STATION DC Mobilizes National Coalition of Builders, Investors, Policy Leaders to Strengthen the District’s Innovation Economy

Advisory Council and Founding Mentor Network unite to support founders solving challenges of national consequence

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--STATION DC—the non-profit tech hub where frontier-tech founders connect with investors, Fortune 500 executives, military leaders, and policymakers—today announced two new talent engines designed to make Washington the most founder-focused city in America:

• Advisory Council – A national braintrust of seasoned founders, investors, operators, and policy experts helping shape STATION DC’s strategy, programming, and partnerships—while amplifying Washington’s technology narrative across the country.
• Founding Mentor Network – Hands-on operators committed to monthly office hours and ongoing engagement, sharing hard-won lessons, helping facilitate strategic intros, and advising startups on go-to-market, procurement, compliance, and more.

With these leaders under one roof, STATION DC serves as the District’s connective tissue—linking innovators to the relationships, expertise, and policy insight they need—while giving Washington a stronger engine for job creation, capital attraction, and breakthrough technological advancement.

STATION DC is now actively accepting mentor applications from experienced operators and builders; selected mentors will receive discounted membership. Apply at stationdc.org.

“We’re creating what we believe is the most talent-dense network in DC—founders, operators, investors, and policymakers all focused on a single mission: make DC the heartbeat of American tech leadership,” said James Barlia, Executive Director, STATION DC. “Talent density compounds. Every new node strengthens the network effects that help innovators move faster. That only works when builders remain at the center of everything we do.”

To date, STATION DC has announced partnerships with:

• Leonid Capital Partners – Orange County, C.A.-based Trusted Capital Partner to the U.S. Department of Defense, now opening an office in DC.
• Bloomberg Industry Group – co-hosting events and summits to position DC as a national innovation hub and strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
• 1Leader – Connecting venture-backed founders with DC’s policy, capital, and industry networks.
• VC in DC – Partnering to build founder–funder matchmaking infrastructure and increase early-stage investment in DC startups.
• Vanta – Helping startups and agencies scale securely with top-tier compliance and co-hosted events on trust and innovation.
• The District of Columbia’s office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development – Invested $2 million to help launch STATION DC’s tech hub in the city’s Union Market neighborhood.

ADVISORY COUNCIL — STRATEGIC GUIDES & NATIONAL AMBASSADORS

• Kevin Bennett – Co-Founder & CEO, Further
• Allister Chang – Co-Founder & COO, Fabric Health
• Sean Chung – Head of Platform, Coolwater Capital
• Charley Dehoney – Co-Founder & CEO, Upwell
• Zach Fredericks – Principal, Primary Venture Partners
• Debashish Goenka – Vice President, StepStone Group
• Daniel Goetzel – Practitioner-in-Residence, Harvard Kennedy School
• Naeim Khanjani – VP Strategic Initiatives, Punchbowl News
• Dillon Krasnigor – Partner, Altos Ventures
• Asher Kraut – Partner, Generational Partners
• Zak Kukoff – Chair, Tech Practice, Lewis-Burke Associates
• Jon Mandel – SVP, Bose Public Affairs
• Christopher Petkas – General Partner, Contrarian Thinking Capital
• Alex Poulin – Partner, Lavrock Ventures
• Dan Prieto – Founder, RANGE Strategic Advisors
• Scott Resnick – Founder, Hardin DD
• Zak Ringelstein – Founder & CEO, Zigazoo
• Michelle Volz – General Partner, Pax Ventures
• Chelsea Zhang – Principal, Equal Ventures

FOUNDING MENTOR NETWORK — HANDS-ON OPERATORS SUPPORTING STATION DC MEMBERS

• Nic Adams – ex-Staffer, US Senate
• Garuth Acharya – Principal, 8090
• Allie Brandenberg – Head of Government Relations, Public Affairs, Communications, Deterrence
• Anthony Cimino – Head of Policy, Carta
• Sam Gray – Executive Vice President of Market Development, Second Front Systems
• Morgan Kaplan – Director of USG Strategy and Affairs, Vanta
• Zak Kirstein – Head of Growth, Northwood Space
• Zak Kukoff – Chair, Tech Practice, Lewis-Burke Associates; ex-General Catalyst
• Declan Lynch – Chief Revenue Officer, Privateer Space
• Sam MacGregor – Principal, Leonid Capital Partners
• Merritt Ogle – Chief Operating Officer, Silicon Valley Defense Group
• Omar Pimentel – Policy and Strategy Lead, Defense Innovation Unit
• Eliot Pence – Chief Business Officer, Osmo; ex-Anduril
• Bobby Puglia – Chief Product Officer, Bloomberg Industry Group
• Eric Ransom – Partner, Crowell & Moring; ex-Scale
• Gabby Tarini – National Security Policy, OpenAI
• Tracy Van Grack – Chief Communications Officer, Revolution

ABOUT STATION DC

STATION DC is a non-profit tech club for frontier-tech founders, investors, government and military leaders, regulators, and philanthropists advancing America’s national interest. Members gain curated introductions, exclusive events, Capital Factory-powered education, real-time policy intelligence, and flexible meeting space in our 12,000-square-foot Union Market clubhouse—plugging innovators directly into Washington’s rooms of power.