Does DC Tech Have A Problem?
Some of the DC startup tech community has been in debate mode for the past week after a City Paper article questioned whether tech could be the dominant industry in DC over the federal government. The article notes several DC startups like Hinge and HotPads.com that have left or plan to leave for bigger hubs like New York and San Francisco. The writer says DC faces a conundrum of becoming a second Silicon Valley or becoming a tech scene built up around federal government business. Cont3nt founder Anton Gelman argues that what other tech hubs lack, DC has in abundance. For every company moving, he adds, there are 10 being created. Even so, some of those companies that move still keep a small DC presence. Tech entrepreneur Martin Ringlein also notes that the article focuses too much on what’s going on at startup campus 1776 and doesn’t highlight the other DC-based tech startups with big potential like SmartThings, SocialRadar, and Macaw. So does DC have a chance of being known as a thriving tech hub and not just a government town? Send thoughts to Tania Anderson.
