County grants boost early-stage entrepreneurs

As an early-stage startup founder, Ray Magee grew accustomed to hearing ‘no.’

In the eight years since he founded Centreville-based BloomCatch, a plant recognition app, Magee reckons he’s applied for seven or eight grants. So, when BloomCatch landed a $50,000 grant from Fairfax County in November 2023, he admits to some initial disbelief.

“I thought, ‘There’s no way,’” Magee recalls.

BloomCatch was among five early-stage technology startups to receive $50,000 grants in an inaugural round from the Fairfax-based Fairfax Founders Fund, which supports early-stage, high-growth startups based in the county.

The company is among a growing number of startups taking advantage of a variety of programs launched by Northern Virginia counties seeking to boost entrepreneurship, particularly among underrepresented founders.

Fairfax, already an established home for government contractors and tech companies, recognized a “need for there to be a stronger innovation ecosystem, a stronger support system and network for startup companies here,” says founders fund manager Eta Nahapetian.

Arlington County recognized a similar need to generate local activity, says Michael Stiefvater, Arlington Economic Development’s business investment group director.

Fairfax Founders Fund started with an initial $1 million allocation from the county and plans to announce its second cohort in coming weeks, with a third application round planned for early 2025.

The Arlington Innovation Fund, which focuses on early-stage tech companies, also received a $1 million initial infusion from its local government, $400,000 of which was distributed via the county’s Catalyst Grant program, which awards $25,000 to $50,000 grants to Arlington-based startups. A separate Arlington Innovation Fund program is devoted to building the tech ecosystem through programming and partnerships.

Arlington has announced two cohorts of Catalyst grantees — five companies in February and four in June. Applicants are vetted to ensure companies have completed business licensing requirements, customer discovery and more, and grantees are also reviewed along the way to see how they are faring.

Arlington and Fairfax will review their grant programs before deciding whether either will continue.

The Fairfax grant has helped BloomCatch blossom by providing funding for participating in trade shows, fine-tuning its app and adding four part-time staffers, including a salesperson. Since its founding, BloomCatch has raised about $480,000 and is on track to bring in six figures in annual revenue for the first time this year.

“We are growing,” Magee says.