One of the DMV’s biggest regional conferences is underway, and local builders joined major speakers like Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis, Navy CTO Justin Fanelli, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and Honest Tea founder Seth Goldman to talk investment trends, debate AI regulation, discuss crypto policy and offer insights about the local economy. 

The 10th annual DC Startup & Tech Week comest at a time of turmoil for the district. The US government shutdown is in its third week and National Guard troops are continuing to patrol the city. 

Between networking happy hours where founders mingled with furloughed or laid-off federal technologists considering the jump to entrepreneurship, local leaders described ways they’re supporting residents to find jobs and stay in the area. 

“Quite frankly, things are very fluid right now,” said Unique Morris-Hughes, the director of the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), “and we want to make sure that everyone is supported and covered to the best of our ability.” 

An example of that effort is the new talentcapital.ai platform led by local governments across the DMV, which is an agentic AI tool connecting people to jobs, career coaching and skills courses. There have been 40,000 visitors to the platform since its launch at the end of September, per Morris-Hughes. 

Six people stand on stage, smiling and holding an oversized check for $5,000 during a presentation at a conference, with event banners and sponsors in the background.
Metropolitan Energy earned $5,000 from DC’s Department of Employment Services for hiring tech apprentices. It’s part of a larger effort from the local government to retain and train workers in DC. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)

The DC agency is also granting $100,000 to DC startups who hire tech apprentices in the next year, its second time offering that incentive. Metropolitan Engineering nabbed $5,000 at the conference on Monday for its local hiring efforts. 

Outside of that, there are plenty of topics being covered, including investing trends and how AI fits into the future of the consulting industry. 

Keep scrolling to check out photos from the first days of DCSTW 2025, including presentations from founders and panels about industry trends. 

People gathered on a rooftop at sunset, conversing in small groups with the Washington Monument visible in the background.
The first day of DC Startup and Tech Week ended with a happy hour on the roof of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)
Two men sit on stage in armchairs having a discussion at DC Startup Week, with event banners and a screen displaying their names behind them.
Cincinnati startup founder Rob Richardson (left) discussed the SEC’s current and possible future regulatory landscape (including with digital assets like cryptocurrency) with President Donald Trump nominated Chairman Paul Atkins. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)
People in business attire stand and converse in a modern lobby with lounge seating and a large illuminated wall mural in the background.
Networking over pizza at Squadra Ventures’ Boundary Breakers showcase at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Danya Henninger/Technical.ly)
A man in a suit holding a microphone stands next to a podium with a laptop in a sunlit room with large windows and dark curtains.
Patrick Ho, the founder of the Maryland lithium extraction equipment startup Forager Station, highlighted his firm’s work during a panel focused on the intersection of water infrastructure and national security. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)
Two people sit on a stage in conversation at DC Startup Week, with event banners and sponsor logos from Johns Hopkins and others in the background.
Seth Goldman (left), the founder of several consumer goods companies including Honest Tea, discussed his tactics for impact-driven business with video game startup founder Mariam Nusrat. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)
A panel discussion takes place onstage in an auditorium, with six speakers seated and one standing. The large screen behind them displays event and panel details.
Edtech founders and educators in the DMV discussed how technology can be embedded in schools, including possibilities with agentic AI. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)
Six people stand on a stage, with one woman speaking into a microphone. Large headshots and names are displayed on a screen above them.
Founders at Squadra Ventures’ Boundary Breakers showcase at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Danya Henninger/Technical.ly)
A group of people gather and converse on a rooftop during sunset, with tables and city buildings visible in the background.
Founders and technologists from across the DMV and the US are attending the 10th annual DC Startup and Tech Week. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly).
Four panelists sit on stage having a discussion at DC Startup Week, with event banners, partner lists, and sponsor logos displayed in the background.
Venture capitalists noted on a panel that core industries like energy and agriculture will continue to see investments. Plus, they encouraged founders to have a physical presence in the DC region because of proximity to policymakers. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly).
A man stands on stage holding a microphone, speaking at the DC Startup Week event. The background displays event banners and the Johns Hopkins University logo.
How does AI fit into consulting? People in the industry should lean into providing implementation support rather than simple insights, per Asad Jabbar, the head of public sector partnerships at McKinsey.
View of the U.S. Capitol building at sunset, with busy streets, trees, and museum buildings in the foreground.
Views of the US Capitol from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. (Kaela Roeder/Technical.ly)