Washington D.C.'s startup scene features a diverse mix of companies in sectors like AI, security, and energy.
For instance, location data platform Mapbox has attracted $614.2M in funding. On the other hand, newer players like Last Energy are focused on creating micro modular nuclear power plants.
Below is our list of 20 Washington D.C. startups worth keeping an eye on.
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Get the Sheet for $50CalypsoAI builds an AI security platform to help organizations safely adopt and use large language models. Their technology provides automated testing and real-time defense to secure AI systems against vulnerabilities and threats.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Davey Gibian, Neil Serebryany, Victor Ardulov |
| Funding Amount | $43.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | ARVO VENTURE CAPITAL, 8VC, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Crosspoint Capital Partners |
Mapbox builds a location data platform that allows developers to embed custom maps, search, and navigation into their applications. Its flexible APIs and SDKs are used to power a wide range of services, from fleet management and logistics to business intelligence dashboards.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Bonnie Bogle, Eric Gundersen, Will White |
| Funding Amount | $614.2M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Thrive Capital, SoftBank, DFJ Growth, Foundry Group, SoftBank Vision Fund |
Optoro built a SaaS platform to help retailers and e-commerce brands manage the entire product returns process. Their system optimizes the full lifecycle, from the initial customer return request all the way through to restocking and resale.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Adam Vitarello, Tobin Moore |
| Funding Amount | $269.4M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Franklin Templeton, QED Investors, Kleiner Perkins, Generation Investment Management, eBay |
Emerald AI builds an AI-powered software platform that transforms energy-intensive data centers into assets for the power grid. Their technology optimizes energy use and allows data centers to participate in energy markets, creating new revenue while improving grid stability.
| Year Founded | 2024 |
| Founders | Varun Sivaram |
| Funding Amount | $41.5M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Radical Ventures, NVentures, National Grid, Amplo, CRV |
Tidal Cyber develops a threat-informed defense platform that maps adversary behavior to a company's security stack. The enterprise software gives security teams a clear view of their defensive coverage and helps them prioritize actions against relevant threats.
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Frank Duff, Rick Gordon |
| Funding Amount | $24M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Squadra Ventures, Blu Venture Investors, Veteran Ventures Capital, SaaS Ventures, Bright Pixel (formerly Sonae IM) |
Last Energy builds micro modular nuclear power plants using a novel system for development and delivery. Their approach standardizes the design and supply chain, allowing them to deploy clean, reliable power to customers much faster than traditional nuclear projects.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Bret Kugelmass |
| Funding Amount | $64M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | First Round Capital, Quiet Capital, Gigafund, Armada Investment AG, Amitis Capital |
Alethea builds technology to protect major companies from the risks of disinformation and social media manipulation. Their platform helps organizations detect and respond to harmful narratives and other digital threats.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Lisa Kaplan |
| Funding Amount | $30M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Ballistic Ventures, GV, Hakluyt Capital |
[solidcore] operates a network of fitness studios centered around a high-intensity, low-impact workout. Their signature 50-minute classes use custom Pilates-style reformers for slow, controlled movements designed to build serious strength.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Anne Mahlum |
| Funding Amount | $325M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | VMG Partners, Kohlberg & Company, Peterson Partners |
Plural builds a public policy platform that helps teams track legislation and manage complex workflows. The software aggregates bills and regulatory data, enabling organizations to discover opportunities and collaborate more effectively.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Damola Ogundipe, Yemi Adewunmi |
| Funding Amount | $10M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Menlo Ventures, Techstars, M25, S3 Ventures, Boomtown Accelerators |
Sublime Security builds an adaptive, AI-powered platform for cloud email security. The company's approach combines threat detection with enhanced visibility and control for security teams.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Ian Thiel, Joshua Kamdjou |
| Funding Amount | $89.8M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | IVP, Slow Ventures, Index Ventures, Decibel Partners, Citi Ventures |
10 Additional Washington D.C. Startups Worth Following
Our top ten picks are just a small part of what’s happening in the District. Founders across the city are building companies in important areas like security and data analytics.
Together, the next group of companies has raised over a billion dollars to grow their ideas. Here’s a look at the other startups helping to shape the city's ecosystem.