Innovation Capital: Meetings & Conventions in a Tech Hub

Ranked as the third best tech city in the nation in Cushman & Wakefield’s Tech Cities 1.0 report, Washington, DC offers a unique opportunity to elevate your meetings and conventions to the next level. Take advantage of access to expert speakers, federal policymakers and industry sponsors for any event. Learn how to grow your delegate base, sponsorship dollars and exhibitor footprint to gain a competitive advantage for your organization.

A Day in Your Stay Tech

Connect with Destination DC staff, submit a meetings RFP or learn more about technology-focused meetings and conventions in our technology white paper.

Access

• No other city has as much access to the federal government and tech policy leaders as Washington, DC.
• Learn how to bring tech-related projects and content to scale through partnerships between businesses and local and federal government.
• DC offers unique access to various industries, including social enterprises, green tech, hospitality, cybersecurity and data.

Startups

• DC is home to a thriving startup scene of more than 1,000 tech startups. (Business Insider)
• DC ranks first in the nation for growth entrepreneurship. (Kauffman Foundation)
• DC has the third most future-ready economy among American cities. (Dell)
• DC is the top city for social entrepreneurs, which create solutions for social challenges. (S&R Foundation)
• The DC area is a top city for cybersecurity tech startups, and included 27,246 cybersecurity job postings in 2015, far more than other tech cities. (Burning Glass Technologies)
• The region is “becoming the Silicon Valley of cybersecurity.”

Local Support

• The DC government has strategic pillars committed to technology and entrepreneurship through incentives and programs, like Pathways to Inclusion, an initiative meant to form a roadmap and inclusive ecosystem where the tech and innovation economy can grow.
• DC government goals include creating 5,000 new tech jobs for underrepresented workers, 500 new tech businesses by underrepresented entrepreneurs and fostering the most inclusive culture among tech cities on the East Coast.
• The DC metro area includes six Fortune 500 companies in the tech sector.

Investors

• Washington, DC is in the top 10 global cities for venture-capital investment. (The Atlantic)
• Five of the top 100 investors in early startup tech and biotech companies are located in the area. This fosters continued growth in the tech sector.(entrepreneur.com)

Education & Jobs

• DC has a skilled workforce. Fifty percent of residents have a college degree compared to 33% nationally.
• DC ranks #1 in the U.S. for high-tech employment concentration (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• 10+ colleges in the area, many of which offer access to university labs, and support for entrepreneurs
• Maryland and Virginia lead the nation in concentration of bachelor’s degrees in STEM disciplines
• Three Top 100 STEM high schools (U.S. News & World Report)
• Most educated city in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Events

• Entrepreneur-focused events in DC have built a strong community for founders, investors, mentors and incubators
• #innoMAYtion – DC Government-led initiative throughout May encouraging local entrepreneurs to help solve challenges and create opportunities for DC residents
• 1776’s Challenge Cup – A worldwide competition organized by 1776, a local startup incubator, that brings attention to the globe’s most innovative, promising startups
• SXSW – A local participation platform at Austin’s annual conference to engage the national tech community in the latest DC startups, government initiatives and innovations

Interested in learning more about Washington, DC as a tech hub for meetings and conventions? Read our technology white paper and connect with Destination DC staff for more information.