Inno Approved: DC Tech Events To Know About This Week (4/14-4/27)

Like DC Inno Approved? A fresh version comes out every other Friday with new ideas of tech and networking events to check out. Here's a list of great tech, business and networking events in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, to hit up in the next two weeks. 

Friday, April 14

Event: UXDC Happy Hour

"Join us for a happy hour to meet other UXDC conference attendees ahead of the event, share insights after the workshop day from the workshops you attended, or just come to network with other like minded individuals. We will have a cash bar at this event."  

Event: Wine Lovers & Second Friday HH Groups Team Up 2 Take Over Old Town

"When two awesome groups join forces on a Friday night, you know it's going to be an epic good time, Join the Wine Lovers and the Second Friday Happy Hour Group for drinks at one of Old Town's newest waterfront bars. We will be meeting in the Hi-Tide Lounge, or hopefully if the weather is nice on the patio. Menus includes cocktails on tap (yes, you read that right), wine, beer and yummy bites. Plans are to crawl up King Street afterwards. So come on out, meet new folks and leave the cares of the week behind."  

Event: Guard Llama's "Shark Tank" Viewing Party

"To celebrate their recent appearance on the show, Guard Llama will be holding a Shark Tank viewing party at WeWork White House on April 14th at 7:00 pm. Hosted by special guest Brandon Andrews from Values Partners."  

The Weekend, April 15-16

Event: Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival

"Enjoy more than seven celebratory hours of free music, family friendly water-related activities, cultural experiences, live entertainment, delicious foods at multiple outdoor venues, and a beautiful fireworks show at the Southwest Waterfront at the finale event of the 2017 National Cherry Blossom Festival." 

Event: Hilltop Consultants Social Innovation Pitch Competition

"The Social Innovation Pitch Competition is an opportunity for Georgetown students to receive feedback, mentorship and cash prizes of up to $2,000 for groundbreaking ideas with a social impact. The first round of the competition will involve a written application due on April 16th at 5:00pm. All finalist will proceed to pitch in person to a panel of expert judges with robust social innovation and business experience. The final pitch competition will occur on April 20th at 6:00pm."  

Monday, April 17

Event: DC Tech Meetup 55 — Tech For Good

"Join fellow technologists & technology enthusiasts for an evening of live demos from companies developing great technology in Washington DC. This month, we'll be hearing from companies and nonprofits that have developed exciting products for social impact."

Tuesday, April 18

Event: 8th Annual Minority Business Expo

"Launched in 2010, the Business Expo has become the region’s prime event to connect minority-owned businesses with potential clients and organizations that support their growth. Join us at our biggest event of the year and connect with the region's leading minority owned businesses. Last year we brought together 1,880 attendees, 172 exhibitors, and 97 Sponsors and Partners. This year will be even bigger and better! "

Event: Black Female Founders (#BFF) One-Year Anniversary Party

"Come show your support as we celebrate our first year, highlight the accomplishments of #BFFs and #BFF-led ventures, and share some big news!"

Event: Careers in Women's Empowerment Symposium

"The Global Women’s Institute and the Program for Gender Equality in International Affairs will host a half day program which includes a panel discussion with professionals with vast experience across sectors using their careers to advance gender equality, moderated by GWI’s Director of Policy and Outreach Janine Moussa. This interactive seminar will include experts in law, advocacy, politics, arts, health, academics, and public policy, on the national and international stage. The program also features an opportunity to chat with these panelists in smaller group discussions, as well as act out the ‘dos and don’ts of networking’ in an improvisational exercise under the skilled direction of Leslie Jacobson, Playwright and Professor, GWU Department of Theatre and Dance"

Event: Fireside Chat Tour with Trevor Lynn, CMO of Social Tables

"This is not your average D.C. networking event or meet-up - join us for our Fireside Chat event and listen in as we interview Trevor Lynn, Chief Marketing Officer of one of D.C.’s innovative and hottest tech startups, Social Tables."

Wednesday, April 19

Event: SEED SPOT DC Kickoff Party!

"Join us for a drink and appetizers to celebrate SEED SPOT DC First Cohort! Doors open at 6pm and pitches & remarks will begin at 6:45pm." 

Event: Bossed Up Power Hour with WIN (Women's Information Network), DC

"Meet incredible women doing amazing things as you join our growing community of courageous, ambitious women leading BOSS lives and crafting their careers with passion and purpose. Grow your network over hot appetizers and cold drinks!" 

Event: Whiskey & Unicorns at Logan Exchange

"Get ready to check-out the NEW and super cool Logan Exchange co-working space with two of our favorite things in the world... WHISKEY and UNICORNS!" 

Thursday, April 20

Event: 2017 GW New Venture Competition Finals

"12 teams take the stage to vie for $300K in funding and support at the 2017 New Venture Competition"

Event: Startup District Pitch Battle

"Startup District Pitch Battle is designed for entrepreneurs to get exposure to the community and potential investors, as well as to gain feedback from the audience to sharpen their pitch and direction. Four startups will have 5 mins each to pitch their business, with up to 10 mins Q&A from the audience. They are rated on pitch/deck & feasibility"

Event: In3 Welcome Mixer: Featuring Mayor Bowser

"An evening event you won't want to miss. Come meet some of DC's finest entrepreneurs, movers and shakers, the In3 team and DC's very own Mayor Bowser. A DJ will spin, light refreshments will be served and a meeting of the minds will occur. Get your questions answered, a tour of the facility, and make the right decision to #FindYourIn at In3."

Friday, April 21

Event: GW Earth Day Symposium

"On the day before the March for Science and Earth Day, GW scientists celebrate biological sciences and their importance in understanding our world and how to protect species, ecosystems, and landscapes for all."

Event: American Dream Business Pitch Tank

"A business pitch competition with a panel of business experts to provide feedback and possibly prize money to winner. American Dream Business Institute training at Jumpstart, Accelerator and Grow levels will be introduced to premiere at in3."

The Weekend, April 22-23

Event: 2017 National Cannabis Fest - Presented by Wash Hydro

"Thousands meet at RFK Stadium festival grounds on #420two to celebrate the end to prohibition during a full day of music, food, culture and activism at the 2nd Annual The National Cannabis Festival. RSVP for updates and visit http://bit.ly/NatlCannaTix to get tickets now."

Event: Earth Day Swap Shop 

"Bring your gently-used goods to trade at an Earth Day Swap Shop for the DC Community! Join DC-based tech company Optoro, local retailers, and non-profits at the Wunder Garten in NoMa for swapping, live music, and great food and drinks. Entry is free!"

Event: Annual Garden Party

"Join us on Sunday April 23 or a Garden Party, with 20% off* all gardening supplies, pottery, & live goods, hands-on gardening tutorials, prizes, & more!"

Monday, April 24

Event: VISIONDC

"CulturalDC is proud to launch VISIONDC, Arts and Urban Innovation Summit, on April 24, 2017 at the iconic Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater!"

Event: Digital Transformation: Empowering People & Organizations In A Changing World

"Ongoing economic instability, changing political environments, tough social issues and technological change have created a complex world. With the right technology, policies and public-private partnerships, we can all work to improve citizen services, address cybersecurity, and even mitigate skills shortages. We invite you to join 1776 CEO and Co-Founder, Evan Burfield, in a fireside chat with EVP and President Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing & Operations, Jean-Philippe Courtois, as they discuss the role of digital transformation and how it is helping to address some of the complex economic and societal challenges facing governments and businesses around the world."

Tuesday, April 25

Event: Halcyon Incubator Beer Garden

"At Halcyon Incubator Beer Garden, we'll spend the evening hearing from some of the most impressive startups and innovators as they discuss how the world's challenges are imminently solvable. Because, let's face it, we've got enough dating apps. Join us to see what solutions the most innovative minds are creating."

Event: Baked In: Can Policy Help Create Incentives in the Cybersecurity Marketplace

"The Internet has become critical infrastructure and 20 billion devices are expected to be connected by 2020. As the Internet grows, cyber threats have increased alarmingly in number and in scope, threatening every sector of the economy and society and defending the Internet against cyber attacks is one of the great challenges of our time. However, there is no consensus on how to build meaningful cybersecurity into our complex Internet ecosystem. Direct regulation has largely been rejected as too heavy-handed and damaging to innovation. Although there is a growing insurance market to cover the costs of cyber breaches, liability has not been applied to software vendors and has not taken root in the legal system even as industry standardization bodies move slowly in this direction. Existing incentive patterns make disclosure of breaches haphazard at best."

Event: Funding Your Side Hustle: Happy Hour

"Are you looking for a way to fund your side hustle? One of the biggest struggles many side hustlers people face is figuring out how to fund or finance their work."

Wednesday, April 26

Event: 3rd Annual Howard's Very Own Entrepreneurship Fair

"Howard’s Very Own (HVO) is a platform created to increase access to emerging entrepreneurs and well-established business owners including students, professors, faculty, and alumni – within the Howard University community. As Howard’s sole entrepreneurship platform with a business directory, social media presence for easy engagement, and a business showcase: Howard’s Very Own serves as the network and tool needed to build the communal engagement of Howard University’s entrepreneurial community."

Thursday, April 27

Event: The Future Reality

"At this event you'll be hearing from renowned content creators on the use cases and application of AR and VR for Education, Healthcare, and Real Estate."

Event: #BeyondTheBox: Healthcare 

"The Beyond the Box speaker series brings together experts from industries viewed as "non-creative" to reveal how creativity plays a role in sparking insights and driving innovation."

Image used via CC0 — credit Unsplash