President Obama learns about Travis Dougherty’s startup DeafTV at 1776 (photo: Facebook)
Obama 1776 Startup
When Evan Burfield and Donna Harris first began to work on their idea for a startup hub, incubation, corworking space and accelerator in the heart of the nation’s capital, they specifically wanted to bring startups close to the political hub of the United States. Startups that cater to the social needs of the people along with those who need access to the world’s largest enterprise buyer, the federal government, are the ideal kinds of startups you’ll find at 1776 right across the street from Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post.
President Obama insists on signing in like any other regular guest at 1776 (photo: Faceboom)
Political figures come and talk to startups all the time. Personally, I’ve been to a handful of events with DC Mayor Vincent Gray who played a big roll in getting the space opened.
Sure the dynamic duo, that first started working together at Startup America, an initiative blessed by the Obama Administration to further the growth of startups across the country, hoped that one day the President would pay a visit. But it was only fitting that the visit came as a kick off to this years Fourth of July Festivities.
On the eve of the Fourth of July, President Obama signed into the 1776 startup space like any other guest, filling out his information on the kiosk in the entry way. Then, both before and after the President made remarks about employment, covered by every major news network in the country, he rolled up his sleeves and provided 1:1 mentorship with most of the 1776 startup participants.
President Obama speaks with id.me founder Blake Hall on recent visit to 1776 (photo: Facebook)
The President spoke with Blake Hall the founder of ID.Me a startup that was formerly known as Troop ID. His company helps validate group participants that are eligible for group discounts purely online. ID.ME provides a way for merchants who give the military or other sizable groups discounts without having to go threw a long id process. Once someone has registered themselves and their group affiliation with the service they are validated to participating merchants like overstock.com
DeafTV founder Travis Dougherty spent some time with the commander in chief discussing his startup tv network that caters to deaf people and deaf culture. Through numerous videos, series and events DeafTV is a community surrounded by videos that promote life in deaf culture and prove that those hearing impaired live just like everyone else. Obama pocketed Dougherty’s business pitch card and posed the question to Doughtery that everyone likes to hear but especially from the President, “I wonder why this has not done before?” After reading over Doughtery’s pitch Obama told him ” “This is a great idea!”
There are stories like that all over Facebook for those linked to DC’s startup epicenter 1776. There were stories all over the web, in print and on the nation’s largest television networks this weekend that featured 1776 and reminded the world of Obama’s commitment to startup companies.
Obama is a big supporter of Up Global the organization formed when Startup America merged with Startup Weekend. Startup America debuted on the White House lawn and quickly expanded across the country to promote startups in cities everywhere.
