By Sara Gilgore

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It’s tempting to look forward to the new year — especially after such an abysmal 2020 for so many.

But before we do, let’s not forget all that happened in the region’s innovation ecosystem this year. It wasn’t all bad.

Here, we recap some of the top trends, events and topics over the last 12 months …

New initiatives sprout to support startups

Honest Tea founder Seth Goldman launched Eat the Change and doled out donations to nonprofits supporting the same mission. Monumental Sports & Entertainment founder Ted Leonsis upped his investment in Georgetown University entrepreneurs. West Point alum Emily McMahan started the Academy Investment Network, an investment group for U.S. Service Academy graduates built to back early-stage companies. D.C.’s Halcyon teamed up with Black Girl Ventures to support Black and brown female founders, and the Georgetown organization’s angel network went live and made its first few investments. Efforts to foster mentorship, growth and access to capital for the region’s ventures — and close the funding gap for women and people of color — proliferated across the innovation ecosystem to a new level.