The joint was jumping last night at the End of Fiscal Year party at 1215 Connecticut Avenue. It was sponsored by a slew of local organizations including GovLoop, Young Government Leaders, Tech Bisnow, Young AFCEANs and GovDelivery. Folks were definitely partying like it was… 2010.
What was really cool was yet another confirmation that DC has become a hotbed for Web 2.0, or in this case Government 2.0. That wasn’t just my take. I met Sandeep Bhatia of Caloroso Partners in from San Ramon, CA. He told me he wanted to help government use technology smarter and that this was the place to be for Web 2.0, not San Francisco. Don’t know if I’ve heard that before, but that’s saying something!
Many local notables of the new tech scene were on hand — Chris Dorobek of Federal News Radio and the Dorobek Insider, Mark Drapeau of National Defense University (and now GW professor), Maxine Teller, guru of socmed for the DoD. A big theme of discussion among revelers was the merger last week of GovDelivery and GovLoop.
It’s a perfect match — the number one provider of communication technology for the public sector hooking up with the number one social network for government professionals. I’m proud to say GovDelivery is my client, and now GovLoop is as well. Here’s the Wall Street Journal’s take on the deal.
I caught up with the two principals of the deal, Scott Burns and Steve Ressler. (So did Tech Bisnow, and their picture is probably better). Lots to celebrate last night, and also lots of good things ahead in 2010. Should be a great year for both GovLoop and the DC new tech scene in general.
Scott Burns (left), and Steve Ressler
Great to see you again!