News

This month, DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW) marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of entrepreneurship, collaboration and innovation across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia tech ecosystem. The annual event, running Oct. 20–24, 2025, will once again unite thousands of founders, investors and innovators for a week of sessions, workshops and networking opportunities.

When Arlington Economic Development (AED) launched its $1 million Arlington Innovation Fund (AIF) in 2023, the goal was to accelerate high-growth startups in critical sectors. A year later, the results are coming into focus. As Technical.ly recently reported, AIF is part of Arlington’s broader strategy to cement its position as a hub for tech entrepreneurs. Now, grantees like Phalanx, KnoNap and G

The Arlington Innovation Fund, housed under the county’s economic development arm, sponsors local events and workshops. It also granted funding to startups in early 2024: Nine firms received non-dilutive funding ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. Since then, companies have collectively raised $25 million after participating in what’s called the Catalyst Grant Program.

This fall, Arlington Economic Development (AED) is proud to support several cybersecurity events and conferences — many of which are open to the public and take place right here in Arlington.

Three more tenants have moved into George Mason University’s state-of-the-art Fuse building at Mason Square in the Rosslyn-Ballston Innovation Corridor of Arlington, Virginia.

JSI, Corvex, and Oasis Hill strengthen Fuse as a center for collaboration between industry leaders, government, university researchers, and students. All three tenants moved into Fuse this spring.

A Los Angeles venture capital firm will launch an accelerator program in Arlington later this year to help aerospace and defense startups establish a permanent presence in Greater Washington.

AED is teaming up with Springboard Enterprises and Deloitte to bring Dolphin Tank® back to Arlington — offering an exciting platform for women entrepreneurs to pitch, connect and grow. Sponsorship of this event is part of AED’s broader efforts to support the tech ecosystem through the Arlington Innovation Fund (AIF). The 2025 DMV Dolphin Tank will be on Wednesday, June 11.

Through conversations with founders, one recurring theme stood out – a lack of peer-driven founder communities. Many founders expressed the need for a space where they could connect, share challenges, and support one another without the pressure of pitching or performing.

In the dynamic world of medical technology, innovation thrives where necessity meets opportunity. OxiWear, an Arlington-based company, is leading the charge in preventing silent hypoxia — dangerously low oxygen levels that often go unnoticed until it's too late.

At the final panel of Arlington Economic Development’s “Elevate Your Venture: Female Founder Series,” powered by Citrine Angels and moderated by Lisa Friedlander, co-founder of Citrine Angels and CRO of NEXT by Shulman Rogers, several successful entrepreneurs and investors shared their strategies for making the most of events while still staying focused on building their businesses.