Washington, DC Unveils WeDC House Programming at South by Southwest

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Washington, DC is returning to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas this year with a growing lineup of panels, pitch competitions, fireside chats and events, showcasing the best of the city's diverse economy, innovative tech industry and vibrant culture.

Collectively, the Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), in conjunction with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, will continue its one-of-a-kind collaboration at the WeDC House, to position DC as the "Capital of Inclusive Innovation" from Sunday, March 11 through Monday, March 12.

"Washington, DC is the capital of inclusive innovation — a diverse city of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs," said Mayor Muriel Bowser. "As we seek ways to drive capital to even more entrepreneurs, including people of color, women, and LGBTQ residents, we are proud to once again showcase our talent and tech scene at South by Southwest and use this national spotlight to spread the word about our efforts in Washington, DC."

"WDCEP is proud to help showcase the best of DC's diverse economy and vibrant culture at the WeDC House in Austin for the fifth year in a row," said Keith Sellars, President & CEO of WDCEP. "From autonomous vehicles to the importance of inclusion in the tech industry, our unique lineup of programming – featuring influential DC leaders and entrepreneurs – will highlight why DC continues to be named a top destination to start, grow and accelerate businesses."

WeDC House Featured Programming

Sunday, March 11

POLITICO Playbook Panel: On Sunday, March 11, POLITICO will host a conversation at the WeDC House. The event will feature a Playbook conversation with Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Representative Will Hurd (R-TX), led by POLITICO's Playbook Co-Authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman. The program will discuss policy, politics, and how conversations in DC intersect with those taking place at SXSW.

WeDC Celebration & Music Showcase:Representing the District's thriving cultural and entertainment scene, the official WeDC Celebration at SXSW will take place on Sunday evening, with entertainment provided by Events DC.

Monday, March 12

Black Girl Ventures Pop-Up & Pitch Competition: Cee Smith Media and BEACON: the DC Women Founders Initiative, will present the Black Girl Ventures Pop-Up & Pitch Competition. This remixes the traditional approach by allowing the audience to ask questions and contribute to 50 percent of the vote, in addition to our esteemed panel of judges. The competition will accept for-profit and non-profit ventures that are revenue-generating and have at least one woman founder. Contact contact@blackgirlventures.org to apply. Accepted competitors will be notified by email on Saturday, March 10.

"The Future of Mobility in Cities" Panel: The way people move around cities has evolved more in the last five years than the previous 100 years combined, and the emergence of shared use mobility (car-sharing, bike-sharing, ride-sharing) reimagines the way people move around the city and how cities are planned, built and managed from the curb up. This panel — hosted by TransitScreen, a DC startup, and ofo, the world's first and largest station-free bike share platform and mobile app — will explore emerging technologies, who will be affected and what impact this has on the cities of the future. 

WeDC Pride Party:LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute and Cee Smith Media present WeDC Pride Party. Celebrating the District's LGBTQ+ community, the WeDC Pride Party at SXSW will take place on Monday evening, with entertainment provided by Events DC and Cee Smith Media.

Ongoing Activations

Throughout WDCEP's participation at SXSW, Booz Allen Hamilton will feature interactive installations such as an AI Art Mirror, which uses machine learning to turn your reflection into a work of art in real time. In addition, IBM's Watson Internet of Things (IoT) will showcase an activation called the Safer Workplace and Smarter Cities, Homes & Buildings, where attendees will experience interactive demos.

For updates and more information on the programming at the WeDC House, visit www.wedchouse.com.

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SOURCE Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP)