No Pressure, NO diamond

No Pressure, NO diamond

Hosted by:

DC’s flagship year-end tech and venture ecosystem event.

More than an end of year holiday party, it’s a summit + celebration where investors, founders, VCs, and partners come together to mark the wins of 2025 and set the stage for 2026.

DATE

Thursday

December 11, 2025

TIME

Summit: 2:30 - 6:00pm

Evening: 6:00 - 9:00pm

LOCATION

Station DC

1323 4th St NE, Washington, DC

WHO ATTENDS

VC Investors

Early-stage and growth investors active in DC and beyond.

Founders

Startups and innovators from across the DC ecosystem.

Community

Policy leaders, government, creatives, and other ecosystem players.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Curated Daytime Programming

  • Focused discussions connecting investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders.

  • Lunch and roundtable sessions designed to spark collaboration.

  • Insights from leading fund managers.

  • Learning opportunities on emerging trends shaping the startup landscape.

Evening Celebrations

  • Welcome address to kick off the evening.

  • Main stage speakers and remarks

  • Keynote speaker (to be announced).

  • Live music and networking.

Immersive Experiences

  • VIP Lounge: Private space for invited guests with refreshments and quiet networking.

  • Demo Corner: 4 startups showcasing cutting-edge tech and products.

  • Networking Wall: Connect through shared goals—find mentors, collaborators, and partners.

  • Community Contributions: Support the DC startup ecosystem through charitable donations and exclusive event merchandise.

AGENDA

​2:00 PM - VC Roundtable (Invite Only) - Led by VC in DC and Sponsored by Standard Metrics

  • Crushing Capital Cycles: How VCs Are Evolving Strategies to Win in 2026

​2:30 PM - Doors Open

​3:00 PM - Welcome Remarks

​3:10 PM - Fireside Chat

  • Pathways to Capital: How the SBA Is Powering Early-Stage Growth

​3:40 PM - Panel - Led by The Agora Initiative

  • Crushing it in 2026: Fundraising, GTM, Company building, & Strategic Gov Partnerships for Early-Stage Startups

​4:15 PM - GP Insights

  • Learn What 8 Early-Stage VCs Are Looking For in 2026

​6:00 PM - Special Announcement & Awards

6:25 PM - Evening Reception Begins

meet your CRUSH sponsors

Main Stage Partner

Event Partner

Supporting Partner

Community Partner

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