Fortify.vc is an early stage investment fund leveraging the proven experience of our team and our network to provide portfolio companies the community and capital they need to succeed. As serial entrepreneurs and veterans of the mid-atlantic region, we have built products and companies, led and managed teams, raised capital, sold businesses, and succeeded as angel investors. We are now working to share our experiences with our portfolio member companies in both venture and accelerator deal structures.

Distilled Intelligence is the pitch competition co-founded by Carla Valdes, Adam Fazackerley, and Jonathon Perrelli. Created “to energize startups and investors” in the mid-atlantic region, DI 1.0 took place in the Fall of 2011 and resulted in hundreds of companies applying and fifty-five presenting to judges and investors.

Companies that participated at DI 1.0 have already achieved incredible levels of success in just a few short months. Over a dozen are participants in accelerator programs such as 500 Startups, TechStars, and The Fort. Over 20 DI companies have received funding, and some have been acquired since the event. DI 2.0 will take place in October 2012 in the Nation’s Capital.

Fortify.vc reinforced their commitment to supporting the startup ecosystem in the Mid-Atlantic region by launching The Fort in early 2012.

The Fort is home to over a dozen companies working side-by-side with mentors and VC’s in a collaborative and open workspace. Several of the companies in The Fort participated in Distilled Intelligence 1.0. Companies are hiring, growing, collaborating, disrupting, and supporting others in the DC Tech community. Founders, mentors, sponsors, partners, and the Fortify.vc team are working together to accelerate startups at The Fort.