The Chaos Playbook: The Briefing Serious Operators Don’t Skip
A Strategy Sprint Hosted by DCNext — formerly MIT Enterprise Forum of DC and now associated with MIT MIx
Location
3000 K St NW suite 600
3000 K Street Northwest #suite 600 Washington, DC 20007Refund Policy
Agenda
5:30 PM - 6:10 PM
Registration, refreshments, networking
6:20 PM - 6:30 PM
Opening remarks: Ybet Villacorta, Partner, Foley
Ybet Villacorta
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Tactical Briefings: Contracting Chaos | VC in a Hype Cycle | Tariff Whiplash
6:30 PM - 6:45 PM
Contracting Chaos
John Strom
Mark Grundvig
6:50 PM - 7:05 PM
VC in a Hype Cycle
Von Bryant
Craig Asher
7:10 PM - 7:25 PM
Tariff Whiplash
Greg Husisian
Christopher Swift
7:30 PM - 7:45 PM
Q&A
7:50 PM
Rooftop networking and reception
About this event
- Paid venue parking
The Headlines Say “Crisis.”
We Say: Competitive Advantage.
Tariffs. Layoffs. Budget freezes. Contract cancellations.
If you're building anything right now, it feels like the world is in freefall.
But for serious operators, this chaos is a signal; not just noise.
This isn’t a panel for panels’ sake.
It’s a real-time pulse check — and a strategy sprint for what’s next.
Agenda at a Glance
5:30 PM – Registration, refreshments, networking
6:20 PM – Opening remarks: Ybet Villacorta, Partner, Foley
6:30 PM – Tactical Briefings:
- Contracting Chaos
- VC in a Hype Cycle
- Tariff Whiplash
7:30 PM – Open Q&A
7:50 PM – Rooftop networking and reception
DCNext is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit .
Our Instant Expert Events deliver high-signal briefings for people building, funding, and shaping what’s next.
At this event, we’ll announce our invite-only membership for active members in our community, offering exclusive access to a network of operators, investors, and insiders at the intersection of innovation, defense, and deep tech.
This event is your first chance to get in.
Frequently asked questions
Washington Harbour Parking: Garage is located at 3000 K St NW, in the Washington Harbour’s East Building. The garage entrance is on K St between 30th and Thomas Jefferson St. • Please note: Foley does not validate parking • The garage is open 24/7 and accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover