WeDC Fest: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

How to Win the Heart of Angel Investors (Presented by DC Startup Week)

George Farha, Co-founder of GSP Financial and Advisory, will discuss the increasingly competitive startup investment landscape. Higher investor expectations make it exceedingly important for startups to learn tangible tactics to attract a wide variety of investors including angel investors, venture capitalists, and private equity firms. As an angel investor himself, George will delve specifically into the inner-workings of an angel investors mind and share which factors, including passion, persistence, and traction, will help to attract high net worth individuals to a startup. George will also add an international spin on attracting investment as another option for startups to consider as they continue to grow. Participants will understand how to “know” and make connections with investors, and how to best attract them to their businesses.

Speakers

George Farha

Chairman, GSP Financial and Advisory

Wednesday September 26, 2018 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Panel Session

10:00am EDT

WeDC Innovation Marketplace (10am-3pm)

The WeDC Innovation Marketplace will showcase and celebrate the region's most innovative companies and their products. Join us for interactive demonstrations while learning about the latest innovations in the tech + innovation, makers + creative, and social impact industries.

Wednesday September 26, 2018 10:00am - 3:00pm EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track

11:00am EDT

How to Sell When You Don't Want To (Presented by DC Startup Week)

Startups are fun! Sales are not. However, they are an essential part of a startup. No sales = no company. This session is here to give you practical advice on how to make sales automatic and turn you from someone who hates sales to someone who enjoys them.

Speakers

Ellie Thompson

Founder, Venyou

Wednesday September 26, 2018 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Panel Session

1:00pm EDT

Fundamentals of Content Marketing

This session will demystify the fundamentals of content marketing. We’ll first work on understanding who you’re targeting, what resonates with them, and how to reach them. You will also learn how to:

Develop a unique value proposition for each target audience and user segment
Identify the content and channels to compel & engage audiences
Measure, test & improve campaign effectiveness

Speakers

Laura Fredericks

Co-Founder & Head of Content, Paradigm Labs

Laura Fredericks is a growth marketer with over 10 years experience in startups, incubators, and small businesses. She has founded or cofounded three startups, including Describli, Moving Pieces, and Paradigm Labs. She is also a content marketing and growth consultant, working with... Read More →

Shizu Okusa

Founder & CEO, Wellthy & Co.

Shizu Okusa is the CEO of Wellthy & Co, DC’s largest direct-to-consumer wellness company, including brands such as JRINK and Apothékary. Bootstrapping the business from the ground-up – she's led the company's growth from 0 to soon 7 stores and now employing over 35 staff, 100... Read More →

Wednesday September 26, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Panel Session

1:00pm EDT

What Is Your Startup Worth (Presented by DC Startup Week)

The "One Thing" all funded Founders do well

Why the story matters
Whats a great story
Why you need to turn it into your value proposition
Why this will attract investors

Speakers

Mark Modica

Founder, MODScore

Wednesday September 26, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Panel Session

2:15pm EDT

Strategic Partnerships: A Growth Engine For Your Startup (Presented by DC Startup Week)

The topic is hot. Corporates and start-ups are looking to team up in their constant chase for innovation. However, these partnerships aren’t without their pitfalls. Letting each party maintain its own identity and independent priorities is tough, and keeping two very different - and demanding - partners happy in a long-term union takes being relationship savvy. What may initially seem like an odd combination, is often a complementary alliance waiting to happen.

Turns out, much of what we know about healthy romantic relationships can be adapted to apply to these sorts of business partnerships, too. During this session, the presenter will leverage of his experience overseeing many such partnerships from both a startup and corporate perspective; answering the five must ask questions for startups looking for a corporate mate.

Speakers

Andrew Lendnal

Senior Vice President, Strategy and Financial Wellness

Wednesday September 26, 2018 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Panel Session

3:30pm EDT

The Healthy Hustle (Presented by DC Startup Week)

Striving to get ahead in your business doesn’t have to look like sleepless nights and take-out on repeat. Learn how to slow down, manage stress and set critical boundaries in honor of your time and wellbeing for the sake of your own health and the exponential growth of your business.

Join certified health coach Megan Sanchez of UpSwing Health Coaching as she sheds some light on self-care tips that will help you chase edgy career goals while staying true to your mind, body and soul along the way.

You’ll learn how to identify your stuck-points and act on simple, 1% shifts in your daily routine that allow you to practice self-care and continue to kill it in your startup. You’ll be surprised that the two go hand in hand. Because it’s not about doing more, it’s about optimizing how you do it.

Speakers

Megan Sanchez

Owner, Certified Health Coach, Upswing Health Coaching

Megan is a certified Holistic Health Coach for busy professionals who want to double their energy and revamp their lifestyle. She works with people who want to live big and stay edgy, but feel like maintaining healthy habits can feel like a daunting, arduous task. Megan helps people... Read More →

Wednesday September 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
National Building Museum 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Multi-Track, Presentation

3:30pm EDT

Swimming with the Sharks in DC

Since season 1, an entrepreneur from DC has appeared on Shark Tank. 6 DC area businesses appeared on Season 9 of the show.

DC has one of the largest and most vibrant groups of Shark Tank alums. This session will highlight local alums. They will share their stories and tips for other entrepreneurs. Shark Tank consultant, Brandon Andrews, will lead the discussion.

Moderator

Brandon Andrews

CEO, Inexorable

Speakers

Donna Khalife

Founder and CEO, Surprise Ride

Donna Khalife is founder and CEO of Surprise Ride, a subscription-based company that designs and delivers activity kits to homes around the country to give kids a break from technology. The company has brought 50+ products to market and appeared on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, The View, The New York Times, Forbes, Fox Business, Tech.Co, and Star Magazine, among oth... Read More →

Rosy Khalife

Founder and COO, Surprise Ride

Rosy Khalife is founder and COO of Surprise Ride, a subscription-based company that designs and delivers activity kits to homes around the country to give kids a break from technology. The company has brought 50+ products to market and appeared on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, The View, The New York Times, Forbes, Fox Business, Tech.Co, and Star Magazine, among... Read More →

Daniel Turissini

Owner, recharj®

Daniel Turissini is the owner and visionary behind recharj®, the first power nap studio in the United States. recharj®, dubbed a modern meditation and power nap studio, offers space to rest, to practice meditation, and to learn practical, evidence-based tools to cope with stress... Read More →

Krista Woods

Director of Stink Operations, GloveStix

Krista has been in the Sales/Customer Service and Training industry since she was a teen so this is something completely new and different for her. As a mother of 3 athletic children she has dealt with “The STINK” for many years but it wasn’t until her youngest child became... Read More →

Ben Young

CEO, Sworkit

Ben Young is CEO of Sworkit. Determined and inspired to no longer let his own health and fitness frustrations get in the way, Ben formed a company focused on helping the everyday person become healthier.Ben paired up with Greg Coleman, his Wharton business schoolmate, and Ryan Hanna... Read More →

Thursday September 27, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
National Union Building, 4 South 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Panel Session

6:00pm EDT

BEACON Awards Celebration

Join us for an evening empowering women as we celebrate the 2018-2019 BEACON grantees!* The event will feature a women-owned business marketplace, entertainment, food trucks and more!

6:00 PM | Event Begins
Shop the marketplace, mix & mingle with ecosystem builders, enjoy beverages and appetizers, and listen to the sounds of DJ Geena Marie

6:55 PM | Remarks & Awards
Join BEACON, community partners, and sponsors in congratulating 2018-2019 BEACON Awardees

7:30 PM | Performance
Enjoy one of DC's hottest talents!

8:00-9:00 PM | Mix & Mingle
End the evening with sounds by DJ Geena Marie and conversations with DC's startup community.

Thursday September 27, 2018 6:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Pepco Edison Place Gallery 702 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20068

Multi-Track, Meetup / Party

12:30pm EDT

Priciples of the Perfect Pitch

This session will teach founders how to pitch based on their audience and how to craft a compelling investment case. Starting with the foundation of storytelling, we will break down the anatomy of a strong pitch and distill how key numbers and market insight are used to build an investment case. You will also learn:

How to minimize content for maximum engagement
Pitching on your feet anytime and anywhere
How to own the room and attention of your audience

Speakers

Ade Omitowoju

Venture Advisor, Project 500

Friday September 28, 2018 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Pepco Edison Place Gallery 702 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20068

Multi-Track, Workshop

12:30pm EDT

The Energy of Entrepreneurship: How Creators Can Manage Their Energy to Prevent Burnout, Freakouts & Meltdowns

The most important investment a Creator can make is in their energy – it’s the primary tool we use to create. A Creator’s job is to transform nothing into something, which requires a mega infusion of energy. As entrepreneurs, innovators, and trendsetters, we harness our own energy to create the next version of reality. It’s no surprise Creators are often called magnetic, electric, and energizing -- we’re bursting with untapped energetic potential.

But there seems to be a glitch in the power grid: Creators are facing an energy crisis of epidemic proportions. From emotional dysregulation to burnout to psychosomatic symptoms, more and more Creators are losing their spark. According to HeartMath Institute, these issues are often caused by emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual energetic depletion.

In this candid conversation, we’ll explore the unique personality traits, environmental factors, and inborn sensitivities that make Creators particularly susceptible to energetic depletion, and share ways to prevent energy drains and boost our energy for healthy and sustainable creation. You’ll learn:

Why energy is so important for Creators
Why Creators are particularly susceptible to energetic depletion
Issues for Creators with energetic depletion (emotional/physical illness, burnout, etc.)
How to restore and maintain your energy

Moderator

Jessica Carson

Entrepreneur in Residence, American Psychological Association

With a background in neuroscience, psychology, startups, venture capital, and mindfulness, Jessica Carson is a thought-leader on the energy and well-being of Creators. She started her career as a Neuroscience & Psychology Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH... Read More →

Speakers

Shelly Bell

Founder, Black Girl Ventures

Shelly Bell, Ecosystem Builder and founder of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), a social enterprise dedicated to creating access to capital for Black/Brown women founders. She is the Google Digital Coach for DC - named Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 by Technically DC and one of the Top 40... Read More →

Martin Ditto

CEO & Founder, Ditto Residential

Martin Ditto is CEO of Ditto Residential, a leading-edge urban design and development company founded in 2008. Martin is passionate about conceptualizing and creating world-class residences and believes that we can build livable spaces that are so powerful they can inspire and change... Read More →

Kevin Morgan

Director, Tech Sector Attraction & Retention, Washington DC Economic Partnership

Friday September 28, 2018 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
National Union Building, 4 South 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Panel Session

2:00pm EDT

"Workplace Integrity" Training

The Freedom Forum Institute's Power Shift Project offers the exclusive "Workplace Integrity" curriculum to ensure you know how to start up with the right foundation to protect employees, create and promote workplaces free of harassment, discrimination and incivility, and full of opportunity, especially for those who have traditionally been denied it.

This unique approach sets the table for candid conversations that people would not otherwise have about working in productive and creative cultures of respect, helping them see the world through others' eyes in an open-minded atmosphere of trust.

When a 2016 report of an EEOC task force reviewed research on traditional anti-harassment training, it found scant evidence that it worked. The Workplace Integrity curriculum is different and better.

Speakers

sonya gavankar

Dir of PR, Newseum

Friday September 28, 2018 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
National Union Building, 2 South 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Workshop

3:30pm EDT

10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make and How to Avoid Them

We will cover the 10 most likely mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting a business and how to avoid them. Topics cover business, intellectual property and legal issues.

Speakers

Joseph Derrigo

Senior Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP

Joe Derrigo is a business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP where he is a member of the Transactional & Securities and Private Equity & Venture Capital Practices, as well as the Sports and Technology Industry Teams.Mr. Derrigo advises both public and private company clients in a variety... Read More →

Frederick Von Bryant II

Associate, Foley & Lardner LLP

Von Bryant is an associate and corporate lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP where he focuses on helping companies achieve success in business with a strategic and pragmatic approachSM. He is a member of the firm’s Transactional & Securities, Private Equity & Venture Capital, and Finance... Read More →

David Sanders

Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

David S. Sanders is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. He is vice-chair of the firm’s Business Law Department and co-chair of the Trade Secret/Noncompete Specialty Practice. From 2010 through 2017, Mr. Sanders served as co-chair of the firm’s Transactional... Read More →

Friday September 28, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
National Union Building, 4 South 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Panel Session

3:30pm EDT

Black Girl Ventures presents WeDC $5K Friday

Powered by DC Department of Small & Local Businesses (DSLBD)

Black Girl Ventures (BGV) brings together it's alumnae from two years of pitch competitions to face-off for a $5K cash prize at WeDC Fest.

Speakers

Shelly Bell

Founder, Black Girl Ventures

Friday September 28, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Pepco Edison Place Gallery 702 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20068

Multi-Track, Pitch Competition

5:00pm EDT

Are We Talking Teams? Moving from Startup to Scale-up

The majority of businesses owned by women and people of color are sole proprietorships or partnerships with no paid employees. While teams are essential to move from startup to scale-up, challenges to accessing capital and concentration within low-revenue sectors can stall this progression. Join local entrepreneurs as they share best practices for forming teams, building (and leaving) partnerships, and acquiring competitors to propel growth.

Moderator

Deloris Wilson

Head of Strategy and Operations, Beacon DC

Speakers

Messay Derebe

Co-Founder and Co-CEO, goARTful

Messay Derebe is the co-Founder and Co-CEO of goARTful. goARTful is a first of its kind platform for the rental, sale, and exploration of art. While we are an art store which offers pieces for sale the core of our work is our rental service. Rentals on goARTful work like Rent the... Read More →

Kimberly Moore

CEO and Co-Founder, Go Together, Inc

Kimberly Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of Go Together, Inc, is an entrepreneur completelypassionate about making an impact in the tech space by doing well and doing good. She's leveraging her experience as an sales executive in the federal wireless space and as an large event producer... Read More →

Jaleel Reed

Program Manager, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness

Jaleel is an economic and workforce developer by profession, passionate about developing innovative ways to create and sustain employment opportunities for underserved communities. Jaleel is also an entrepreneur and co-owner of The Caged Bird - the only black owned bar/restaurant... Read More →

Brandon Rule

President, Rule Enterprises

Brandon is a developer, entrepreneur, public speaker, philanthropist, and a change agent who at the age of 23 left his job as a banker to follow his passion. He then went on to launch Rule Enterprises, an investment firm which uses commercial real estate as its primary tool of investment... Read More →

Ayanna Smith

Co-Founder, The Jackson Smith Group

Ayanna prefers “idea curator” over “serial entrepreneur.” A life-long visionary, Smith found her next "big idea" in the emerging escape room market, launching the first live escape game for children in the country. In both 2018 and 2017, Washington City Paper readers voted... Read More →

Friday September 28, 2018 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
National Union Building, 4 North 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Panel Session

6:00pm EDT

Womxn of Color Founders Mixer

WDCEP, BEACON, Get Found, Get Funding, & Black Female Founders invite you to join us for an evening meetup of local women of color who are creating a space for themselves in their industries. Join us for an evening of networking and refreshments.

Friday September 28, 2018 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
National Union Building, Speakeasy 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Meetup / Party

6:30pm EDT

DC Startup Week Pitch Competition

Join us as local entrepreneurs pitch their startups to a panel of esteemed judges and compete for cash prizes and other resources to help grow their businesses.

Friday September 28, 2018 6:30pm - 7:30pm EDT
National Union Building, 4 North 918 F Street, NW

Multi-Track, Pitch Competition

7:00pm EDT

202Creates Closing Party

Mayor Muriel Bowser launched 202Creates in September 2016 to amplify & celebrate DC's creative culture. On September 28th, join us at Ivy City Smokehouse to close out September 2018 with an unforgettable celebration highlighting DC's creators & entrepreneurs brought to you by 202Creates, Broccoli City, WeDC Fest, and your creative community!

See below for the full line-up of performers, venue information, and more. Be sure to check back for additions to the performer & vendor line-up!

ARI LENNOX
Ari Lennox is singer and songwriter from Washington, DC. She is signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records and just dropped a new single, Whipped Cream. You can learn more about Ari Lennox at arilennox.com.

GIRLAAA
GIRLAAA is a DC-based subsidiary of creative collective Rock Creek Social Club. GIRLAAA works to level the creative playing field by highlighting female DJs, musicians, and artists.

DOMO
Domo (@dora_winifred), DJ, curator, Rock Creek Social Club partner, and founder of “GIRLAAA”; a DMV native with an eclectic house-influenced style that fuses R&B and hip-hop with dance and go-go music.

MANE SQUEEZE
Mane Squeeze (@manequeeze) is a DC-based DJ and multifaceted creative. Her interests include visual arts and digital design, with a major focus on music entertainment and educating our youth.

THE MIXXSTRESS
The Mixxstress (@themixxstresa) is a multi-hyphenate artist based in the District. You can listen to her new single, “Catch A Body,” on Spotify.

Friday September 28, 2018 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Ivy City Smokehouse 1356 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Multi-Track, Meetup / Party