RealLIST Connectors 2024: Meet 20 people helping the DMV’s tech and startup community thrive

Luckily, the community is full of people ready to make those introductions or lend a hand — and we’re shining a spotlight on them here.

The folks featured on this list should come as no surprise. Whether they run an accelerator, host networking events or uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs, all of these connectors are essential to the thriving DMV innovation community. 

This is our fifth RealLIST Connectors feature in this region, showcasing 20 people making a difference. They join the esteemed company of more than 100 individuals collectively recognized in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020. 

The list was put together through nominations from you, research and looking back at previous reporting. Reminder: You can submit nominations all year round to suggest people for our various RealLIST showcases.

Scroll down to meet the 20 people who made the list this year.

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Ann Marie Guzzi

Dalmatian Ops, Agora Initiative, DC Tech Meetup 

Through her work with Dalmatian Ops, which she founded, Guzzi helps early-stage startups with operations and functional aspects of starting a company. She’s also a cofounder and board member for the Agora Initiative, bringing female DMV founders together to help scale their businesses, and a member of DC Tech Meetup’s organizing committee.

 

 

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Sriram Gollapalli

Long Angle, TBD Angels

Gollapalli is the cofounder and managing director of Long Angle, a member-led private space for high-net-worth individuals to discuss investments and personal finance. He’s also the managing director for the angel investment company TBD Angels. 

 

 

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Tsegahiwot ‘Tsega’ Tadesse

University of Maryland’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, Society for International Development

Tadesse oversees programs for entrepreneurial youth at the Dingman Center. She’s also the co-chair of the Society for International Development’s Youth in Development Working Group and was part of the founding team at the Pan-African African Leadership University. Previously, at Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, Tadesse helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the globe who were focused on social and systemic change. 

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Dan Kwon

Vertex Labs, DC Tech Meetup, Georgetown University

When he’s not working with tech startups as Vertex Labs’ senior software engineer, this technologist and entrepreneur mentors students at the Georgetown Center for Entrepreneurship, where he hosts regular office hours. He’s also an organizer of DC Tech Meetup and a supporter and member of DC Tech and Venture, where he puts together private happy hours and advises on technology strategy for the coalition

“When there’s an interesting DMV-based company that comes across my radar — Dan has typically already heard of them, talked to them, or is working with them!” a nominator wrote. 

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Russell Stein 

Gallaudet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute

Stein leads a Gallaudet University center dedicated to molding the next generation of entrepreneurs through mentorship, education and incubation programming. It features the only incubator offered in American Sign Language and English. He also oversees the BisonTank Competition, an eight-week program to help students build their business ideas ahead of a concluding pitch contest. He received his bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet in business administration and has cofounded six businesses with his wife, Melody Stein. 

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Kay Rodriguez 

Outerly

When she’s not working on developing her company, which provides information on outdoor activities and brings nature lovers together, Rodriguez makes a point of connecting and supporting fellow founders. She recently opened up her calendar for “Happy Hour Hangouts” so entrepreneurs can discuss a mix of technological, entrepreneurial and personal topics.

 

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Paula Sorrell

George Mason University

The Northern Virginia university’s associate vice president of innovation and economic development oversees entrepreneurship programming throughout the school. This includes several different business incubators, NSF I-Corps (a program helping students, faculty and local founders make tech innovation ideas into a reality), the Women’s Business Center, and investor and customer pitch events. 

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Kanika Tolver

DC chapter of Blacks in Technology

Outside of her job in the federal government, Tolver leads the DC section of the global organization Blacks in Technology. The chapter, which was recently relaunched, provides mentorship, training and networking opportunities for Black developers and engineers in each of its markets.  

 

 

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Bill Collier

Noblis Ventures, George Washington University Investment Institute, VC in DC

Venture capital is a key part of Collier’s career. When he’s working for Noblis Ventures, where he’s a principal, he’s an adjunct professor at George Washington’s Investment Institute, where he teaches a class on venture capital basics. He’s also on the board of VC in DC, a networking group for tech professionals in the area. 

“Bill genuinely cares about people, he is direct, and keeps it real,” a nominator wrote. 

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Jennifer Taylor

Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Technology Councils of North America

The NVTC’s president and CEO oversees the trade association’s work with more than 450 member companies, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 tech companies. It also puts on numerous events, like an upcoming upcoming AI summit. 

Taylor is also the vice chair on the board of Technology Councils of North America, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit bringing together IT and tech trade organizations. 

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Anthony Jamison

CivStart

Jamison, a self-labeled master networker, cofounded the nonprofit CivStart, which operates an accelerator program, community hub and events to connect govtech startups. Applications are open for its 12-month accelerator program, which this year is focused on AI in govtech. CivStart also has a mentorship program and hosts several convenings throughout the year, like a recently wrapped local government pitchfest in Arlington and other cities across the country.

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Thomas Sanchez

Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council, Social Driver

Much like other people on this list, Sanchez wears many hats. He’s the chair of DC’s municipal Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council, under the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. The council advises the local government on ways to boost the district’s tech economy. He’s also the cofounder and CEO of Social Driver, a digital strategy firm. Washingtonian listed Sanchez among its “Tech Titans” in 2022.  

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Diego Mariscal

2Gether-International

Mariscal has helped several businesses through 2Gether-International, an accelerator program for founders with disabilities which he founded and leads as CEO. He never saw himself in the business world, he told Technical.ly back in 2022. Now, he’s made a lasting difference for this marginalized group of entrepreneurs. Besides the accelerators, 2Gether-International offers meetups and a four-week online program for disabled founders at the beginning of their startup journey. 

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Meg Vorland

Dcode Capital, Agora Initiative

Dcode, a tech and innovation advisory firm, hosts accelerator programs for companies aiming to break into the government sector. There are two upcoming programs, one of which is focused on AI. Vorland, the firm’s cofounder and chief revenue officer, is also an investor committee member with the Agora Initiative. 

 

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Mike Malloy

Malloy Industries, Georgetown University

When Malloy isn’t working at Malloy Industries, which helps companies scale their businesses, he works at Georgetown as an educator and entrepreneur-in-residence, mentoring more than 50 students. In 2022, he received the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Faculty Award for his work leading the Georgetown Startup Interns program. He previously worked at Halcyon, whose incubator program he directed. 

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Lisa Friedlander

NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers, Citrine Angels

Friedlander joined the DMV-based law firm to launch NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. She is currently the chief revenue officer for the initiative, which supports startups by assisting with legal services. In addition to this work, she’s a founding member of the women-focused angel investment group Citrine Angels, on whose board of directors she serves. 

 

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Franz Hochstrasser

Climate Techies Meetup’s DC chapter, S2 Strategies

Hochstrasser co-leads the Climate Techies Meetup, a networking group for professionals working at the intersection of climate and tech sectors. There are events every month in the Baltimore and DC areas. Hochstrasser is a senior advisor at S2 Strategies, a consulting firm focused on clean energy.

 

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Hillary Coover

G2 Ops, “It’s 5:05”

Outside of her work as G2 Ops’ head of product strategy, Coover hosts the weekly cybersecurity podcast “It’s 5:05.” On the show, she features guests from across the globe (with several from the DMV) to talk about all things cybersecurity. 

 

 

 

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Dhruva Rajendra 

Founders, Operators and Funders

Rajendra, an advisor for companies like High Slope and HumanFirst,  runs an informal group called Founders, Operators and Funders (FOF). Participants meet on the first Friday of every month to connect with people working throughout the tech and innovation ecosystem. There’s also a WhatsApp group among guests that now boasts more than 80 members. 

“While FOF is an informal group I get more value from that chat than I can count,” one person wrote about Founders, Operators and Funders. 

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Ashtan Moore

Quoth Capital, The Founder Institute, DC Tech and Venture Coalition

Moore dedicates a lot of his time to helping out entrepreneurs like he was throughout much of his career. The general partner of investment firm Quoth Capital is involved in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and YPO, a mentor at The Founder Institute, the incoming chair for Entrepreneurly and a founding member of the DC Tech & Venture Coalition. He’s repeatedly served as a consultant and advisor for hundreds of companies throughout his career, and venture-building more than 20 companies over the last 20 years.

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