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Events Venture Group — a collective of seasoned meetings industry entrepreneurs, thought leaders and investors that launched last spring and is now 30 members strong — has wrapped up its first investment deal.
The group has invested in Quantum World Congress, a groundbreaking global quantum technology conference, exposition and network that attracts a multisector audience, including participants from the defense, aerospace, life sciences and cybersecurity industries. The third iteration of QWC was held in September at Capital One Hall in the Greater Washington, D.C., area, and the fourth is scheduled to be held again in the same location Sept. 16-18, 2025. This year's show drew 1,000 attendees.
EVG, the brainchild of events-industry entrepreneur and investor Marco Giberti, supports industry innovation with a mix of strategic funding, expert mentorship and collaboration. The deal with QWC was championed by EVG board member Douglas Emslie, chair of Culi Bay Capital and the Raccoon Media Group.
The members of EVG have looked at about 40 proposals, said Emslie, and it makes sense that QWC was the first deal they moved on and saw through. "It's a very good case study in terms of what we're trying to do," Emslie said. "We're trying to find entrepreneurs who come from a sector and who have created something and need financing; but also they need some industry help and access, and that's what we bring. It's about getting that delicate balance of helping but not interfering."
Growing the event
The team that launched QWC and led it to its notable initial success — Stu Solomon, Karl Darin and George Thomas — had targeted quantum technology as a sector ripe for growth in the Greater D.C. area. With the launch of QWC, they had demonstrated the market demand, and they were seeking collaborators with deeper experience in events to help them take the next step.
"Working with EVG has already been transformative for QWC, providing us with capital, invaluable insights and a powerful network to drive innovation,” said Solomon.
For their part, Emslie and EVG are reassured by QWC's model — and the range of other proposals that have been presented to them. "Between industry consolidation and the move of private equity, my concern was that we were losing the innovation," said Emslie. "But actually I've been really encouraged by what I've seen, that the innovation is there. There's lots of these companies that we've never heard of before who are all out there, innovating away. It's just harder these days to build businesses in our sector, and get events off the ground without financial help and mentoring."