Startup DC Seeks To “Reboot” America By Connecting Big Business and Emerging Startups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STARTUP DC SEEKS TO "REBOOT" AMERICA BY CONNECTING BIG BUSINESSES AND EMERGING STARTUPS 

Program Will Create New Connections for Region’s Startup and Corporate Ecosystems

Washington, DC, July 29, 2012 - With the goals of creating local jobs, improving the DC regional economy, and increasing innovation in America, Startup DC, the regional Startup America effort, will host an event to introduce a new program called “Reboot America” this Friday, June 29 at 6 p.m. ET.

Reboot America, created by Startup DC in partnership with the national Startup America Partnership is a year-long program connecting large corporations and emerging startup companies across key regional industries for the purposes of collaboration and partnership. Corporations in DC-strong verticals like education, defense, biotech, media, and politics will learn about the DC entrepreneurship community and how they can work together for various reasons, and the startups will learn about the challenges of big business, potentially becoming their partners in new projects and business ventures.

Reboot America’s engagement will happen online through digital platforms and offline during a series of events culminating in a national conference on November 8 -9 during the 10,000-attendee Digital Capital Week festival.

Reboot America, sponsored by Verizon and Microsoft, will also give startups novel opportunities to network with each other and discuss innovative solutions to further the growth of businesses in America. Specific areas of focus during Reboot America will be:

• Democracy (media, advocacy, and politics)

• National Challenges (education, healthcare, energy, and America’s place in the global economy)

• Government and Security (federal, state and local government, national security, homeland security, and cyber security)

Microsoft will be the official technology platform sponsor of Reboot America, and Mark Drapeau of their Office of Civic Innovation in Washington, DC will co-chair the National Challenges effort. As part of this sponsorship, Microsoft and Startup America will also partner to launch a "digital think tank for young civic innovators" in order to connect the Reboot America community.

"Startup DC's new Reboot America initiative aligns directly with Microsoft's commitment to provide emerging startup companies the tools and technologies they need to tackle societal challenges and drive the growth of the DC and national economies," said Dan Kasun, Senior Director of Platform Evangelism at Microsoft Public Sector. "Empowering entrepreneurs of all kinds is vital for economic growth, and we are proud to be a sponsor and partner in this new initiative."

The overarching goals of Reboot America are to:

1. 1. Create greater network density between our region’s startups and established corporate leadership for mutual benefit.

2. 2. Establish a differentiated brand for our regional startup ecosystem in areas such of democracy, national challenges, government and security, and hospitality.

3. 3. Create new connections for our region’s startup and corporate ecosystems, both locally and across the country, to facilitate innovation in similar industries.

This event will bring together Startup DC’s leadership team, supporters and host committee members (comprised of startup and corporate leaders) to formally kick-off the Reboot America program.

WHAT: Reboot America Launch Event 

WHEN: Friday, June 29, 6 - 8 p.m. ET 

WHERE: Tesla Washington, 1050 K Street N.W. Suite 101 Washington DC, 20001 

WHO: Evan Burfield, Chairman, Startup DC Mark Adams, Director, Verizon National Marketing Ashish Jaiman and Mark Drapeau, Microsoft Public Sector

MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Throckmorton, lthrockmorton@speakerboxpr.com

About StartupDC

Startup DC focuses on integrating the various facets of the regional startup economy, across jurisdictions and industries, and reaching out to established businesses, policymakers, and universities to implement specific programs to support startups and the broader economy. A key emphasis for Startup DC is aligning entrepreneurial activity with the existing strengths of the region in areas such as media, advocacy, hospitality, financial services, international development, energy efficiency, and government. Through Startup DC, regional startups can also leverage the Startup America Partnership’s national network to gain access to business resources throughout the state and country, enabling them to scale more quickly and create more jobs across the region. For more information, please visit: http://dc.s.co/