DowntownDC Gears Up for 1776 Challenge Festival

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Innovative thinkers, entrepreneurs and global startup stars will converge in D.C. the week of May 9 for the culmination of 1776’s Challenge Cup

Startup incubator 1776 (1133 15th Street NW), which produces the festival and runs the Challenge Cup, traveled to 16 cities around the world over the past year to challenge entrepreneurs to showcase their best innovations. Out of those challenges, 64 startups won the right to compete in Washington, D.C. in the next round of the Challenge Cup.

The startups will spend the week competing in the areas of health care, education, energy or smart cities for the coveted Challenge Cup championship title and $650,000 in prizes. Two startups from each category will emerge as semifinalists and these “elite 8” will move to the Global Finals on Saturday, May 17. The DowntownDC BID is a proud sponsor of the Smart Cities Challenge on Thursday, May 15.

Surrounding the competition is the week-long Challenge Cup Festival, which runs from May 9-17. For registered attendees, this means opportunities to attend the tournaments, hear keynote speeches, take part in free community events, take advantage of networking opportunities and have fun at Festival parties all located throughout Washington, D.C., including in Downtown.

The Challenge Festival was preceded by iStrategyLabs‘ annual Digital Capital Week (D.C. Week), which promoted D.C. tech. 1776 worked closely with iStrategyLabs to globally expand the D.C. Week model.

Register here for access to the Challenge Cup Festival.