RealLIST Connectors 2022: Get to know the 21 people building the DMV tech ecosystem’s future

What does it mean to make a connection, anyway?

Is it nabbing that perfect business card for your next project? A Linkedin add? Running into a professional acquaintance? Or taking that next step from beyond work into a happy hour invite?

The question is probably best answered by the folks that seem to do it effortlessly. You might call them friendly, crafty, outgoing or any other number of adjectives, but we prefer to call them our RealLIST Connectors, 2022 edition.

For our very first list in 2020, we compiled a massive list of who’s who in DC, the go-to people that shaped the local tech scene. Last year’s list (which, by the way, was a huge crash course for me as well) rounded up a mix of those who had risen up after 2020 changed the world. They were the people who, through multiple Earth-shattering events, decided to put their energy toward continued community-building and creating a better DC.

We went beyond this year and kept combing the local ecosystem for those who were really a little bit of everything: mentors, networkers, the people that pull you away at parties to introduce you to someone else and those looking to grow the DMV’s tech and entrepreneurship scene.

Still, we’d be remiss if we didn’t take advantage of the fact that “connector” is quite literally the name of the game. This list was compiled from a mix of recommendations from last year’s nominees, crowdsourced suggestions from readers like you and our picks from our own coverage and networks.

Below, you’ll find the folks who are growing the community each and every day, whether or not it’s in their job descriptions:

Leona Agouridis, executive director, Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) and chair of the BID Council

Leona Agouridis. (Photo via Linkedin)

In addition to her work at one BID and with various others, Agouridis heads the initiative to get workers back in the office this summer (and thus have water cooler connections and lunch meet-cutes) through outdoor yoga, concert events and more.

Jan Baker, experience and service designer, The Innovashion Group

Jan Baker. (Photo via Linkedin)

Baker’s nominator had too many positive notes to count, but we’ll give you the highlights: She’s a mentor and lead organizer for groups such as DC Service Jam, UXCamp, Black Girls CODE and Caribbeans in Tech; helps bring tech to local hospitality businesses; graduated from 1863 Ventures; and is an ambassador for the United State of Women (and a lot, lot more, just trust us).

Leela Bhatia-Newman and Mariana Magala, creators, Districtly Local

L to R: Mariana Magala and Leela Bhatia-Newman. (Photos via Linkedin, graphic by Technical.ly)

For their pandemic project, Bhatia-Newman and Magala created a searchable online directory for businesses in DC, emphasizing those with BIPOC owners and founders. What began with 150 brands now boasts over 500, and the pair even moved on to sharing resources such as grants, funding, pop-up markets and workshops. Their nominator also said they’ve been connecting business owners with retail expansion opportunities and led networking for the local community.

Natalie Buford-Young, CEO, Springboard Enterprises

Natalie Buford-Young. (Photo via Linkedin)

Buford-Young has long been a presence on the DC tech and startup scene. Before her role at Springboard, where she helps women-led companies in tech and life sciences, she was a leader in Deloitte’s Tech Venture Center and Technology Fast 500 program. She works with organizations like The Vinetta Project and has  also been called to Capitol Hill more than once to testify about supporting women entrepreneurs. Her nominators call her an active and powerful connector and advisor, with a keen ear for making smart matches (we’ve never been, but they also said her annual July Tech Venture Center Party is “epic”).

Marcus Bullock, CEO, Flikshop

Marcus Bullock. (Courtesy photo)

Bullock grows the DMV’s entrepreneurial scene every day through his work with the area’s incarcerated population and returning citizens. But he’s also a fixture in the community as a TED speaker, mentor for local accelerators and more. He’s also landed cool gigs like entrepreneur-in-residence for WeWork.

Grace Czechowski, account manager, Piper Companies

Grace Czechowski. (Photo via LinkedIn) 

Czechowski’s many, many nominators call her an empathetic networker who is pure in intention and determined in methods (one also called her the first person to whom they’d send a scene newbie in order to find out what makes the community tick). When she’s not helping with staffing, they said she’s an active member in a number of networks and works as a mentor at RevGenius.

Robbie Holmes, director of digital services and software engineering, Prince William County

Robbie Holmes. (Photo via Linkedin)

Alongside his work for the county, Holmes was a co-organizer of not one but two Code and Coffee programs — one each in DC and Alexandria. He’s also a mentor for Coding It Forward and moderator in the DC Tech Slack (most often found, predictably, in the #meetups-and-events channel).

Katherine Ferguson, senior VP of business development, Cooley LLP

Katherine Ferguson. (Photo via Linkedin)

Ferguson’s nominator called her one of the most connected people they know in the DMV area and a “go-to person for introduction within the early stage tech community.” She also works with organizations such as MindShare and MissionLink.Next.

Harry Glazer, founder and CEO, Sprockit

Harry Glazer. (Photo via Linkedin)

In 2013, Glazer created Sprockit as a “global innovation marketplace” where companies can partner with, invest in and acquire startups. He’s also the founder and co-chair of MindShare, a collaboration-based forum for tech CEO and founders.

Victor Hoskins, president and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA)

Victor Hoskins. (Photo via Fairfax County Economic Development Authority)

Hoskins was integral to bringing a number of projects to the DC area, including the Wharf and Union Market. He was also a key part of landing Amazon HQ2 in Arlington and is working on building other tech giants’ regional presence. The FCEDA has been hard at work on the state’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program, adding tons of tech jobs to the area.

Greg Jordan-Detamore, senior manager, certification, What Works Cities

Greg Jordan-Detamore. (Photo via Linkedin)

An active civic technologist on the scene, Jordan-Detamore spends his days working on open data initiatives and government data projects. In the off-hours, he’s also the director of Code for DC, leading and connecting a whole network of civic tech folks.

Mark Lawrence, founder and managing partner, Inncuvate

Mark Lawrence. (Courtesy photo)

Lawrence founded Inncuvate to help small business founders “within the various socioeconomic classifications identify breakthrough opportunities.” He’s also hugely passionate about building the startup ecosystem in Prince George’s County, serving on boards for both its social innovation fund and Chamber of Commerce.

Bob London, founder and CEO, Chief Listening Officers

Bob London. (Photo via Linkedin)

London founded Chief Listening Officers in 2017 to focus on customer insights. Since then, according to his nominator, he’s been a trusted advisor in the DC ecosystem. Outside of that role, he works as a pitch coach and helps out local management teams and companies.

Ilana Preuss, founder and CEO, Recast City

Ilana Preuss. (Courtesy photo)

In her work with Recast City, Preuss is a friendly face to many of the area’s small businesses and creators. She’s currently heading up a personal effort, echoing a current district-wide initiative, to bring small-scale manufacturing back to the downtowns and storefronts. With this, she hopes to increase equity among creators and keep the industry in DC.

Elizabeth Shea, founder and executive VP, REQ (formerly SpeakerBox)

Elizabeth Shea. (Photo via Linkedin)

Shea built and eventually exited SpeakerBox, a public relations and communications company for entrepreneurs. Her nominator said she’s been a trusted advisor to both founders and companies. She’s also a member of the Forbes Agency Council, offering insight on how the role of CMO can help companies grow. According to her nominator, “There’s not a single person in the region that doesn’t know Elizabeth Shea and partner with her in some capacity.”

Andréa Seiger, owner, Urban Safari

Andréa Seiger. (Photo via Linkedin)

Seiger is undoubtedly a DC expert, especially when you consider that she wrote a guidebook, “111 Places in Washington DC.” But when she’s not exploring and planning, her nominator said she’s super plugged into the DC entrepreneurship community, constantly sharing resources and grants with small business owners. She was also a leader of many virtual events during the pandemic.

Parag Sheth, managing director, Progress Partners

Parag Sheth. (Photo via Linkedin)

When he’s not helping and advising founders through his work at Progress Partners, Sheth is a huge resource among the local community. He does coaching on financial services and strategy and often can be found at local and national events, according to his nominator.

Ayanna Smith, managing director, GET Cities DC

Ayanna Smith. (Photo via Twitter)

With GET Cities, Smith works hard to build up the number of women, transgender and nonbinary people and people of color in DC’s tech industry. She’s also a speaker, Techstars mentor and supporter of underrepresented founders in the area, constantly looking for gaps in the local funding and hiring pipelines.

Qyana Stewart, CEO, GlobalForce Tech Consulting

Qyana Stewart. (Photo via Linkedin)

Outside of her 9-5, through which she helps out women technologists, Stewart is the program director for the Entrepreneur Development Network DC at George Washington University. She’s also a mentor at the National Science Foundation and Korean Innovation Center, as well as a tech policy advocate. “I’ve worked with Qyana and it [was] one of the most rewarding and efficient experiences of my career,” her nominator wrote. “She really ‘gets it’ and holds people accountable — not just those who are not making tech diverse, but those who need to be able to walk into the light to be in tech.”

Tien Wong, CEO, Opus8

L to R: Tien Wong and Seth Goldman at Georgetown’s 2019 BigIdea CONNECTpreneur event. (Photo by Shashi Bellamkonda)

Alongside his day job, Wong is also the founder and host of CONNECTpreneur Forum. The community helps over 25,000 founders, investors, entrepreneurs and leaders work together in virtual and live forums. The platform helps facilitate networking, dealmaking and connection in the community. For those that can’t make CONNECTpreneur events, he’s also the cohost of The Monthly Blend, a podcast for the local startup ecosystem.