DC weekly roundup: A go-to-guide for DMV innovation; DCSTW’s pitch competition contenders; White House reviews ICE’s $2M spyware contract

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Dynamic innovation, from city to suburbs

Capitol Hill chaos might dominate the news about DC, but the founders, investors, technologists and ecosystem players that call the National Capital Region home know it’s got top-rate innovation bonafides.

As part of a new book on these assets, issued by global publisher Innovations of the World and the team behind this week’s DC Tech and Startup Week (for which Technical.ly is a media partner), we created an overview on the stats, resources and unique qualities that make DC a top-performing tech and innovation market. 

“Tech job postings in the Washington DC area outpaced even New York City in early 2024, according to industry trackers,” we wrote. “Across many small firms and a sizable number of global companies, the region counted more than 270,000 tech industry jobs in 2023.”

➡️ Find what else makes DMV innovation sing and preorder your copy here

10 startups go in. 2 leave (with money!)

An ecommerce platform for sustainable athleisure, a telehealth service aimed at LGBTQ+ users and an AI-enabled human resources dashboard are among the early- and growth-stage ventures competing at DC Startup and Tech Week’s concluding pitch competition this Friday. 

Whoever wins could follow companies like GoPursue, Outerly and Upling in participating in high-profile local programs like Halcyon and DC Tech Studio. In other words: you’ll want to know these companies. 

➡️  Meet the 10 contenders here

News Incubator: What else to know

• A former founding employee of data analytics unicorn Morning Consult has a new startup that aims to help founders get better market size insights. [Technical.ly]

• Last month’s settlement between Fearless Fund and an anti-affirmative action group avoided a legal precedent that would make DEI programs illegal. But targeted support programs are still at risk of litigation. [Technical.ly]

• A newly proposed public-private partnership would let DC government purchase Capital One Arena for $87.5 million and lease it back to Monumental Sports and Entertainment. The announcement, along with new renderings of possible renovations, stem from DC’s $515 million allocation to own the arena and keep the Wizards, Capitals and Mystics in the district. [DC.gov/Washington Biz Journal]  

• With the likes of Elon Musk throwing their lot in for her opponent, Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is now trying to woo Silicon Valley. [Washington Post]

• The White House put President Biden’s executive order on spyware to the test with a new review of ICE’s $2 million contract with Israeli spyware provider Paragon Solutions. [Wired] 

• WeWork’s new Coworking Partner Network will allow users of the WeWork Workplace service to book space in 10 DMV-area spaces, including Venture X outposts in Adams Morgan, Arlington and Ashburn. [WeWork/Technical.ly]

• Google, which the Justice Department is considering breaking up, inked a deal to power its data centers using nuclear energy. [Reuters/Semafor]  

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🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner event: Celebrate the DMV’s innovation economy with its leading investors, founders and thought leaders from Oct. 21 to 25 during the newly renamed DC Startup and Tech Week. [Details here]

• The Hack the Railroad conference, organized by Amtrak, TAC and Cylus, comes to Columbia Oct. 23-24. [Details here]

• DC Fintech Week brings experts from Fannie Mae, OpenAI and beyond to locations across the district from Oct. 21 to 24. [Details here]

• The Northern Virginia Tech Council explores cybersecurity and defense at its Cyber Summit and Cyber50 awards on Oct. 29. [Details here]