Revolution Team
February 10, 2026
4 min read
This stretch of travel took us from policy corridors and American history hubs to global tech stages and industrial markets in transition. Different regions, but a consistent reminder that where companies build still shapes how they build. Here’s where we went, who we met, and what we saw on the ground this fall and winter.
Where we went: Arlington, VA 📍
What we did: We wrapped our 2025 Beyond Silicon Valley Speaker Series at Amazon’s HQ2 with a conversation on AI and the future of work. It’s a topic looming over startups, industries in transition, and workers everywhere, but the DMV offers a unique vantage point. Here, startups operate close to both the legacy systems AI is reshaping and the policymakers.
Where to go: Walk or bike the Mount Vernon Trail for long stretches of Potomac waterfront and D.C. skyline views, settle in at Café Colline for classic French bistro fare in a cozy neighborhood setting, and pick up savory Bolivian salteñas at local favorite Pan American Bakery.
Where we went: New York, NY 📍
What we did: David Hall spoke at the House of Scale Culture Shifting Summit on innovation beyond traditional tech hubs, and Steve Case joined the DealBook Summit to discuss how universities, industry, and local ecosystems can help expand economic opportunity. He also highlighted the opening in “vertical AI” for startups between the coasts, sharing how industry-specific tools could seed new companies and new innovation centers outside the usual places.
Where to go: It’s New York, so there’s no shortage of things to do, see, and eat. A team favorite right now: Santo Taco (Santi’s Steak Trompo is the move).
Where we went: Philadelphia, PA 📍
What we did: Isabelle Styslinger joined Carbon Reform and partners for PH3’s year-end gathering, an evening centered on Philly’s climate tech builders. PH3—short for the community’s “Phounders,” “Phunders,” and “Phans”—paired investor–founder matchmaking with a broader happy hour that opened the room to the wider ecosystem. The turnout reflected a city where technical depth and climate-focused capital are increasingly connecting.
Where to go: Wander Bartram’s Garden along the Schuylkill for riverside paths and one of the country’s oldest botanical gardens, grab a standout sandwich at Middle Child, and end the night with live music and drinks upstairs at Johnny Brenda’s.
Where we went: Lansing, MI 📍
What we did: Todd Klein visited TemperPack’s new Michigan facility, where the company boosted capacity by 60% to meet demand for its Green Cell Foam cold-chain packaging. The Midwest plant strengthens distribution as TemperPack scales its perishable and pharmaceutical offering, part of a broader expansion of advanced manufacturing in regions with longstanding logistics and industrial depth.
Where to go: Start with a classic diner breakfast at Good Truckin’ Diner, wander Old Town Lansing for its colorful murals and small galleries, and grab a hearty, seasonal meal at Soup Spoon Café.
Where we went: Raleigh, NC 📍
What we did: Mahati Sridhar joined Bank of America’s Triangle Innovation Summit, an event convening leaders from across North Carolina’s Research Triangle for a conversation on today’s VC and PE landscape. The discussion centered on AI-driven value creation, a tighter capital environment with longer paths to exit, and why the region’s deep technical talent and scrappy builders are well positioned in this moment.
Where to go: Catch the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, grab a bite at Morgan Street Food Hall, and if the Canes are in town, join the crowd for a Carolina Hurricanes game.
Where we went: Union Market District, Washington, D.C. 📍
What we did: At STATION DC, founders and investors discussed how proximity to the Pentagon and regulatory expertise are fueling a new wave of national security startups. As former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper noted in conversation with Steve Case, the challenge isn’t innovation itself; it’s integration. Revolution is now an official STATION DC partner, supporting the city’s push to become a hub for industries shaping America’s future.
Where to go: Grab a cocktail and enjoy complimentary cheese puffs at Bar Betsie, sing along to live piano karaoke at Sid Gold’s Request Room, and pick up an authentic Italian sub from longtime neighborhood market A. Litteri.
Where we went: San Francisco, CA 📍
What we did: At TechCrunch Disrupt, David Hall joined reporter Amanda Silberling, investor Tawni L. Nazario-Cranz, and founder Anh-Tho Chuong onstage to debate the importance of place in today’s tech landscape (spoiler: it still matters). The conversation focused on what happens when founders build where their industry expertise and local advantage intersect — what we call “founder-market-geography fit.”
Where to go: Start with coffee and flaky pastries at Neighbor Bakehouse, take in rugged coastal views along the Lands End Trail, and book dinner at State Bird Provisions for their ever-changing, dim sum–style menu.
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