​Meet AI leaders and DC Startup Founders.

​AI is moving fast — and the founders shipping AI-native products are learning what works (and what doesn’t) in the real world. Join us for a founder-led panel featuring DC-area startup CEOs sharing practical AI use cases, lessons learned building and scaling, and how they’re navigating enterprise adoption, trust, and compliance. Stay after the panel for Q&A and networking with founders, operators, mentors, and investors.

​SPEAKERS

​• Catherine McMillan — Founding Director, The AI Collective (Moderator)

​• Andrew Tsintsiruk — Founder & CEO, Rohic Inc.

​• Jeff Berkowitz — Founder & CEO, Delve

​• Jonathan Aberman — Founder & CEO, Hupside

​WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

​• Practical AI use cases across industries (what’s working in production)

​• Founder lessons on building, iterating, and growing AI-native products

​• Emerging trends in agentic AI / multi-agent systems

​• Enterprise adoption: reliability, trust, compliance, and change management

​• What’s next in 2026 for applied AI and startup opportunities

​WHO SHOULD ATTEND

​• Anyone who wants to learn from AI leaders

​• Anyone curious about AI opportunities

​• Founders with a pre-seed startup or a startup idea

​• Operators/executives exploring AI adoption

​• Investors (VCs/angels) tracking AI-native innovation

​• Technologists, AI practitioners, and public-sector/policy stakeholders

​AGENDA (6:00–8:00 PM)

​6:00–6:20  Welcome + socializing

​6:20–6:30  Opening remarks

​6:30–7:25  Panel: AI use cases + startup growth lessons

​7:25–7:40  Audience Q&A

​7:40–8:00  Networking

​EVENT DETAILS

​• Date/Time: Jan 22, 2026 — 6:00–8:00 PM

​• Format: 60–90 min moderated panel + audience Q&A, followed by networking

​• Host / Co-organizer: Guc Ozenci, Managing Director, Founder Institute Washington DC Penn West Accelerator

​• Closest Metro: Dupont Circle / Farragut North (Red Line)