Since the inception of SocialRadar and its introduction into the D.C. tech community, Michael Chasen, the app's founder and CEO, has been quite transparent and open to discussion about the plan for his new company. Much of this can be found on the company's blog. From a funding announcement to an explanation of SocialRadar's unconventional cultural foundation, Chasen – with a few other of the startup's executives – takes the lead on the blog giving compelling and honest insight into his company. And in his latest post, he describes the importance of headquartering SocialRadar in the District of Columbia, unlike the many technology companies that are taking to Northern Virginia to flourish. He believes it affects SocialRadar in every facet and that being located in the heart of D.C. will give the company what it needs to thrive.
This is his explanation:
As I recently wrote about in the Wall Street Journal, there was never a question that our headquarters would be in the District of Columbia. In 1997, I started Blackboard in a small brownstone just off Dupont Circle and the company stayed in the District as we expanded. When Blackboard outgrew the brownstone, we moved into another building that we would also fairly quickly outgrow. Eventually the company swelled to over 3,000 employees, of which 500+ were located in DC, facilitating yet another move to its current location occupying several floors in a corner building by the Verizon Center.
Not only does Chasen have experience building a company from the ground up in D.C., but his newest product also demands a level of credibility and real-life, big-city validation that SocialRadar – as a brand – couldn't get in a smaller market. "Considering what our mobile app does, we’re particularly attuned to the importance of location," he wrote in a post. "For the first few months, the SocialRadar team was working out of my home office. It was designed for two." An app built (arguably) for younger people in big cities trying to improve their real-time social interaction just wouldn't have the same feel if it was built in some suburb distant from its target audience.
And with that SocialRadar brand ethos generated from being located in D.C., so does its culture. Nov. 21, Chasen and company opened the doors to the SocialRadar headquarters to show of their brand new office for a grand open house party. The 19th Street space was beautiful for the event and showed off the personality of the young and hip company. Or as Chasen describes it: "a vibrant environment that fosters teamwork and fuels innovation, emanating a laid-back West-Coast vibe in a fast-growing, fast-paced, fun-filled East Coast tech hub." The response was overwhelmingly positive, with more than 300 D.C. techies making an appearance for great food, great booze and a great time.
SocialRadar has made its home in a creative and buzzing hub of innovation. And with places like 1776, Canvas and several others surrounding it, SocialRadar wants to thrive in the new growth of D.C. tech. And it likely it will. After all, in a spectacular office space, close to exciting and accessible D.C. cultural staples and surrounded by fantastic universities, SocialRadar will only continue to attract talent, which it already has plenty of from Chasen's connection within Blackboard. Some don't think twice about location, but Chasen gave it heavy consideration, and because of that, SocialRadar – which has a Q1 launch planned – will start off with great footing.
Image via SocialRadar Facebook
