StartVirginia: Oct. 2022 Heard around Virginia

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Astraea Inc., a geospatial analytics startup based in Charlottesville, spearheaded an effort to provide free satellite imagery that could be used by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, as well as civilians and humanitarian organizations. The company’s platform allows users to see and analyze images of any location on the planet captured over a given area as recently as yesterday and as far back as 15 years. The company was co-founded by Brendan Richardson, a University of Virginia alum who also teaches at the university. In July, Astraea closed an oversubscribed $6.5 million Series A round led by Aligned Climate Capital LLC and Carbon Drawdown Collective with participation from CAV Angels, Tydall Investment Partners and the U.Va. Licensing & Ventures Group Seed Fund. (UVA Today; news release)

Global investment firm Techstars selected Woodbridge’s CarpeDM Sept. 12 to participate in an accelerator program aimed at helping Black, brown and women business owners gain more access to capital. A matchmaking firm, CarpeDM’s primary product is a dating app geared toward Black women professionals. The company is among 60 startups nationwide selected to go through a 13-week program during which participants will receive mentoring, meet with potential investors and partners, and participate in a demo day. The program is run in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s private bank, which has raised $80 million to fund the effort. (Washington Business Journal)

Scott and Lauren Janney were on their way to opening a coffee shop in Hampton Roads — complete with a magazine wall — when the pandemic hit. In August 2020, the Janneys came up with a different business venture — Magazine Jukebox. The company offers digital magazines as an alternative to physical ones in commercial spaces. The idea is to provide consumers a way to enjoy magazines without having to touch them while waiting, accessing the publications via custom scannable QR code. The Norfolk-based business has grown to seven full-time employees and four sales associates. Launched in January, Magazine Jukebox is aiming to be in 700 locations throughout the U.S. by the end of 2022. (Inside Business)

Atlanta-based Saltbox Inc., a cowarehousing startup, opened a 45,000-square-foot location in Alexandria in late August to tap a market of small- and medium-sized e-commerce businesses. The company provides businesses with space in shared logistics facilities. A merchant can buy a month-to-month license, like a monthly rent, for a customizable suite. Membership provides access to logistics-oriented amenities, equipment and services, like loading docks, carts, palette jacks, outbound package bins for scheduled pickups, a photography studio and building security. The one-story industrial building contains 85 suites of various sizes for warehouse and office uses, with prices starting at $630 per month. (Washington Business Journal; Saltbox.com)

PEOPLE

Richmond-based Kishau Rogers, founder and CEO of Time Study Inc., returned to her native Lynchburg in late August to speak at a quarterly breakfast hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance as part of Black Business Month. Headquartered in Virginia and New York, Time Study is an artificial intelligence platform used by more than 75 hospitals to help understand the impact of how their employees spend their time. Rogers said many of her clients use the platform to identify more profitable activities and billable hours, and to reduce burnout.  (The News & Advance)