DC weekly roundup: Ukrainian tech workers in limbo; a ‘continuum fund’s’ contentious ties; EV firm cuts staff again

This week, we highlight the stories of Ukrainians in tech who came to the US and must now deal with a refugee program’s pause, the Trump admin’s hot-and-cold relationship with their home country and the ongoing war. Plus, a new $150 million VC fund professes a concern for “conscious capitalism” despite its cofounders’ ties to far-right politics.

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

📰 News Incubator: What else to know

• A Florida cybersecurity company is expanding to Arlington with a new office and training lab. [Technical.ly]

• Cyber compliance firm Kovr.ai in Reston emerged from stealth with $3.6 million in seed funding. [Kovr.ai]

• WMATA news: Riders will soon be able to tap their credit card to use the public transit system. Plus, local leaders are pooling millions of dollars to automate trains, though officials bucked the idea of a regional sales tax to raise the money. [WTOP/Washington Post]

• There are plenty of tech jobs open in the DMV. [Technical.ly]

• Blink Charging in Bowie is cutting its staff again and will lay off 20% of its global workforce (about 80 roles). Once celebrated by Maryland’s governor, the EV firm’s revenue has fallen 44% year over year. [Washington Biz Journal/Technical.ly]

• The winners of the University of Maryland’s annual innovation awards include a method to use AI for mimicking neural rhythms in the brain. [UMD]

• Members of Congress, including Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, sent a letter to ICE demanding an explanation for why agents are allegedly entering DC restaurants without warrants. [Migrant Insider]

• Kennedy Center workers are unionizing, citing turmoil since Trump’s takeover.  [Playbill]

• DC plans to launch an online database of rent-controlled housing in June. [UrbanTurf]

• DC’s council chair vocalized support for the Commanders’ football stadium project and believes lawmakers will approve it. [Axios]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• DC Tech Party is hosting a networking meetup for technologists and entrepreneurs on May 21. [Details here]

• Tired of networking? Head to the ​Anti-Networking Networking Club’s next meetup on May 27. [Details here]

• ​Civic Tech DC is hosting one of its project nights on May 28. [Details here]

• ​AI for Good Innovation Summit takes place at International Square on May 29. [Details here]

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

• DC Tech Meetup’s next event on June 4 will focus on health tech. [Details here]