Startup resources and local economic development offices
Entrepreneurship continues to grow across Hampton Roads, with many organizations dedicated to helping startups and small businesses expand and thrive. Here is a sample of the many resources available: Local startup resources 504 Capital 504capital.com 757 Accelerate 757accelerate.org 757 Angels 757angels.org 757 Startup Studios [...]
Summit for entrepreneurs planned for Danville
Two South Boston-based economic development organizations will host a summit for entrepreneurs and business leaders Oct. 19 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. Launched by the SOVA Innovation Hub, a nonprofit working to drive economic transformation with digital skills and entrepreneurship, and RISE [...]
StartVirginia: Heard Around Virginia September 2024
Blue Delta Capital Partners, a Tysons-based venture capital firm, is preparing to make more equity investments in regional growth-stage tech firms serving the federal government following the close of a $250 million fund. The firm plans to offer noncontrolling ownership investments of between $15 million and $50 million from its Blue Delta Capital Fund IV. […]
265 Va. companies make 2024 Inc. 5000 list
This year, 265 Virginia companies made the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies, released Tuesday by Inc. magazine. Ranking at No. 53 overall, Ashburn IT services firm Blu Omega, a woman-owned small business founded in 2020, was the highest-ranking Virginia company on the list. Blu Omeg[...]
Youngkin: Va. spawned 10,000+ startups in 2022-23
More than 10,000 high-growth and high-wage startup companies were created in Virginia during 2022 and 2023, according to research conducted by Richmond’s Chmura Economics & Analytics for the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. On Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced this achievement at an event at Zebox America, an [...]
StartVirginia: Heard Around Virginia August 2024
Blacksburg is moving forward with the renovation of a former dry-cleaning business into a retail business incubator. Slated to open by the end of 2025, the Blacksburg Retail Incubator is planned at 414 N. Main St., a 5,000-square-foot building owned by the town. After the building has been improved, Downtown Blacksburg Inc. will locate there […]
A smaller slice of the pie
In health care, there’s a moment when mistakes are more likely to occur: shift changes. As rigorously as medical staff may document patient histories, these “handoffs” can present a weak link in care. According to The Joint Commission, a health care quality assessment organization, miscommunication contributes to two-third[...]
The elevator pitch
Virginia’s startup scene is rich with new businesses as diverse as the regions of the commonwealth. Virginia Business asked startups to send us their best pitches for what makes their businesses innovative, and we’ve spotlighted some of our favorites. AGRICISION Sedley Co-founders: Diana and Ken Warren Founded: 2019 Capital [...]
Commentary: Va. ecosystem supports growth
It has been almost four years since I began leading economic development and innovation efforts at George Mason University, and what a whirlwind! This is an exciting time to be in Virginia, and getting to do this job every day feels like winning the lottery. It all started with the Amazon.com HQ2 win in 2018, […]
Building support
Gov. Glenn Youngkin made headlines last December when he announced a $90 million-plus pitch to launch “Virginia’s Research Triangle.” Initially envisioned as a cooperative initiative among Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, the triangle was expanded into more of a rhombus follow[...]
From seed to success
On an early morning in summer 2021, a small group of engineers and drone operators gathered at Lake Elsinore in California to see if their machines would fly as designed. With newly incorporated sensor technology, it was the first time the founders of Leesburg-based Flying Ship Co. attempted to fly one of their autonomous vehicl[...]
Ecosystem insights
Leaders from across Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem discuss investing in new companies, challenges facing startups and advice for success. RASHEEDA CREIGHTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JACKSON WARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION, RICHMOND WHAT LED TO YOU CO-FOUNDING JACKSON WARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION? JWC Foundation’s mission is to learn, grow and own in the Black community. The organization began when Kelli Lemon […][...]