A new resource connector for DC startups
The inaugural cohort out of DC Tech Studio is made up of 11 startups, most of whom exhibited during a Thursday evening demo day in Adams Morgan.
It was the culmination of a six-week program, but this won’t be the end of those founders’ involvement. The group will be the main point of contact for ongoing plans, including workshops and more cohorts. The overall goal is to help local entrepreneurs succeed and engage them in bigger-picture conversations.
“What are the core things that we need to provide for the companies, in a business fundamentals sense?” DC Tech Studio founding Program Director Brendan Whitaker told me. “Then, on the flip side of that, what are the ways that we can connect them and engage the institutional DC ecosystems?”
➡️ Read more about the new studio in my latest report.
Arlington’s quiet growth as a tech hub
Since 2019, the number of software developers in Arlington County has grown by 30% to nearly 8,000. This Northern Virginia “satellite city,” a term coined to describe commerce hubs ringing bigger cities, is rising fast. Its success brings lessons for regions around the country, Technical.ly CEO Christopher Wink wrote.
“We offer people choice,” said Ryan Touhill, the director of Arlington Economic Development. “When someone leaves a city, we’d rather they stay in a region than leave entirely.”
➡️ Learn more about Arlington and its role in a broader tech ecosystem here.
News Incubator: What else to know
• Several new laws have taken effect in the DMV, including minimum wage increases, pay transparency requirements and a new anti-scalping law to regulate ticket sales. [Axios]
• The Biden-Harris Administration is allocating $18.5 million to four states and 20 local governments to advance clean energy projects. Prince George’s County landed $681,220 while Arlington County got $267,820. [Department of Energy]
• Two tech executives and a top Navy admiral are facing bribery charges after the co-CEOs allegedly promised a $500,000-a-year job and stock options in exchange for help winning future naval contracts. [Washington Post]
• The Arlington aerospace company Boeing acquired the Kansas-based parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. The transaction is valued at $4.7 billion. [Washington Biz Journal]
🗓️ On the Calendar
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