DC weekly roundup: Meet 20 top DMV connectors; Commanders stadium deal woes; the district’s budget in limbo

Welcome to the weekly roundup of the latest from DC's tech and entrepreneurship scene. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe for free.

This week in DC, we’ve got two comprehensive lists of resources for you. One highlights our 2025 RealLIST Connectors, the latest annual cohort of individuals glueing the local tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem together. The other features several podcasts from the broader region, including Baltimore, that focus on technology and economic development topics of local importance.

Read on for Technical.ly’s weekly roundup of top regional news.

📰 News Incubator: What else to know

• Most US regions lack a strong institutional venture capital scene, but air travel (especially direct flights) helps connect entrepreneurs across ecosystems to cash. [Technical.ly]

• It’s been a busy few days for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He vetoed a bill Friday that would require site assessments for data centers, including a review of environmental and noise impacts, but signed a bill that will limit how much kids can use social media per day. [WTOP/WUSA9]

• Check out open jobs in the DC region and the Mid-Atlantic. [Technical.ly]

• The DC Council has mixed feelings over the Commanders stadium deal. Plus, businesses in DC have been quiet about the move. Companies that generate more than $5 million per year would have to pay a Sports Facilities Fee if the council approves the deal. That rule was established in 2004 and has been used to pay off bonds used for Nationals Stadium. [51st/Washington Business Journal]

• Crystal City defense contractor AeroVironment finalized its $4.1 billion acquisition of Arlington’s BlueHalo. The company names will be retired for a new title: AV Inc. [Washington Business Journal]

• The White House shared what appears to be an AI-generated, Star Wars-esque image of Trump — complete with a red lightsaber. [Axios]

• DC budget watch: House GOP members say they haven’t had time to fix DC’s glaring $1 billion budget hole. Meanwhile, the DC Council is threatening legal action against Mayor Muriel Bowser because she still has not unveiled DC’s 2026 budget proposal. On Monday, she unveiled a “growth agenda” featuring some budget numbers, including $2.4 million to invest in accelerators and incubators for startups, and $2.2 million for a tax incentive program for tech companies. [NOTUS/WUSA9/Mayor Bowser]

• Six Flags in Prince George’s County is closing this fall. [WTOP] 

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner Event: DC Tech Meetup’s next event takes place in partnership with Arlington Economic Development on May 8. The program focuses on companies in AI and big data. [Details here]

• Partner Event: Hacks/Hackers is hosting a summit May 7 to 8 for journalists and technologists to learn how AI can enhance news sharing. [Details here]

• Check out Innovation Day on May 7 during DMV Small Business Week. [Details here]

• Meet fellow AI developers at the next AI Tinkerers meetup on May 7. [Details here]

• VC in DC is hosting its monthly meetup for people working in venture capital on May 15. [Details here]

• Solidify your career vision on May 19 at the next Women and Gender eXpansive Coders workshop. [Details here]

• Cowork with fellow developers at the next DC Code and Coffee on May 31. [Details here]