OnDC 2009

How did the entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley create the greatest explosion of wealth and innovation in the history of the world? How can we ensure the almost unprecedented transformative agenda coming from Washington will nurture America's Silicon Valleys, propelling them to even greater success?

Another stimulus priority is cyber-security. What are the threats, how are they evolving, and where is the intersection of government efforts and entrepreneurial opportunities in this sector?

As government redirects and expands spending into new sectors, especially information technology, what are the hot areas for small private companies who want to sell products and services to the biggest customer on earth?

Is access to broadband internet - despite remote locations or economic hardship - a right or a privilege? Should universal broadband access be a stimulus priority, and what product and service sectors are most likely to grow as a result of spending on broadband proliferation?

Is the cap and trade bill an essential step towards climate and energy security, or too little too late? How can entrepreneurs find a niche in what promises to be an explosive new business opportunity.

Breakthroughs in online health and technology promise to transform healthcare, driving cost-cutting efficiencies, greater consumer participation, and enhanced abilities for government and healthcare providers to communicate and educate. In this new world, where are the biggest opportunities for entrepreneurs, and what is the best way for government to learn from and participate in what’s happening in the private sector?

In the jungle of finance, who are the disruptive adaptive entities, offering funding solutions when the conventional sources have dried up? This panel of finance entrepreneurs presents a variety of innovative ways for small companies to maintain adequate working capital despite the credit drought.

What every VC and Entrepreneur needs to know about the potential impact of policy on Innovation. From privacy and copyright to cyber security, smart grid, and net neutrality, there are many heavily debated issues that should be taken into account before you Invest in the next big thing. Understanding what Congress is looking for, and understanding how to navigate the opportunities buried within legislation are crucial.

Who are the cutting edge start-up companies, what are they developing, and what are they looking for from Washington? In the backyard of the Beltway, local entrepreneurs join in the march.

Private equity financed companies with breakthrough technologies can grow via IPO or acquisition. Large established companies can stay on the cutting edge through internal R&D or through acquisition. More than ever, the mutually beneficial acquisition deal involves large government contractors acquiring small technology companies. Who is doing the acquiring these days, and what are they looking for?