Big Idea Connectpreneur Forum

The GW Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) and GW licensee Ellexco attended The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Community Forum on September 11, showcasing GW's latest innovations and engaging with DC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event, hosted at International Square, brought together over 180 business leaders, investors, and startup founders for a full day of networking and thought-provoking discussions.

Image

TCO Executive Director, Dr. Brian Coblitz, joined the speaker lineup, highlighting GW’s growing impact on the region’s innovation landscape. His remarks emphasized GW's cutting-edge infrastructure - including the Nanofabrication and Imaging Center, GMP Cellular Processing Facility, and the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) - as key pillars supporting technology development and commercialization. Dr. Xitong Liu, Associate Professor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science and Spring 2025 Technology Maturation Award recipient, represented Ellexco which previously secured $850,000 in Department of Energy funding through the Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize competition.

The CONNECTpreneur Forum continues to be one of the region’s premier gatherings for investors and entrepreneurs, having attracted over 35,000 participants across 14 years of events. The September program featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including:

• Tien Wong - Founder and Host, CONNECTpreneur; CEO, Opus8, Inc.

• Richie Brandenburg - CEO, Unfold Hospitality

• Nina Albert - Deputy Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia

• Brian Coblitz - Executive Director, Technology Commercialization Office, GWU

• Tasha Cornish - Executive Director, Cybersecurity Association, Inc.

• Guc Ozenci - Managing Director - DC, Founder Institute

• George Thomas - CEO, ConnectedDMV

• Darius Clair - Director of Programs, DC Startup & Tech Week