New tech incubator Station DC to open in Union Market

A new tech incubator is opening in Washington, D.C. , right as the federal government pours billions of dollars into chip manufacturing and AI .

Why it matters: Station DC aims to take advantage of the U.S. government and military 's increased interest in tech innovations, which has led to an influx of companies wanting a presence in Washington.

Driving the news: Josh Baer, the founder of Texas-based entrepreneur hub Capital Factory , plans to build a 15,000-square-foot space in the buzzy Union Market neighborhood. It hopes to open early next year above Pastis .

• The District approved $2 million over the next two fiscal years for the project.

How it works: During the day, it will feel like a private club for networking, and there will be event opportunities during the evenings, Baer tells Axios.

• Evan Burfield, the co-founder of former D.C. tech incubator 1776, will be on its board.
• They aim to create a gathering space for startups and venture capitalists to connect with federal policymakers.

Zoom out: The news is a bright spot in D.C.'s effort to court the tech world, while Northern Virginia grows as a Silicon Valley of the East Coast.

What's next: "Station DC will establish an outside advisory board of futurists and venture capitalists to shape the strategic vision of the tech hub and involve leading startups," the nonprofit says.

• It had a launch event Tuesday evening — timed with the NATO summit in D.C.

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