Roanoke businessman donates $46,000 to local accelerator

A Roanoke businessman has pledged to donate $46,000 to the Regional Acceleration and Mentoring Program (RAMP) Accelerator, expected to kick off in June in the star city.

Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), one of the accelerator’s partners, said the funds from Jonathan Hagmaier will be paid over the next two years. Hagmaier is the founder and former CEO of Interactive Achievement, a technology company that was sold to PowerSchool Group LLC last year. He now heads Common Wealth Growth Group, an investment firm he founded primarily focused on startups in Southwest Virginia.

RAMP aims to help startups in the Roanoke region expand and create jobs in the STEM-H (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Health) fields. Companies accepted into RAMP will work closely with mentors to focus on developing and launching their products.

In addition to RBTC, founding project partners include the City of Roanoke and Virginia Western Community College.

Hagmaier’s donation, under the Hagmaier Donor Advised Fund, will result in the naming rights to one of four team rooms in the accelerator.

Earlier this year, Virginia Business named Hagmaier to its list of people making their mark in the commonwealth.

Photo courtesy Interactive Achievement