of B Local Mid-Atlantic... Read More →

Kristin Murphy

Senior Director, Federal Government Relations, Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Sophia Maroon

Founder | CEO, Dress It Up Dressing

Sophia started her second career as a food entrepreneur in 2012.Her brother had long held that there was a business to be had in the salad dressing their mother had served them every night growing up and that she’d been making for her own family for over fifteen years. Discouraged... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 3:45pm - 4:25pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

4:00pm EDT

Founder-Led Innovation: Transforming Industries with Blockchain

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Blockchain technology is driving a wave of founder-led innovation across diverse sectors, from tracking cattle and capturing carbon credits to revolutionizing gaming and comic book writing. This session will explore how visionary founders are harnessing blockchain to create immersive gaming experiences, establish ownership of digital assets, and enhance storytelling in comics. Discover how these pioneers are transforming industries by enhancing transparency, fostering community engagement, and unlocking new revenue streams

Speakers

Mike Toner

Head of Marketing, EyeLevel

Michael Toner is a seasoned marketing executive and entrepreneur with a strong track record in leading cutting-edge technology initiatives. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Threedium, a 3D and AR tech company partnering with major global brands, where he played... Read More →

Chris Light

CEO and Founder, E-Livestock Global

Chris Light is a seasoned Executive, Serial Entrepreneur, Technologist, Innovator, Web3, AI, and Blockchain enthusiast with 25+ years of experience. He is a co-founder at E-Livestock Global, a Blockchain powered, award-winning, and globally acknowledged solution. Launched worldwide... Read More →

Shekinah Apedo

Blockchain Legal Advisor, LEX M3TAVRSE

Shekinah Apedo, Esq. is a seasoned professional with experience in crypto and blockchain, having worked as a Compliance Investigator at Bittrex and advised various blockchain startups on regulatory matters. With a focus on anti-money laundering (AML) laws and decentralized finance... Read More →

Corbin Page

Owner, Paymagic Labs

Corbin runs a crypto app studio, Paymagic Labs. Previously he was an early employee at Consensys where he served as Head of Product for MetaMask Swaps, Staking, and Institutional. Before Consensys, he worked in tech at a couple large hedge funds.

Rick Gilchrist

Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vannadium

Rick Gilchrist is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the CEO of Vannadium, a deep tech company that's redefining data. With a deep understanding of the digital economy and a commitment to data ownership and control, Rick has positioned Vannadium at the forefront of the Web3 revolution... Read More →

Brian Ellenberger

Investor, Blu Ventures

Brian is a part of the cybersecurity investment team at Blu Ventures, a DC-based firm that focuses on early-stage investments in cybersecurity and B2B SaaS. Prior to working at Blu Ventures, Brian spent almost a decade working in investment banking and was CFO for an outdoor apparel... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 1000 N Glebe, Arlington, VA

Web 3 Sub-Track

4:15pm EDT

AI and Emerging Tech: A Investor Perspective on Founder Opportunities, Challenges & Outlook

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:15pm - 4:50pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show

In this panel, top investors will share their unique insights on the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and emerging technologies. Founders will gain an inside look into the key opportunities driving investment in AI, the challenges investors see on the horizon, and the long-term outlook for emerging tech startups. Learn what investors are looking for in AI-driven solutions, how to navigate fundraising in this competitive space, and the strategies that can set founders apart in a crowded market.

Key discussion points will include:

• Emerging trends in AI and tech that investors are most excited about.
• The common hurdles AI founders face and how to overcome them.
• Navigating regulatory and ethical challenges in AI product development.
• Long-term outlooks on AI and its potential to disrupt industries.

This panel is a must-attend for founders seeking to align their AI and tech ventures with investor expectations and capitalize on the next wave of innovation.

Speakers

Islindy Merius

Operating Partner, Passbook Capital

Islindy Merius is a dynamic leader with a wealth of experience spanning venture capital, corporate law, and business development across multiple global markets. She is an Operating Partner at Passbook Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting early-stage founders from... Read More →

Rob Richardson

Founder/CEO of Disruption Now and Chief Curator of MidwestCon, Disruption Now Media

Richardson founded Disruption Now, a tech and media company specializing in AI, data blockchain development, and event production/curation. Disruption Now's mission is to make emerging technology accessible to all, and its events attract diverse participants, including students, executives... Read More →

Abid Siddiqui

Principal, AI Fund

Brian Ellenberger

Investor, Blu Ventures

Swathi Young

CTO, Allwyn Corp

Swathi Young is an international keynote speaker, blogger, community-builder, and an award-winning Chief Technology Officer of Allwyn Corporation, where she leads technology and AI/ML implementations at federal and commercial organizations. She has led over 100+ digital projects globally... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:15pm - 4:50pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - The Big Show 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Emerging Tech and AI Track

4:20pm EDT

Path to Acquisition: Steps Every Founder & Investor Should Know to Prepare A Startup for a Successful Exit

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith)

Moderators

Rachel Koretsky

Founder & CEO, Upace & DC Startup & Tech Week

Speakers

Rosy Khalife

COO, Nexus Labs

Rosy Khalife is an entrepreneur, inventor, and advisor to startups. She appeared on the hit TV show Shark Tank and secured funding for her company Surprise Ride. Her company was later acquired by Fat Brain Toys. Rosy currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Nexus Labs. Learn... Read More →

Brendan Sullivan

General Manager, Volt Athletics

Brendan Sullivan is the founder of ZAMA Health, a B2B healthcare software platform designed to support college athletes and fitness enthusiasts. In April 2024, ZAMA was acquired by Volt Athletics, which currently serves over two million people worldwide.Brendan started as an investment... Read More →

Travis Lay

Senior Manager, EY

Travis has over 13 years of public accounting experience in technology, media and consumer industries, with over 11 years of experience advising on mergers and acquisitions. He is also the national capital leader for the EY's Entrepreneur Access Network which aims to assist entrepreneurs... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): National Landing Experience Center (JBG Smith) 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

4:30pm EDT

Cracking the Code: Winning Federal Contracts & Grants for Climate Tech Startups

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:30pm - 5:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Zebox

Securing federal support can transform a climate tech startup from promising to powerhouse. This panel will unpack the secrets to winning federal contracts, grants, and other forms of support from agencies like the EPA, DOE, and more. Attendees will learn from experts on how to identify the right opportunities, craft compelling proposals, and build relationships with federal agencies. The panel will provide a straightforward guide to navigating the federal funding maze and securing the resources needed to scale.

This session will take place at Zebox Coworking, located at 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Speakers

Chris J. Faranetta

Vice President & Co-Founder, NearStar Fusion Inc.

Chris is a fusion energy and aerospace entrepreneur with extensive experience in commercializing deep technology. Since 2008 he has been focused on the development and commercialization of fusion energy technology. As a Co-founder of NearStar Fusion Inc. he is focused on the business... Read More →

Michael Miller

Principal/Director, Booz Allen Hamilton

Mr. Michael (Mike) Miller is a Principal/Director in the Civil Sector Group at Booz Allen with over 30 years of professional experience providing innovative solutions for clients with energy, climate, and infrastructure modernization missions. Mike is Booz Allen’s overall Energy... Read More →

Patrick Ho

Founder, Forager Station

Patrick Ho is the founder of Forager Station. Forager Station is developing next generation lithium refining equipment, vastly reducing freshwater usage in the lithium refining process and enabling less polluting lithium resources to be developed. Patrick has a Master of Science in... Read More →

Ben Schrag

SBIR/STTR Program Director, National Science Foundation

Ben Schrag joined the U.S. National Science Foundation as an SBIR/STTR program director in 2009. Ben has worked across several portfolio areas including advanced materials, instrumentation and hardware, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing. Prior to NSF, he was the director of... Read More →

C'pher Gresham

Co-Founder, GridVolve

C’pher Gresham is an accomplished entrepreneur, leader, and technologist dedicated to driving global impact through innovation. Currently, he is a co-founder of GridVolve, a platform focused on accelerating the transformation of the electric grid industry. As the former CEO of SEED... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Zebox 1550 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202

Climate & Sustainability Sub-Track

4:30pm EDT

Beyond Code: Crafting Effective Discussions to Further Technical Decision-Making

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:30pm - 5:15pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street)

Let's face it: we've all been to one... that offsite, training, or gathering that you couldn't quite get into. Or maybe there was just one highlight, but the rest was a bit of a letdown. This happens because these experiences simply need to be designed and constructed differently! In this interactive session, you'll get a chance to design your dream gathering, connect it to concrete goals and outcomes, and learn about some innovative approaches to rethink the usual. This is a chance for everyone at any level to put on their planning hats and get some tips about how to put your plan into action to use with your team, board, or any group of individuals.

This session will be a mix of creative and interactive materials being used to represent and build these experiences, small group discussions and brainstorms, and specific peer question asking and tip-sharing to create camaraderie in the room.

Speakers

Allison McMillan

CEO, Tavlin Consulting

Allison McMillan is a fractional VP of Engineering and Engineering Leadership Consultant with over 25 years of offsite planning and facilitation experience. She’s previously held leadership roles at QuotaPath, DEV, and GitHub. Allison has worn many hats in multiple industries as... Read More →

Tuesday October 22, 2024 4:30pm - 5:15pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington): Conference Center (251 18th Street) 251 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202

Technology Sub-Track

5:00pm EDT

Networking & Innovation Mixer @ Water Bar sponsored by JBG SMITH

Tuesday October 22, 2024 5:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

National Landing (Arlington) Water Bar

Join us for a vibrant evening of networking and collaboration at the Water Bar in Arlington, VA, as part of DC Startup & Tech Week! Sponsored by JBG SMITH, this exclusive happy hour brings together the brightest minds in tech, startups, and investment from across the DMV.

Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators while enjoying stunning views, refreshing drinks, and great company. Whether you're looking to spark new ideas, meet potential partners, or unwind after a day of sessions, this event is the perfect opportunity to build relationships that shape the future of tech in our region.

Thank you to our sponsor JBG Smith. JBG SMITH owns, operates, invests in, and develops a dynamic portfolio of high-growth mixed-use properties in and around Washington, DC. Through an intense focus on placemaking, JBG SMITH cultivates vibrant, amenity-rich, walkable neighborhoods throughout the Capital region, including National Landing where it now serves as the exclusive developer for Amazon’s new headquarters.

Tuesday October 22, 2024 5:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
National Landing (Arlington) Water Bar 1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

General Networking Growth-Stage Founder Track