When the Washington Business Journal unveiled its Power 100 list recently — a list of the “most influential or newsmaker business leaders who moved something forward or made headlines in 2016” — there were more than just a handful of familiar names.
Indeed, 18 of #dctech’s own founders and funders made the list, showing up alongside the likes of a bunch of big-time CEOs, Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld (there may be some debate on that one) and even Barack and Michelle Obama.
Here’s who got a shoutout:
- Susan Tynan. The Framebridge CEO was acknowledged for her company’s solid recent fundraising and growth.
- Reggie Aggarwal. CEO of Tysons Corner-based Cvent led his company to acquisition by Vista Equity Partners this year.
- Steve Case. The Revolution founder wrote a book this year, and then asked for your help editing it.
- Jean Case. In addition to many other things, Case launched #FacesofFounders through her role as CEO of the Case Foundation this year. The project, meant to showcase diversity in entrepreneurship, debuted at the White House’s South by South Lawn event.
- Ted Leonsis. Leonsis was included in the list mainly for his role as chairman of Monumental Sports, but given that he is a #dctech investor via Revolution we’ll include him here as well. This year Leonsis was all about free public WiFi, funding entrepreneurship at Georgetown and offering advice to young startup founders.
- Timothy Chi. WeddingWire expanded to India this year, which is enough to land CEO Chi on the Power 100 list.
- Ximena Hartsock. Phone2Action moved to a new HQ in Arlington this year after raising a $4.7 million Series A. All these big developments recommended cofounder Hartsock for the list.
- Dan Berger. The CEO of event planning software company Social Tables led his company to a $13 million Series B this year. The company has also been investing back in the #dctech community by making its office available to host events.
- Donna Harris and Evan Burfield. Where to start with the 1776 news in the past year? Amid so many hirings, the incubator also raised $7.2 million in “strategic investments” and announced a first international expansion — to Dubai. Cofounders Harris and Burfield have undoubtedly been busy.
- Ben Young and Greg Coleman. Cofounders of Nexercise went on Shark Tank with their app Sworkit and got a big offer from Mark Cuban. The deal later fell through, but it was exciting.
- Rohyt Belani. Belani’s PhishMe, an anti-phishing software company, raised a whopping $42.5 million Series C this year. That follows a $13 million Series B we mention here.
- Tom Davidson. More big money news from the past year — Davidson led his edtech company, EverFi, to a $4o million Series C raise in July.
- Chip Paucek. Landover-based edtech company 2U plans to open a new HQ in New Carrollton next year and “continues to grow rapidly,” according to the WBJ.
- Aaron Saunders. The founder of software development firm Clearly Innovative is working through a subsidiary arm, Luma Lab, to open a new tech incubator at Howard University.
- Dan Yates and Alex Laskey. Cofounders of the Arlington-based utilities software company Opower announced the company’s $532 million acquisition by Oracle this year.
Companies:
Capitol Canary / Georgetown University / Clearly Innovative / Howard University / Social Tables / WeddingWire / Cvent / Opower / Framebridge / Revolution / 76 Forward / 2U
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