Bold. Diverse.
Forward thinking.
Meet the DCSTW team.
Our Vision
To be the premier entrepreneurship conference and community in the DMV for founders by founders.
Our Mission
To serve the ever-growing local DMV startup founder ecosystem through education and training, access to resources and funding, and a robust, diverse, like-minded community—where entrepreneurs can find the support they need to launch, build, and thrive in their business.
Executive Producers
Rachel Koretsky
Director & Co-Chair
Founder & CEO, Upace
Seema Alexander
Co-Chair & Head of Growth & Emerging Tech Track Lead
Co-Founder & President, Virgent AI
Core Team
Stephanie Marie Djadja
Marketing Coordinator
Stephanie Ortiz
Operations Support
State Department Director
Irfan Siddiqui
Head of Partnerships
Vice President, Noble Reach Foundation
Adeola Ariyo-Enikanoselu
Director of Communications and Marketing & DCSW Youth Entrepreneur Track Lead
CEO, AAE Consulting and Inter79 agency
Hugo Cubias
Head of Production
Principal, Simple Multimedia
Fawn Renee
Expo Manager
Program Coordinator Simple Multimedia
Cristina Roman
Volunteer Coordinator
Online Business Manager and Productivity Coach
Chelsea Norng
Operations & Admin Coordinator
Track leads
Casey Williams
Co-Lead, DC Startup Women & Female Founders & Funders Sub-Track
Kaye Rodriguez
Co-Lead, DC Startup Women & Female Founders & Funders Sub-Track
Anjali Mahadevia
Climate & Sustainability Track Lead
Kaitlin Capobianco
Startups4Good Track Co-Lead
Director, Johns Hopkins
Chida Sadayappan
Head of DevFest
Managing Director, Deloitte
Colin Fraser
Cannabis Track Lead
CEO, Upling, LLC
Gilberto Nazario
Web3 Track Lead
Director, Web3DC
Darius Clair
Early Stage Track Lead
Techstars Program Manager
Colin Campbell
Food & CPG Sub Track Lead
Director, Krave Jerky
Katie McKenzie
Technology Sub-Track Lead
Founder, Dinwood
Brendan Sullivan
Mental Health Sub Track Lead
Founder, ZAMA Heath (Exited)
Nina Archie
Government & Innovation Sub-Track Lead
Program Innovation Manager, US Dept. of State
Shailee Adinolfi
Web3 Subtrack Co-Lead
Head of Business Development, Trust Machines;
Steward of DC DAO
Former Leadership Team
Thank you for your LEADERSHIP in growing DC Startup Week to what it is today.
Chida Sadayappan
Cofounder, DC Startup Week
Managing Director, Deloitte
Stephanie Ortiz
Head of Operations (AKA: Our Glue)
Manager, Accenture
Cory Lawrence
Co-Organizer, Director of Marketing
Founder, IRL Agency