My Biggest Takeaway For #DCTech In 2017 And What To Expect In 2018
One of the bigger takeaways from 2017 is that DC fails to understand modern entrepreneurship.
DC government has been consistent with investing in the city’s infrastructure. The MLK Library’s $208M renovation is a good example of this. And the DC SXSW 2017 representation across a bunch of other stakeholders was a great way to show the Austin community that DC is a thriving ecosystem. However, the merger (or departure rather) of 1776 could also signal that DC still has a lot more to learn. In my humble opinion, this is validation that it’s never been about the spaces, it’s supposed to have always been about the people that occupy the spaces.
My expectation is that DC will start prioritizing people over infrastructure in 2018. As the seed and early stage market cools down and VCs move up the stack, we will see new players step in to invest in entrepreneurs — the people who will build the next wave of hugely successful DC startups. Much like Tedco in Maryland and CIT in Virginia, I’m hoping it’s DC government. And if they are to be successful, DC will require active, coordinated collaboration and investment of time and capital across the ecosystem of non-profits, corporates, government, and academic institutions and individuals. A healthy ecosystem is a diverse ecosystem — in people, thought and actions.
I think DC has potential to transform entrepreneurship by tapping into entrepreneurs in a more meaningful way. It will require commitment and participation across the whole ecosystem.
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