Entrepreneurs and the companies they lead often use the end of a year to realign priorities and plan for the future.DMV entrepreneurs did just that to wrap up 2024, with several organizations shifting business models, hiring and merging. For example, a DC investment firm is changing its structure to reach more founders through an entrepreneurial curriculum. In addition, a local startup was acquired by a government contracting software company, and a recently launched tech incubator appointed its first executive director. Keep reading to get the details on those and more Power Moves in the DC region. Equity-focused VC firm changes business model — and name1863 Ventures will now be known as New Majority Ventures — a fiscally sponsored, charitable organization. The firm, which turns 10 in 2025, focuses on investing capital in and scaling businesses founded by Black, Latino, and other historically underestimated entrepreneurs. It also led its own accelerator, to bring $100 billion in wealth to diverse founders.       That overarching mission will not change, per leader Melissa Bradley. The existing venture funds will remain, but New Majority Ventures will now prioritize distributing its virtual educational programming for entrepreneurs to other organizations, rather than hosting it.  She views entrepreneurship as a “team sport.”“We’re not going to get to $100 billion on our own,” Bradley, a two-time exited founder, told Techical.ly. “We think there’s another way … selling our curriculum to other organizations so that they can use the formula that we have used to be able to help founders grow, create jobs and generate wealth for their communities.”That curriculum includes teaching marketing, finances, customer aggregation and fundraising, she said. The programming has been tested over the last few years and adapted based on feedback. “Ironically, I’m not into organization, entity-building,” Bradley said

ROSWELL, Ga., Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dispersive Holdings, Inc. (Dispersive), a leader in Stealth Networking which redefines preemptive cybersecurity with zero trust networking, quantum defense, and trusted access across enclaves and zones, is proud to announce that Rajiv Pimplaskar, CEO has graduated from MissionLink, an exclusive nationwide network that serves as a force-multiplier and gateway to accelerating innovation and advancing solutions to National Security threats. Founded in 2010, MissionLink's mission is to connect passionate problem solvers with next-gen, mission-critical capabilities in NatSec tech to the right resources, customers, investors, advisors and partners to solve the rapidly evolving national security concerns across commercial and federal sectors. For more than 10 years, MissionLink has been on the cutting edge of National Security and is recognized as the organization that has most captured the timeliness and immediacy of the latest security developments, discoveries and breakthroughs. "We are proud to welcome Rajiv Pimplaskar into MissionLink's esteemed alumni network," said Andy Lustig, cofounder and Organizing Board member of MissionLink

This is a guest post by Pat Tamburrino Jr., chief administrative officer for the NobleReach Foundation , a Tysons, Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting the United States’ technological dominance.Through all the federal government’s complex and dynamic cybersecurity needs, one challenge remains consistent year after year: the demand for cyber talent.The White House has emphasized the critical need for cyber talent in and out of the public sector, especially given the country’s approximately 500,000 open cyber positions. To that end, the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies have released numerous implementation guidelines and directives to strengthen the nation’s cyber workforce.Among these are the DoD Cyber Workforce Strategy for 2023-2027, which creates a unified direction for DoD cyber workforce management and growth, and the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, a plan for developing a robust and diverse labor pool to effectively meet evolving digital demands. These initiatives are essential to strengthen our cyber workforce, especially in government.Solving this challenge demands a united effort between the public and private sectors and academia. We have an opportunity to advance the nation’s cybersecurity posture by innovating collaboratively, revisiting the role of academia and recruiting top talent.Closing the cyber talent gapThe talent needed to fill government roles exists, but the higher pay and greater agility associated with the private sector, as well as the complexity of navigating federal hiring processes, may deter motivated young people from exploring a broader range of options.Public-private cyber partnerships function best when leaders from both sectors cultivate the ability to speak each other’s language. Pat Tamburrino Jr.Still, many recent graduates seek mission-oriented work. Tapping into that passion and providing effective and efficient mechanisms to serve is key to attracting talent to the public sector.Initiatives like our organization’s NobleReach Scholars Program, which connects talented young cyber workers with government fellowships, can help create an ecosystem that nurtures talent and contributes to national security