The Monthly Blend

Checking back with leaders in the life sciences startup ecosystem, The Monthly Blend co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong speak to the CEO of MD Tech Council Kelly Schulz, Founder of Ecphora Capital Deborah Hemingway, and Founder of Solaxa Christian Walker to get an update on why this region is still a powerhouse in life sciences and biotech. Hear from these leaders, how venture capital, startups, and critical associations are ensuring the DMV region continues to lead the country in these areas.

Checking back with the startup ecosystem in Baltimore to hear how the region has grown and is hotter than ever! Join The Monthly Blend to speak to veteran Baltimore founders, funders, and connectors – Jeff Cherry, Christopher College, Andrea Pais, and Sherrod Davis - to hear how Baltimore is joining the DMV as a startup stronghold.

Join The Monthly Blend as they kick off 2024 with an episode focusing on female founders in the DMV. Cohosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong have the pleasure of discussing the progress made for female entrepreneurs with Springboard Enterprises CEO Natalie Buford-Young, Citrine Angels Cofounder Lisa Friedlander, Sky Squad founder Julie Melnick and Veza Innovations Founder Karen Maschi. But why are we still at 2% everyone asks? Why does less than 2% of all venture capital dollars go to female founders and why has this number not changed in decades?

Join The Monthly Blend cohosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong as they discuss 2023 the year in review. Anthony and Tien look at the fundraising market and pace of this past year, valuations, growth in the DMV region, bold initiatives, the value of what NEXT, NEXT RAISE and Connectpreneur bring to our ecosystem, and what to expect for 2024.

DC Startup Week 2023 will kick off on Monday, October 16th and lots of exciting programs, speakers and networking happy hours are in store. Listen in as Rachel Koretsky, Founder DCSW/CEO Upace, Seema Alexander, Co-Chair DCSW/Founder Disruptive CEO Advisory, and DMV rock star entrepreneur Mariam Nusrat, CEO Grid/Breshna tell The Monthly Blend all the great things, and a few surprises, that await attendees. Sign up Now https://www.dcstartupweek.org/

The DMV is climbing the ranks as a top entrepreneurial ecosystem! Listen in to what 3 rock star entrepreneurs have experienced in their journey as Xiaonao Liu, PhD, CEO of Nanobiofab, Denise G. Tayloe, CEO of PRIVO, and Otha Smith III, CEO of Tetragram talk to The Monthly Blend. Co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong dig into how our region has changed, what is the current funding landscape, and how our community continues to grow.

Listen now to this critical and informative discussion of how AI is already impacting our world, with a particular focus on the healthcare industry. Join co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong as they speak to Dr. Moira Schieke, Founder of Cubismi, a new decision-based AI technology revolutionizing healthcare, and global AI expert, ex-Microsoft leader and author, Tom Lawry. This is an episode not to be missed.

What do you know about SBIR funding? Is it right for your startup? No better place to learn the basics as well as the ins and outs of SBIR grants than with our two experts in this month's The Monthly Blend. Listen in when Dr. Diane Hickey, SBIR Consultant & Founder, Diamond Chameleon Group, and Commander Christopher Steele PhD, US Navy Physiologist, talk to co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong about the SBIR process inside and outside the federal government and how it can accelerate your startup into full growth mode.

Founder of DCA Live, one of the DMV's top ecosystem builders, Doug Anderson brings along 3 of this year's 2023 Red Hot Entrepreneurs – Shavini Fernando (OxiWear), Laura Randa (Toivoa) and Vishal Chintawar (Givhero) – to join The Monthly Blend co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong for this new episode. Listen in and hear the incredible stories of these "red hot" startups as well as Doug's own history of supporting and building the tech community in our region.

The Monthly Blend co-hosts Anthony Millin and Tien Wong had the exciting opportunity to sit down with George Thomas, Chief Innovation Officer at Connected DMV, Jim Cook, Former VP, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships at MITRE Corporation, John 'Jay' Lowell, Principal Senior Technical Fellow, Disruptive Computing & Networks at Boeing and Kaniah Konkoly-Thege, Chief Legal Officer at Quantiniuum to understand how cross-sector quantum innovation is occurring in our ecosystem. How are we accelerating opportunities and competition for quantum and what are the perspectives from the industry and current research?