DC weekly roundup: A new hub pulls into station; quantum computing’s economics; Trump shooting unleashes online conspiracies

Tech incubator launches with $2M in DC funds

Set to open in the Union Market District in 2025, this new project from Texas-based firm Capital Factory aims to link policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors and tech leaders through educational events and networking opportunities.

Station DC will be open to all, but there’s an emphasis on innovators based in the DMV and possibly further out in the Mid-Atlantic region, per organizers. It’s the first location that Capital Factory, which connects startups to resources like mentoring, investors and clients, has opened outside of Texas.

“Startups can’t just be passive recipients of these policies, but they need to be actively engaged in helping to shape them to really take advantage of this,” said Evan Burfield, a board member who’s been involved in the local tech and entrepreneurship scene for decades. “DC made all the sense in the world.”

➡️ Learn more about Station DC in my latest report here.

Quantum’s innovation potential and pitfalls

Several companies are looking to be at the forefront of this largely unproven advancement. Big Tech juggernauts like Google and Microsoft fund divisions dedicated to the field. IonQ, the publicly-traded University of Maryland spinout that’s dedicated to developing the tech, certainly hopes for more buyers and funding, Technical.ly CEO and cofounder Christopher Wink wrote.

The economics are rough as of late, with higher interest rates making many investors more wary and less willing to take risks. But, the feds and policymakers are paying attention to the tech, Wink wrote. IonQ announced a $25 million contract with the US Air Force Research Lab last fall, and DARPA is funding quantum experiments.

“The best customer in the world is the federal government,” one industry critic told Wink earlier this year. “And the best way to keep the federal government as a customer is to scare the living shit out of it.”

➡️ Read more about quantum trends here.

News Incubator: What else to know

• DC resident and licensed realtor Terrence Nickelson founded Goby Homes after losing a deal on a family member’s house. Now, he’s trying to make the home-buying market simpler through a platform whose mobile app version launches soon. [Technical.ly]

• Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) is using AI to communicate after the degenerative disease progressive supranuclear palsy affected her ability to speak. Now, the voice she uses has a tone that sounds a lot more like herself. [Washington Post]

• The Washington Post launched its new AI chatbot, which Technical.ly originally previewed, to help readers answer their climate questions, But could that tool in and of itself hurt the climate? Not to the same scale as ChatGPT, but big tech companies have reported that the demand for AI has increased emissions. [Technical.ly/Washingtonian]

• The internet erupted with countless conspiracy theories moments after Donald Trump was shot. [Politifact/Technical.ly]

• McLean’s Booz Allen Ventures is investing in its second space startup. Quindar is headquartered in Denver, but its cofounder and head of operations Matt Reagan is based in DC. The firm is also a 2023 DC RealLIST Startup honorable mention. [Washington Biz Journal/Technical.ly]

• The heat is stifling, DC. Excessive heat warnings are in effect to fhroughout the region. [NBC4]

• The food delivery company DoorDash is working with police to crack down on traffic law violations in DC and other cities. [Axios]

• Local middle schoolers recently completed the STEM Achievers program, which operates through a partnership between Howard University, Uniformed Services University and Verizon. Students learned about AI, robotics and more before showcasing their projects last week in DC. [Verizon]

🗓️ On the Calendar