DC Tech Meetup #94: Predicting 2026: What wins. What Fails.

Contact Information:

DC Tech and Venture Coalition (DCTAV)

Contact: press@dctav.co

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Release Date: February 4, 2026

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A huge thank you to the hundreds of builders who packed the MLK Jr. Memorial Library to stress-test the future of capital, startups, and jobs. Our theme, "What Wins. What Fails," sparked a raw, necessary conversation about where the DC tech ecosystem is headed over the next two years. Missed the session? Catch up on the highlights here and stay tuned for what’s on the horizon.

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Demos: Defining "What Wins"

We featured four standout companies proving that the winners of 2026 will be those solving tangible problems with high-integrity technology:

• Tell Pastell (Danny Beck) – Redefining digital communication and technical transparency for the next generation of builders.
• Novolyze (Karim F Khinouche) – Utilizing food safety AI to bring real-world utility and integrity to global supply chains.
• Lola Vision Systems (Tayo Adesanya) – Developing advanced vision systems that bridge the gap between hardware and intelligent software.
• TGS Tech (Sarrene Miller) – Engineering high-performance solutions that tackle the complex infrastructure needs of tomorrow.

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Panel: What Wins. What Fails.

The panel moved past the high-level hype to provide a fast-paced, critical look at the shift from experimentation to execution. By reacting to real-time predictions from the audience, our experts dissected the specific strategies and technologies that will define the next two years:

• Scaling AI from Pilot to Production: Exploring the practical hurdles of moving beyond experimental AI projects into full organizational integration and why most current initiatives fail to reach scale.
• The Rise of Agentic AI: Analyzing how autonomous agents will move beyond hype to drive revenue by handling complex workflows and messy, non-standardized documentation.
• Talent Market Evolution: Debating how AI acts as a "skill equalizer" and the resulting shift in hiring priorities from years of experience toward learning agility and emotional intelligence.
• Workforce Displacement and Upskilling: Addressing the impact of automation on entry-level and mid-to-senior roles, alongside the responsibilities of institutions to prepare the community for an AI-driven economy.
• Ethical and Societal Integration: Discussing the role of labor unions, the impact on marginalized communities, and the necessity of building transparent, high-integrity technical systems.

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Speakers Included:

Felipe Millon (OpenAI), Alekhya Tallapaka (Fathom), Alana Hyman (HireCapital), and Philip Minardi (BuildWithin).

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Community Highlights

Huge thanks to our venue partners at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library for hosting us and providing a space to stress-test the future of our ecosystem.

Shoutout to Katherine Andrews (International Trade Policy Advisor, DHS), who shared exciting news from TEDxLogan Circle. Tthey are currently recruiting speakers for their August 2026 event. If you have a "big idea" to share on the TEDx stage, applications are open until March 15th.

A special thank you to our incredible team of volunteers who managed everything from tech to the floor.  We truly couldn’t do this without you.

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***ABOUT DC TECH MEETUP (DCTM)***

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***Brought to you by DC Tech & Venture Coalition (DCTAV)***

DCTAV is a network of tech execs, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders working to make DC the best city in the world for tech and venture. Learn more at DCTAV.co