Deep Tech Week is making its debut in Washington this September. The weeklong conference is part of a decentralized global series that bills itself for the “physical technologies building the science-fiction future.”
Recognized as technology and innovations driven by significant scientific discovery and extensive engineering research and development, deep tech takes on hard science. Biology, physics, chemistry, sci-fi made real life.
Organized by Andrew Cote, an engineering physicist, the conference got its start in 2024 in San Francisco as an antidote to the corporate commercial takeover of startup events. Following San Francisco, New York, Berlin and Seattle, the program now takes to its fifth location in DC.
“Deep tech was once a niche sector in venture capital, but it represents the 98% of the global economy that isn’t just software.”
Andrew Cote, Deep Tech Week organizer
“Deep tech was once a niche sector in venture capital, but it represents the 98% of the global economy that isn’t just software,” said Cote. “Energy, minerals, manufacturing, aerospace, biotech, defense, these technologies have a profound intersection with national interests, from defense to civilian infrastructure and regulatory policy.”
With a slew of daily programming hosted across two venues in the National Innovation Quarter, the conference will run Monday, Sept. 7, through Friday, Sept. 11. Headline events are coordinated by partner organizations, and registration is free.
DC’s venture community has taken notice. To date, eleven venture funds have stepped up to support the series.
As part of this inaugural week, Thursday night’s headline event is the official Deep Tech Startup Crawl, co-hosted by Squadra Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, and Technical.ly.
One part science fair, one part bar crawl, one part scavenger hunt, one part networking event, all cutting-edge technology.
Attendees will have rapid conversations with over 40 startups building right here in the DMV, gathering stamps along the way to exchange for drink tickets and their chance to win door prizes.
This showcase welcomes all: Founders, scientists and engineers demoing their technologies. Government stakeholders and investors looking to see the newest innovations coming out of the lab and into the field. Jobseekers and career changers ready to take the plunge and join an early-stage company.
Interested in being one of the exhibiting companies? Energy, aerospace, biotech, quantum, robotics, materials, defense — we’re looking for founders ready to share their work and maximize their reach in this fast-paced format.
We’re accepting applications through Sept. 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET to exhibit. The application is free to submit and there is no cost to participate if selected. Complete the application here.
Selected companies will be notified on a rolling basis, with final notices made no later than Sept. 3, 2026.
Interested in getting more involved? The Deep Tech Week conference also resurrects a notable cornerstone of startup weeks — the open calendar. Interested hosts can submit their event which, after review, is then included on the conference calendar.
To learn more about the full programming of the Deep Tech Week Washington conference, register or get involved visit https://www.deep-tech-week.com/washington-2026.
