WDCEP & DC Government Promotes Digital DC at SXSW
March 19, 2014
WDCEP and the District of Columbia have partnered with the DC Tech community to promote the District’s growing technology base at SXSW Interactive Conference March 7th-11th in Austin, Texas. SXSW was used as a platform to promote “Digital DC”, a marketing and branding campaign and economic development initiative, intended to foster continued investment in innovation and technology. The initiative is focused on attracting talent to DC, marketing new business and investment opportunities in tech, and highlighting tech and innovation-based businesses in the District.
Ranked as the best educated city in America, the best city for college graduates, and No. 1 tech hotspot, Washington, DC has become an ideal city to start and grow technology companies. With a Five-Year Economic Development Strategy aimed at creating 100,000 new jobs and generating $1 billion in new tax revenue, Washington, DC’s tech scene is rapidly expanding making the District an increasingly exciting headquarters for technology startups.
Digital DC is the latest in a series of efforts by the District to elevate the city’s status as a startup hub. Digital DC is aligned with the goal established for the technology and innovation sector outlined in the District’s Five-Year Economic Development Strategy launched in 2013 as being the largest tech hub on the east coast.
“SXSW offers an extraordinary podium for the Digital DC campaign that will help provide the District access to the world’s leading creative audiences so we can attract much needed talent and investment to DC’s existing tech companies,” said Keith Sellars, President/CEO of WDCEP.
“The District of Columbia is poised to become a major hub of innovation and technology and we have committed considerable resources to create an environment to support the continued development of innovative, growth-oriented companies,” said Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “We are becoming “the heart” of technology business activity in Greater Washington and our agenda at SXSW is deliberate to facilitate relationships on behalf of existing DC tech companies with large corporations and users of technology,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins.
The comprehensive marketing strategy at SXSW Interactive included a guerilla marketing campaign, media interviews with key industry writers, a dedicated social media campaign, and a large networking event to not only celebrate the DC Technology community, but also to market the city to outside talent, investors, and large corporate representatives.