Do I need approval to attend?

Yes. Registration is by request and is subject to host approval.

Is this part of DC Startup & Tech Week?

Yes. The event is listed as part of DC Startup & Tech Week.

Ditch The Pitch Buy The Business!

Name: Ditch The Pitch Buy The Business!
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-20
Location: Focus Social Club, 1348 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

A DC Startup & Tech Week session on buying an existing business instead of starting from scratch. A moderated fireside chat with founders who have both built and acquired companies compares the two paths, followed by networking with searchers, operators, investors, lenders and advisors. Starts at 6:00 PM.

What to expect

Part of DC Startup & Tech Week, this event explores buying an existing business and building from there as a route to entrepreneurship. A moderated fireside chat compares buying a business with building a startup from scratch, including what changes when you start with existing customers, employees and cash flow. Networking follows the conversation.

Agenda and speakers

Moderator: James Faison, Lead Sponsor and Partner at Faison Law
Chat Joglekar: Founder and CEO of Baton Market, an AI-native marketplace for buying and selling small businesses, and a former executive at Zillow and Google
Sonya Hopson: Founder and CEO of Sage Services Group and CHPK Ventures, a business acquirer
Willem Straatman: Founder of Heritage Facility Services, with a background in investment banking and corporate M&A

Sponsors and partners listed are Faison Law, Focus Social Club, New Majority Capital and DC Startup & Tech Week.

Who should attend

Aspiring founders weighing acquisition against starting from zero, plus searchers, operators, investors, lenders and advisors in the DMV entrepreneurship community.

Venue and access

Focus Social Club, 1348 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002.

How to register

Request to join on the Luma event page. Registration requires host approval, so submit your request early.