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Cast your votes for DC’s innovators
Our annual Q4 awards go beyond the quarterly RealLISTs and put our readers at the center of deciding who or what should be celebrated.
We have brand new categories this year, too. The intention is to go beyond the traditional definition of “innovation” to include educators, social media creators and leadership changes contributing to this ecosystem.
You’ll likely recognize many of these nominees, whether they’re directly involved in your work or in your social feeds.
➡️ Learn more about the finalists and vote by Nov. 18
Cannabis gets a big conference spotlight
Colin Fraser, the founder of the cannabis delivery app Upling, knew he wanted to bring the topic to the recently rebranded DC Startup and Tech Week to help people interested in the industry have a lower barrier to entry.
“We’re not selling candy at a candy store,” Fraser told Technical.ly. “With the new policies coming, new regulations, it’s just a new industry in the whole. So people can get first-hand knowledge on what this looks like.”
➡️ Get details about the planning process and hopes for next year here
News Incubator: What else to know
• State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam won the open seat in Virginia’s 10th US congressional district. He says he’s focused on protecting federal workers as President-elect Donald Trump has promised to cut jobs and move work out of the region. He also credits his focus on the economy during his campaign to winning the race. [Technical.ly/Fox5/Axios]
• The Washington Post launched a generative AI bot, following the release of its climate-specific bot over the summer. The tool is part of a partnership with Virginia Tech. [Washington Post/Technical.ly]
• Speaking of Virginia Tech, the school’s new innovation campus in Alexandria is set to open in late February. [Virginia Tech]
• Technical.ly CEO Christopher Wink spoke with a few entrepreneurship leaders to get their perspectives on how a second Trump presidency will affect local ecosystems. [Technical.ly]
• A jury found CACI, a Reston-based defense contractor, liable for abusing detainees alongside US Army personnel at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison in 2003 and 2004. Three formerly detained Iraqi men are set to be awarded $42 million in total, while CACI plans to appeal the decision. [WTOP]
• There’s a new dating app for news junkies: InPress aggregates news from countless outlets so users can indicate how interesting they found the piece. From there, the app will match users based on shared passions (It’s also up for a Technical.ly Award). [Washingtonian/Technical.ly]
• Howard University is poised for classification as a Research-1 institution in 2025. The designation would boost available research grants and could attract more top talent to its staff. It would be the only HBCU with the status, which Morgan State has also pursued. [Chronicle of Higher Education/Technical.ly]
• Bowie-based EV manufacturer Blink Charging Co. lowered its revenue guidance for the second quarter in a row. This follows layoffs of 14% of the workforce in September. Blink moved its HQ from Miami earlier this year. [Washington Biz Journal/Technical.ly]
• DC’s Pitch Place, a networking and pitch platform for journalists, competes at a global pitch competition on Friday in Marseille, France. The event is part of the city’s AI summit. [Pitch Place]
What will DC look like in 250 years?
As we get ready to celebrate the United States semiquincentennial, let’s look ahead another quarter millennium. Technical.ly’s editorial calendar theme for December will see us exploring optimistic visions for our cities and regions 250 years from now.
It’s guaranteed to be a fascinating and intense discussion, and if you want your company or brand in the mix, now’s the time to think about underwriting this work. Reach up to 75k+ social followers, 45k newsletter subscribers and upwards of 5k+ pageviews with your logo and message — while showing your support for local news.
➡️ Message sales@technical.ly or just book online
🗓️ On the Calendar
• Join DC-area members of the Tech Workers Coalition on Nov. 13 to discuss takeaways from last month’s national Circuit Breakers conference and community-building for tech industry workers in the region. [Details here]
• Play mini golf with fellow technologists, digital strategists and developers at Puttery on Nov. 14. Refresh DC hosts the gathering. [Details here]
• Learn about how the US is working with South Korea and Japan to diversify high-tech supply chains, for things like semiconductors and IT, during several panels at American University on Nov. 15. [Details here]
• Attend a hackathon focused on AI in defense and government applications on Nov. 15. First place will win $25,000. [Details here]
• Discuss the intersections of art and AI and view creative projects at Black Public Media’s annual showcase on Nov. 16. [Details here]
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