Letter from the StartVirginia editor: Come on in, the water’s fine

Welcome to the fourth edition of StartVirginia, our annual special issue focused on the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It bears the name of the StartVirginia page in our monthly magazine, where, as you might expect, you’ll find additional coverage of the world of startups and small businesses in Virginia.

Our featured story from freelance writer Courtney Mabeus-Brown explores the rapid growth of government contracting startups clustered near D.C. Fueled by the 2015 launch of the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit, sometimes called the “Pentagon’s innovation experiment,” the burgeoning defense tech and AI startups sector is seeing increased interest from both the government and VC investors.

The Elevator Pitch, a hallmark of the StartVirginia issue, features 12 innovative startups in varying industries, from packaged food to EV charging to in-space assembly robotics. Selected from a host of applicants, these founders tell our readers what makes their ventures a good bet.

Within these pages you’ll also find an examination of late-stage startups in no rush to go public, as well as a look into how a few health systems in Virginia aid their healthcare professionals in commercializing innovation. Additionally, entrepreneurs seeking to use AI for assistance scaling should check out our story on the subject.

And if you’re looking for more advice, check out this issue’s commentary from an undeniably successful founder, Bill Crutchfield, CEO of Charlottesville-based electronics retailer Crutchfield Corp.

Whether you’re a newcomer to this domain, a unicorn CEO, venture capitalist or casual observer, this issue has something for you. Dive in!

Katherine Schulte
Deputy Editor
Virginia Business