What is DC Startup Week?
DC Startup Week (DCSW) is the fastest-growing startup community in the DMV region with over 15,000 entrepreneurs. Once a year, we bring together our expansive community over 5-days to connect, collaborate, share resources and celebrate our thriving ecosystem. Throughout the year, we strengthen our united community by curating inclusive, thought-provoking, and meaningful events and partnerships.
Our Vision:
To be the premier entrepreneurship conference and community in the DMV for founders by founders.
Our Mission:
To serve the ever-growing local DMV startup founder ecosystem through education and training, access to resources and funding, and a robust, diverse, like-minded community--where entrepreneurs can find the support they need to launch, build, and thrive in their business.
Impact
We connect and engage local resources to help entrepreneurs create opportunities to start, grow, and scale their businesses.
Inspire
We share information and ignite entrepreneur’s passions to engage the next generation of DC innovators.
Connect
We facilitate relationships and partnerships to support a more cohesive and inclusive startup ecosystem in DC.
Meet The Team
Executive Producing Team
Rachel Koretsky
Co-Chair & Director
Founder, Upace
Seema Alexander
Co-Chair, Head of Growth & Co-Lead, Emerging Tech Track
Founder, Disruptive CEO Advisory + UNIQUE Method™
Core Team
Kevin Morgan
Executive Board
Director of Tech Sector Attraction & Retention at WDCEP
Irfan Siddiqui
Head of Partnerships
VP, Business Development, NobleReach Foundation
Casey Williams
DC Startup Women Co-Lead
COO & Principal, Fenway Summer
Sarthak Agrawal
Volunteer Coordinator
Tech Policy Fellow @ Horizon Institute for Public Service
Jonathan Osei
Customer Service Coordinator
Manager Solutions Design & Delivery @ Jobs For the Future
Kay Rodriguez
DC Startup Women Co-Lead
Founder, Outerly
Track Leads
Darius Clair
Early Stage Track Lead
Founder, Managing Partner of D.E.A.L.S. Venture Group
Craig Zingerline
Growth Track Co-Lead
CEO & Founder, Velocity Growth
Aoife Dunne
Growth Track Co-Lead
COO of Velocity Growth
Kaitlin Capobianco
Startups4Good Track Lead
Senior Manager, Halcyon
Gilbert Nazario
Web3 & AI Track Co-Lead
Managing Director, Web3DC
Katie McKenzie
Technology Sub Track Lead
Head of Marketing at ThinkNimble
Brendan Sullivan
Mental Health Sub Track Lead
Founder, ZAMA Heath
Anjali Mahadevia
Climate & Sustainability Sub Track Lead
Co-Founder of Ampliphi
Colin Campbell
Food & CPG Sub Track Lead
Director of Sales, Seven Teas
Maria Pope
Female Founders & Funders Sub Track Lead
Venture Programs & Community Builder
Former Team Members
Thank you for Your LEADERSHIP in growing DC Startup Week to what it is today.
Chida Sadayappan
Co-Founder, DC Startup Week
Cory Lawrence
Organizer, Director of Marketing
Founder - IRL Agency
Stephanie Ortiz
Head of Operations
(AKA: Our Glue)
Manager, Accenture