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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear TiE DC Members and Friends,
2026 feels different, and I mean that in the best possible way.
When I stepped into this role on January 1, I asked myself a simple but uncomfortable question: are we actually serving our members, or are we just staying busy? A packed calendar is easy. Programming that meets you where you are and moves you forward is harder, and that is exactly what our 2026 Board set out to build this year.
What we landed on is a twelve-month journey where each stage builds on the last and every event is designed to move you forward, regardless of where you are starting from.
We start with Story. In February at Lucky Danger, Sid Chowdary and Tim Ma shared their incredible entrepreneurial journeys. No polished pitches, no fluff, just honest conversations that reminded everyone in the room why they started. Strategy is where you pressure-test your thinking with people who have been there. Scale is where you learn to grow without breaking what you built, whether you are chasing your first contract award or your next funding round. Capital in the DMV means understanding how money moves in the federal space, how to position for your first contract award, and how to become a credible partner to federal agencies and primes. Leadership is next, because winning a contract and delivering on it are two different skills. And we close with Activation, putting you in front of the right people at the right moment, and our FedGov Symposium on June 17th is exactly that, a dedicated opportunity to engage with federal decision makers, contracting professionals, and industry partners that make this region unlike anywhere else in the country.
That is not a calendar. That is a commitment.
We have also launched TiE Young Entrepreneurs 2026 in partnership with George Mason University. The next generation of entrepreneurs is out there right now, and we are finding them, mentoring them, and building their confidence to lead. If you want to be involved as a speaker, mentor, pitch judge, or sponsor, we would love to have you. Legacy is built one person at a time.
I also want to say something about membership, because I think it sometimes gets undersold. The right introduction, the advisor who has navigated your exact challenge, the prime relationship that comes through trust rather than a cold outreach, those things do not happen by accident. They happen because you are in the room consistently with people invested in your success. TiE DC membership is not access to events. It is access to people who have done it, are doing it, and want to see you do it too. And as part of a network of 60 plus chapters and 18,000 plus members worldwide, that advantage travels with you wherever you go.
To our sponsors and partners, you are not funding events. You are funding outcomes, and we do not take that lightly.
Our best work is ahead. If you have not been in the room yet, 2026 is the year to change that.
With purpose and momentum,
Raji Bezwada
President, TiE DC
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Charter Members Join Us On Wednesday, March 11th at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Building Differentiation that Drives Growth and Enterprise Value
TiE DC is pleased to host a charter member–exclusive event at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman offices in McLean - Building Differentiation that Drives Growth and Enterprise Value.
This gathering is extended exclusively to TiE DC Charter Members, along with select sponsors and prospective charter members.
Join us as we kick off the evening with networking, cocktails, and heavy bites before settling in for an engaging fireside chat with two iconic CEOs who started from zero and built powerhouse companies defined by enduring, differentiated value that competitors simply could not replicate. Hear their journeys and the lessons learned along the way.
Come meet and engage with our dynamic speakers Mehul Sanghani and Sonu Singh.
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Mehul Sanghani
A Blacksburg native who built a $1.3 billion federal technology company from scratch, sold it to IBM in the largest acquisition in IBM Consulting history, and returned to Virginia to build what comes next — channeling 25+ years of expertise into the defense-technology ventures and institutions shaping America’s AI future.
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(LIMITED CAPACITY) | |  | |
Sonu Singh
Sonu is the founder of 1901 Group and was responsible for its strategic vision, innovative business model, and financial performance. After growing up in Blacksburg, Virginia and earning an industrial and systems engineering degree from Virginia Tech, Sonu knew that there was tremendous untapped talent in rural areas such as Southwest Virginia. In 2009, Sonu founded 1901 Group based on three major components: 1– establishing an Enterprise Operations/Development Center in Blacksburg, 2 – leveraging technology, automation, and processes in a common platform to increase quality and consistency in IT management, and 3 – utilizing consumption models for IT as opposed to standard labor hour billings. At the time of its acquisition by Leidos in 2021, the 1901 Group employed over 350 people and was a leader in public sector managed services, cloud migration/operations, software development, and cyber engineering. Sonu sits on the Virginia Tech National Capital Region Presidents Advisory Board and the Virginia Tech APEX Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Board.
| | | TiE DC February Event at Lucky Danger | | |
What an incredible evening at TiE DC at Lucky Danger: Entrepreneurs at the Chef’s Table.
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us for such a memorable night of conversation, connection, and community. Events like these are a reminder of what makes entrepreneurship so powerful — the people behind the ideas.
We’re especially grateful to Lucky Danger for the exceptional hospitality and chef-curated experience. The setting created the perfect atmosphere for meaningful discussions and new relationships.
Special thanks to Credence, Siddhartha (Sid) Chowdhary, Tim Ma, Nicholas Schulman, and Dr. Vinod Chopra for your generous support and for sharing such engaging and insightful stories. Your perspectives truly enriched the evening.
To our members, speakers, guests, and supporters — thank you for bringing your energy, insights, and enthusiasm. The conversations shared and connections made are exactly what TiE DC is all about.
We look forward to continuing these discussions and seeing you at our upcoming events.
| | Thank you again to our sponsor for this amazing event! | | |
At Credence, we embody Servant Leadership, based on an Inverted Triangle philosophy. Each customer, teaming partner, associate, and employee is treated as a trusted partner whom we serve. Our leaders support and empower our project teams and staff, who in turn promote the visions and objectives of our Government customers.
We are driven by our motto: One Measure of Success – Yours. At every level of the pyramid, our job is to ensure the success of the level above. We believe in making everyone we work with successful, whether you are our customer, our teaming partner, an employee, or a member of society. Your success is our success!
Our three Core Values are Trust, Partnership, and Success. Our corporate culture promotes honesty and accountability in each individual, which facilitates a trusting environment for our employees, project teams, and customers.
| | TiE DC Kicks Off TYE Boot Camp 2026 | |
This past Saturday, TiE DC proudly launched the 2026 TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Boot Camp, welcoming 31 motivated high school students and 6 dedicated mentors to begin an exciting entrepreneurial journey.
TYE is dedicated to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs by giving high school students the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and innovation through hands-on, experiential education. Throughout the program, students gain real-world exposure to the entrepreneurial process — from identifying opportunities and developing ideas to collaborating with peers and presenting their ventures.
The TYE program empowers students to start building the skills, mindset, and confidence needed for the entrepreneurship pathway as they prepare for their future professional careers.
Our vision is a world where TYE Alumni emerge as thought leaders, industry experts, and community builders, helping create a more collaborative, innovative, and entrepreneurial society.
We are excited to see what this talented cohort will build, learn, and accomplish over the coming weeks and are grateful to our mentors for guiding them along the way.
Stay tuned as we follow their journey and celebrate the next generation of innovators.
| Thank you to our Venue Sponsor! | | | March 11, 2026 | Building Differentiation that Drives Growth and Enterprise Value | | April 19, 2026 | Building Together | | April 25, 2026 | TYE Pitch Competition | | May 13, 2026 | Mentor Match Day | | June 17, 2026 | FedGov Symposium - Flagship
McLean, VA | | June 2026 | TYE Global - Seattle, WA | | July 3 - 6, 2026 | TiE CM Retreat | | August 2026 | TiE Angels "Pitch" Fair | | September 27, 2026 | Demo Day - Innovation Day | | October 20, 2026 | M&A, Exit and PE Rollups: How GovTech and GovCon Companies Get Acquired | | November 2026 | Diwala Gala: Founder Showcase & Member Awards | | December 2026 | Annual Dinner: Year-End Celebration, 2026 Impact and 2027 Roadmap Reveal | | | |
THANK YOU TO OUR RENEWED & NEW CHARTER MEMBERS!
A huge thank you to our renewed members for your loyalty, and a warm welcome to our new members, the DC entrepreneurial ecosystem just got even stronger and more vibrant!
RENEWED CHARTER MEMBERS:
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Nar Koppula - Angel Investor and Small Business Investor
Nar Koppula has around 30 years of experience in the field of information technology and management. Mr. Koppula co-founded Ace info Solutions (AceInfo) in 2000 which grew to a successful federal IT contractor with $100M+ revenue and exited in 2021. At AceInfo, as President and COO, he has provided management direction, growth strategy and strategic partnerships. Since 2021 he has been on the boards of multiple startups focusing in Automation, Agtech, Medical SaaS platforms as an investor and mentor. He is also active in DMV GovCon M&A community advising small businesses and providing leads.
Apart from IT he is passionate about improving US-India relations. Through US-India Security Council, working to promote defense cooperation and trade between US and India, both large and important democracies.
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Interested in joining one of TiE DC's committees that will shape our programming, events, and member experience?
Reach out to us today!
| | TiE Trivia: Did you know? | | |
TiE’s leadership is powered by Charter Members—successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors who volunteer their time to mentor founders and support the ecosystem.
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JOIN TiE DC TODAY!
Expand Your Network While Giving Back
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CLICK HERE for additional information on the TiE Advantage and why you should join today!
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