Bio-plastic startup wins Lighthouse Labs pitch contest
While pitching to the sharks, entrepreneur Alec Brewer told them, “I do have white powder in my pocket,” before quickly clarifying that it wasn’t an illicit substance: “It’s PHB! It’s PHB!” Brewer passed the vial over for the sharks’ inspection during his Lighthouse Labs Demo Day pitch Thursday for his company, Ourobio, of which he […]
Gainwell Technologies hires new client engagement officer
Tysons-based Gainwell Technologies has named Karen Shields as its chief client engagement officer, the health and human services IT provider announced last week. Shields will work in collaboration with Gainwell’s project management team to anticipate and fulfill client needs, according to a news release. She previously served as deputy director for the Center for Medicaid […]
Cyberwar zone
Earlier this year, Kwabena Konadu received a call from one of the small businesses he advises on IT and cybersecurity. The company’s chief financial officer had received an email from a purported ethical hacker — cyberspeak for “good guy” — who had found the official’s username and password for accessing company data on the dark […]
Richmond tech company to add 30+ jobs
Shockoe, a Richmond-based technology company that builds apps and other tech products for client companies, will expand to create more than 30 jobs, Richmond’s mayor announced Thursday. Headquartered in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood, Shockoe was founded in 2010 by Edwin Huertas and has been featured in the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies, […]
Google to invest $300M in Va., announces workforce grant
Google will invest $300 million in Virginia in a plan that includes data centers, the technology giant announced Tuesday during a press conference at its Reston office. That’s in addition to a $250,000 grant to Richmond-based nonprofit CodeVA to develop a network of computer science lab schools to expand professional development for teachers, resources for […]
Ellucian closes acquisition of CampusLogic
Reston-based higher education software company Ellucian Inc. has completed its acquisition of Chandler, Arizona-based financial aid software provider CampusLogic Inc, Ellucian announced Tuesday. The deal was first announced in January. Financial details were not disclosed. Campus Logic is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that provides financial aid tools and platforms for colleges and univer[...]
Fluence to acquire renewable energy SaaS company
Arlington-based energy storage and digital application company Fluence Energy Inc. announced Monday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Nispera AG. Nispera is a Zurich-based artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled software-as-a-service company that targets the renewable energy sector. It helps clients monitor, analyze, forecast and improve renewable energy assets’ p[...]
Intelsat donates space artifact to Smithsonian
McLean-based satellite operator Intelsat Corp. has donated the launch backup of the first commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The company donated the ground spare of the Intelsat 1 satellite, also known as Early Bird. Intelsat 1 was launched on April 6, 1965, and is now inactive […]
GMU’s Arlington campus renamed ‘Mason Square’
George Mason University’s Arlington campus is being renamed Mason Square. The university announced the rebranding Thursday, also naming its new $168 million technology-forward building designed to support digital innovation and collaboration and serve as the anchor for the Rosslyn-Ballston’s developing innovation district. The 345,000-square-foot Fuse at Mason Square will be a LEED Pla[...]
Report: Va. data center projects totaled $6.8B in 2021
Data centers are a primary driver of economic growth in Virginia, comprising $6.8 billion or 62% of all major economic investments announced last year by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, according to a new report released Thursday by the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC). While the total for 2021 represents a decrease from 2020, when […]
WaveDancer to acquire Herndon SaaS firm for $90M
Fairfax-based software company WaveDancer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Herndon-based software-as-a-service platform company Knowmadics Inc. for $90 million. Approximately $56.5 million in cash and $33.5 million of stock at a price of $6.50 per share comprise the $90 million total. WaveDancer intends to raise approximately $67 million […]
ODU and IALR to launch manufacturing engineering tech degree
Old Dominion University will launch Virginia’s first four-year degree in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus and a satellite campus at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, the university announced Thursday. “This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s commitment to workforce development and leadership in the mar[...]