DC Startup & Tech Week 2026 runs Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 2026, across venues in Washington, DC and Arlington, Virginia. Formerly called DC Startup Week, it is the largest startup and tech gathering in the DMV, with the organizers citing 300+ speakers, 150+ events and more than 7,000 attendees over five days.
This guide covers what DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW) is, how to register, which pass to pick, where sessions happen, the side events worth adding to your calendar, and how founders can get real value from the week. Get the weekly list of DMV startup events, grants, and deadlines. Join the StartDMV list at https://startdmv.org.
What is DC Startup & Tech Week?
DC Startup & Tech Week is a five-day conference and community festival for the startup and innovation ecosystem across DC, Maryland and Virginia. The event started as DC Startup Week and expanded its name to reflect a broader tech audience. It celebrated a decade of programming in 2025, according to a Technical.ly guest piece by cofounder Rachel Koretsky.
The official DCSTW site describes the 2026 edition as 5 days, 10+ tracks, 150+ events, 300+ speakers and 7,000+ attendees. Programming mixes keynotes, hands-on workshops, fireside chats, investor meetings, an expo, a startup showcase, and live pitch competitions. People also search for it as "DC Tech Week" or "DC Startup Week", but they all point to the same October event.
Key facts at a glance
Detail | DC Startup & Tech Week 2026 |
|---|---|
Dates | October 19 to 23, 2026 (Monday to Friday) |
Where | Multiple venues in Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA |
Scale | 300+ speakers, 150+ events, 7,000+ attendees, 10+ tracks |
Registration | |
Formerly known as | DC Startup Week |
StartDMV listing |
Tracks and who the week is for
The official site organizes the week around four main tracks, plus a long list of subtracks. If you only have one or two days to spare, pick the days whose tracks match your stage and sector.
Early Stage Founders: idea validation, first customers, fundraising basics, and building a team.
Growth Stage Founders: scaling, hiring, later rounds and partnerships.
Emerging Tech and AI: AI, developer and technology programming.
Startups for Good: mission-driven and impact-focused companies.
Subtracks listed on dcstw.com include Female Founders and Funders, Consumer Packaged Goods, Government and Innovation, Climate and Sustainability, Web 3.0, Life Sciences and Biotech, Mental Health and Wellness, Developer, Investor, Workforce Development, Idea Stage, Autonomous Tech and Dual-Use, and Hospitality. The Luma registration page also highlights cyber, defense and dual-use, GovTech, healthcare and fintech, which fits the DMV's strengths in federal and security technology.
How to register and which pass to choose
Registration runs through the official DCSTW 2026 Luma page, which offers these ticket types:
Founder or Professional: general admission for founders, operators, engineers, and professionals.
Investor: VIP event access for angels and fund managers.
Ecosystem: a pass for service providers and partners.
Student: for current students.
Community Sponsor: requires organizer approval.
When we checked the DCSTW 2026 Luma calendar on October 6, 2026, registration showed a starting price of $63.13. Prices can change as the event gets closer, so confirm the current rate for your pass type on the registration page before you buy. If you are a university student, check your school's career or entrepreneurship office, since several DMV universities list the week on their own event calendars.
Venues and daily schedule
DCSTW moves around the region during the week. The official venues page lists the locations below. Treat this as a planning guide and confirm each session's room in your personal schedule after you register, since the organizers note that the detailed schedule lives on the registration platform.
Day | Venues listed by DCSTW |
|---|---|
Monday, October 19 | Convene DC (600 14th St NW) and Player Space DC (1400 14th St NW) |
Tuesday, October 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW), National Landing Experience Center and Zebox CoWorking in Arlington, Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City, Dirty Habit (555 8th St NW) |
Wednesday, October 21 | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, International Square (1875 I St NW) and other DMV venues |
Thursday, October 22 | International Square conference room, food hall and rooftop |
Friday, October 23 | Convene Arlington (1201 Wilson Blvd) and a closing celebration in DC |
Because sessions jump between downtown DC and National Landing, plan for Metro time. The Orange, Silver, and Blue lines link the downtown venues with Rosslyn and Crystal City, and the Yellow and Blue lines serve Crystal City directly.
Pitch competitions and the Battle of the Regions
Live pitch competitions are central to the week. In 2026, the Battle of the Regions tournament, presented by District Angels, DC Startup & Tech Week, Inspire Access and the Abell Foundation, runs regional rounds across the DMV, with winners advancing to a championship round during DCSTW in October. The Maryland regional round features 12 startups across sectors such as biotech, fintech, digital health, and AI.
If you want to pitch at a future edition, follow the DCSTW and District Angels calendars over the summer, when regional rounds and applications typically open. Even if you are not pitching, watching the finals is one of the fastest ways to see what local angels ask founders.
Side events before and during the week
A lot of the best networking happens around the main program. These events are already listed on StartDMV:
DC Fintech Week Official Happy Hour on October 13.
DCSTW Community Reception: Creating Global Startups on October 14, hosted with Founder Institute at the Embassy of Hungary. Capacity is limited and registration needs host approval.
Angel Investing 101: Not Just Winging It on October 14.
Boundary Breakers, a national security technology showcase, on October 20.
Venture + Startup Gala on October 21.
Find a Cofounder / Help or Join a Tech Startup on October 22.
The following week keeps the momentum going with the Cyber Innovation Conference on October 26 and TEDCO's 2026 Entrepreneur Expo on October 27. See the full calendar on StartDMV events.
How founders can get the most out of DCSTW
Build your schedule early. With 150+ sessions, pick three to five must-attend sessions per day and leave gaps for hallway conversations.
Set one goal per day. For example: meet two angels on investor day, find a technical cofounder at a developer session, or line up a pilot customer at a GovTech panel.
Research who will be there. Look up DMV funds and support programs before you go. The StartDMV directory lists local players such as TEDCO, NVTC, Halcyon and the Washington DC Economic Partnership.
Get your paperwork in order. Investors and government buyers will ask whether your company is formed and licensed. Our guides to the DC basic business license, starting an LLC in Virginia and starting an LLC in Maryland walk through the steps.
Follow up within 48 hours. Send a short note referencing where you met and one specific next step.
Plan your October in the DMV
DC Startup & Tech Week anchors a busy October for DMV founders, but it is not the only chance to meet investors, customers, and collaborators. We add new events, grant deadlines, and pitch calls to StartDMV every day.
Get the weekly list of DMV startup events, grants, and deadlines. Join the StartDMV list at https://startdmv.org.