Editor's note: Each year, DC Inno and the Washington Business Journal publish the Fire Awards spotlighting the founders, funders and fast-growing companies helping to power Greater Washington’s innovation economy. Click here to read our other profiles.
Wa’il Ashshowwaf has a strong desire to find new ways of promoting innovation across the region’s startup community.
Ashshowwaf is CEO of Arlington-based Unstuck Labs, a startup studio accelerator he co-founded with Ibrahem Alhaidari in 2017 that also develops software to help startups and established firms scale their businesses. In his role, Ashshowwaf works directly with entrepreneurs from the idea stage to business execution, serving as a coach during the three-month program, while providing technical services like website and mobile app development.
The company generates revenue through the service fees it charges for custom software development projects as well as from those for access to its accelerator programs or digital agency services, like website and mobile app development consultation.
So far, it’s been quite the winning strategy: Unstuck Labs brought in $1.6 million in revenue in 2023, up from $210,000 in 2022. In total, it’s helped 57 startups across the country through its accelerator programs, which has led these startups go on to collectively raise a combined $16.4 million in funding.
Ashshowwaf remarked that his journey is one that’s focused on a commitment to fostering a culture of candor, giving first and encouraging innovation. Such an approach has led to milestones like earning the “Key to Arlington” in 2023 from county officials for contributions to the local innovation ecosystem.
With a diverse background that includes various roles at Walt Disney Co., PepsiCo Inc. and HSBC Holdings PLC, Ashshowwaf brings extensive professional experience to his ventures. He also co-founded REYETS, an Arlington-based social justice platform that allows users to easily report police misconduct and interactions with law enforcement. It received a “World Changing Ideas” award from Fast Company in 2021.
This year, Ashshowwaf is focused on continuing this momentum and making a real difference in the tech and startup world. He plans to expand Unstuck Labs’ accelerator program to support a more diverse range of companies while also addressing the venture funding gap faced by underrepresented founders. Unstuck Labs boasts that 75% of the startups it has served have been led by underserved founders, a figure Ashshowwaf believes will only improve.
“This isn’t just growth,” he said. “It’s meaningful change.”
Unstuck Labs
- CEO: Wa’il Ashshowwaf
- Headquarters: Arlington
- Total funding raised: None
- Full-time employees: 4
- 2023 revenue: $1.6 million
