TiE DC 2026 AWARDS GALA
Award nominations are open now through September 8. Member ticket sales open September 21. Service providers attend by sponsorship only. Nominate →
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Venue to be announced · Washington, DC metro
This region builds extraordinary companies. On November 14, the people who build them are in one room. The TiE DC Awards Gala brings together the founders, investors, and institutions of the DC region for one evening, and for the first time presents regional industry awards to the people moving it forward.
Four industry awards will be presented for the first time, alongside an evening of recognition and networking for the region's entrepreneurial community. Sponsorship levels start at $500, every level is $5,000 or below, and levels may be combined.
Award Category Sponsorships are limited to three. The date is tentative pending venue confirmation.
Key Dates
Where Things Stand
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 17 | Nominations open · sponsorship outreach begins |
| September 8 | Nominations close, 11:59pm ET |
| September 21 | Finalists announced · member tickets on sale |
| October 27 | Sponsorship & logo deadline for the printed program |
| November 14 | Awards Gala · winners announced live from the stage |
Admission
Who Gets In, and How
The Gala is a members-and-guests evening. Charter members attend as guests of TiE DC, and professional firms attend through sponsorship. Please read the guest policy before registering, because it is enforced at check-in.
Charter Members
Charter member plus one personal guest, at no charge.
Members
Member ticket. One personal guest at $150. Sales open September 21.
Service Providers
Law, accounting, banking, wealth, insurance, real estate, staffing, and consulting firms cannot purchase admission. Sponsoring is the route in.
2026 Sponsors
Firms that sponsored any TiE DC event in 2026 may purchase additional tickets. Sponsors at $5,000+ receive two complimentary seats.
A note on guests. A member's or charter member's guest must be a spouse, partner, or friend, not a professional contact. Registration captures each guest's full name, employer, and relationship to the member, and the guest list is reviewed against the sponsor list before badges are printed.
See Sponsorship LevelsWhy Sponsor
Four Reasons Firms Commit Early
Reach the founders, not a mailing list
The room is charter members, award finalists, and investors — the people who make regional buying and referral decisions.
Own an award, not a logo slot
Award Category Sponsors are named with the category, present the award on stage, and hold a seat on the jury. Three spots exist.
Sponsorship is the only entry
Service providers cannot buy a ticket. For professional firms, sponsoring is how you attend, and how your team attends with you.
Spend 2026 budget before it expires
A November event lets partners deploy remaining 2026 marketing and business development funds before they reset.
Sponsorship Levels
Every Level Is $5,000 or Below
Sponsorships may be combined — Presenting plus an Award Category plus two Host Tables comes to $13,500.
| Level | Price | Spots | Seats | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presenting Sponsor | $5,000 | 2 | 8 | Gala presented by your company, 3-minute stage remarks, jury seat, named table, logo on all materials, program listing, social feature |
| Award Category SponsorSells first | $3,500 | 3 | 6 | Award named in association with your firm ("The Catalyst Award, sponsored by ___"), sponsor presents on stage, jury seat, logo on all materials, program listing |
| Reception Sponsor | $3,500 | 1 | 6 | Cocktail hour branding, bar signage, logo on all materials |
| Host Table Sponsor | $2,500 | 12 | 8 | A named table for hosting clients and team, table signage, program listing |
| Partner SponsorEntry point | $1,500 | 15 | 4 | The service-provider entry point. Logo on all event materials and the slideshow, program listing |
| Founder & Small Business | $500 | 15 | 2 | Name on event materials and program listing, for companies under 25 employees |
| Community Partner | In-kind | Open | 2 | Media, university, and ecosystem organizations: cross-promotion, reach for reach |
Add-On Options
Available on their own or added to any level above.
| Option | Price | Spots | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo backdrop sponsor | $1,000 | 1 | Your logo on the backdrop every guest photograph is taken against |
| Program & digital sponsor | $1,000 | 1 | Logo on the printed program cover and all event email |
| Centerpiece sponsor | $1,000 | 2 | Logo on the centerpiece placed on every table |
| Dessert & coffee sponsor | $1,000 | 2 | Branding on dessert and coffee service for all tables |
| Registration & welcome sponsor | $1,000 | 1 | Branding at check-in, the first thing every guest sees |
Sponsorships may be combined. Nothing prevents stacking line items into a larger package. If none of the published levels fits what you want to accomplish, email exec@tie-dc.org and we will build one with you. Confirm by October 27 to appear in the printed program.
The 2026 TiE DC Industry Awards
Four Awards
Nominations are open to anyone in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia market. An independent jury of five scores every eligible nomination against a consistent set of criteria. Three finalists per category are announced September 21; winners are revealed live from the stage on November 14.
Visionary Entrepreneur of the Year
The founder or CEO whose company has achieved meaningful scale and regional significance. Judged on results, originality, and influence on the DC-area ecosystem.
EligibilityFounder-led company headquartered in DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia; operating five or more years.
Catalyst Award
The investor, mentor, corporate partner, or ecosystem builder who accelerated other people's companies. This one recognizes multiplication rather than creation.
EligibilityAn individual or institution demonstrably responsible for the growth of two or more regional ventures.
Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
The early-stage founder on a clear upward trajectory. Judged on traction to date, trajectory, and the quality of the founding insight.
EligibilityCompany under five years old; pre-Series B or under $5M revenue; regional headquarters.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sustained contribution to entrepreneurship in this region, over a career. Selected by the TiE DC board and announced in advance of the Gala.
Not Open to NominationNot open to nomination. Honoree named publicly on September 21.
Award Category Sponsorship: $3,500, three spots. Each nominated category carries a named sponsor. The sponsor presents the award on stage and holds a seat on the jury, though a sponsor never scores the category their firm sponsors.
Claim a CategoryNominations · Open Through September 8
Nominate
Nominations are open to anyone in the region. Self-nomination is permitted and is not scored differently. A nominee may be entered in one category only.
What a Nomination Requires
- A completed form for one category
- A nomination statement of up to 500 words
- Five short answers of up to 100 words each, one per scoring criterion
- Up to three optional supporting links; no attachments over 10MB
- Confirmation that the nominee knows they have been nominated and will attend if named a finalist
How to Submit
Email the completed form to exec@tie-dc.org with the subject line “2026 Award Nomination, [category], [nominee name].” Nominations received after 11:59pm Eastern on September 8, 2026 are not considered. You will receive an acknowledgment within two business days. If you do not, assume it was not received and resend.
Download the Nomination FormWrite With Specifics
Numbers, dates, and named outcomes score higher than adjectives. A nomination that says “grew rapidly” scores below one that says “grew from 8 to 47 employees between 2024 and 2026.”
How Judging Works
A jury of five scores every eligible nomination on five criteria using a one-to-five scale, weighted by category. The three highest scores in each category become finalists. Jurors declare conflicts and do not score nominations they are connected to.
The Five Scoring Criteria
About TiE DC
The World's Largest Community of Entrepreneurs
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals. TiE DC is the Washington metropolitan chapter, connecting founders, investors, and business leaders across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Mission: to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding, and incubation, generating and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
dc.tie.orgWealth created across the TiE network
Invested in member companies
Jobs generated
Corporate leaders in the community
Questions
Sponsorship & Nomination FAQ
Reserve Your Sponsorship
Award Category Sponsorships are limited to three and are expected to commit first. Choose a level, email us, and confirm by October 27 to appear in the printed program.
Sponsorship and nominations both route to exec@tie-dc.org