The elevator pitch

NEARSTAR FUSION

CHANTILLY

CEO: Amit Singh
Founded: 2021
Capital raised: $1.6 million
Employees: 5
Service provided: Fusion energy

What makes your company different?

Most fusion approaches are strictly magnetic confinement using superconducting magnets or inertial confinement using megajoule lasers. By combining the ability to magnetize fusion fuel with compression in a hybrid magneto-inertial approach, NearStar greatly simplifies the path to fusion power plants.

Specific features that set NearStar apart are: 1) Plasma railgun. 2) Deuterium fuel rather than tritium. 3) Fuel capsules’ proprietary design. 4) Liquid first wall — using a molten lead to absorb heat and neutrons from fusion implosions.

The pitch:

Demand for clean, robust and affordable electricity is growing at an unsustainable pace. NearStar Fusion is developing scalable and modular fusion power plants (50-100 megawatts) using hypervelocity plasma railguns. The railgun design offers unique advantages over conventional fusion approaches by combining the abilities to compress and magnetize hydrogen fuel at over 22,000 mph! Our world-class team has decades of plasma physics experience, including building best-in-class plasma jets for fusion experiments at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Using existing commercial-off-the-shelf materials and technologies, the NearStar power plant can scale globally without requiring expensive R&D for tritium breeding, first-wall materials and refueling mechanisms. NearStar Fusion is ideal for retrofitting the heat source in hydrocarbon power plants or delivering off-grid baseload electricity for data centers, heavy industry and military installations. NearStar Fusion is building a future of peace and prosperity for generations.

EMPATHIXAI

ARLINGTON COUNTY

Co-founders: Ashley E. Sherry (CEO) and Jacob R. Tucker (CTO)
Founded: 2023
Capital raised: $20,000
Employees: 2
Service provided: Full-cycle market research powered by AI

What makes your company different?

Most people think qualitative market research at the scale of surveys is impossible — outlandish, even. Traditional thinking says you can either have depth (qualitative insights) or scale (survey-level data), but not both. We reject that tradeoff. Our AI isn’t a chatbot summarizing responses — it’s the new horizon of AI specialist models (patent pending) trained like an expert interviewer, designed to elicit real behavioral insights at scale. On the back end, we don’t just display anecdotes; we use scientifically rigorous methods to ensure representative samples and recover the true qualitative distribution, just like you’d expect from high-quality survey research.

It’s a wild idea: deep quality research that’s as rigorous, repeatable and confidence-driven as quantitative. But that’s the next frontier — and we’re already there.

The pitch:

EmpathixAI is a new kind of market research firm — one that delivers deep custom insights in days, not months. Our proprietary interviewer, CultureChat, uses AI to conduct deep, qualitative interviews for market research at the scale and speed of online surveys. With it, clients gain insights from interviews with representative samples of real people in their target audiences. Our probability-based algorithms then look across every interview to make sure you understand exactly what matters in your data.

EARTHAPRO

HAYMARKET

Co-founders: Courtney Krstich (head of growth) and Peter Quan (head of technology and product)
Founded: 2023
Capital raised: $0
Employees: 2
Service provided: A simplified management software for small lawn care and landscaping businesses

What makes your company different?

EarthaPro is specifically designed for ease of use and tailored to the lawn care industry. Many existing software solutions in this space feel inaccessible to most business owners — either they are overloaded with features or priced too high for small businesses. In this highly fragmented industry, 90% of U.S. lawn care companies are considered small, yet most lawn care software caters to the top 10% in size. EarthaPro stands out as one of the few lawn care-specific software solutions made in the USA, built to serve the businesses that need it most.

The pitch:

EarthaPro is a simplified lawn care and landscaping management software designed for small businesses. We are a family-owned company, proud to be 100% made in the United States and built entirely in-house. Krstich, head of growth, is a highly accomplished salesperson with years of experience in the lawn and garden industry. She has traveled across the U.S., working with independent garden centers, Lowe’s, Home Depot and other retailers with lawn care centers. Quan, head of technology and product, has over 10 years of full-stack software development experience at companies like Microsoft and Capital One Financial. EarthaPro is part of Lighthouse Labs Batch 18 and the Startup Virginia Incubator.

EQUALITYMD

RICHMOND

Founder and CEO: Justin Ayars
Founded: 2023
Capital raised: $903,500
Employees: 6
Service provided: LGBTQ+ inclusive telehealth and prescription fulfillment services

What makes your company different?

Our national provider network is required to complete evidence-based cultural competency training. Unlike our two primary competitors, EqualityMD serves the entire LGBTQ+ community AND our straight allies. Our team has lived the problem we’re solving and has vast, pre-existing networks and partnerships across America. We transform new patient journey data analytics into robust, AI-powered actionable insights. In late May, EqualityMD partnered with LGBTQ+ Victory Institute to provide health care services to LGBTQ+ elected officials nationwide.

The pitch:

EqualityMD’s LGBTQ+ inclusive telehealth and prescription fulfillment platform enables marginalized patients to enjoy affordable, affirming care in safe digital spaces. We’re a low-cost safety net for uninsured LGBTQ+ people and allies. We’re also a fantastic solution to those who already have insurance and small and medium-sized businesses. When patients use their insurance plans along with EqualityMD, they enjoy tremendous savings and uncanny freedom in how they receive care. Our cash-pay model accommodates both B2C and B2B2C customers. We operate in all 50 states and serve any patient over the age of 18. We capture new patient journey data that health care companies need from the invisible LGBTQ+ patient population (approximately 30 million Americans) but can’t access due to the community’s profound distrust of health care institutions after enduring generations of discrimination. We transform this data into AI-powered actionable insights that will drive institutional reforms and advance health equity at scale.

KEYA’S SNACKS

RICHMOND

Founder and CEO: Keya Wingfield
Founded: 2024; relaunched in 2025
Capital raised: $100,000
Employees: 2
Service provided: Consumer packaged goods — salty snacks

What makes your company different?

Leveraging heritage on beloved American snacks. A soft introduction into culture and complex flavors. Our salty snacks are made with clean ingredients, single origin organic spices from India and potatoes from America — it’s my Indian American dream. We make two flavors currently: Bombay Spice and Black Salt. Nothing like this exists in the market. My snack company is here to bridge the gap and fill in the white space in mass retail aisles.

The pitch:

This year, we’ve re-launched for scale, with professional packaging, single origin organic spices from India and potatoes from America. Our label is clean. We buy whole and fresh single origin spices from farmers in India. We then dry them, grind, blend and make our seasoning, no additives, fillers, colors, preservatives. Just a clean joyful flavorful snack. We have three more chip flavors in the pipeline in addition to these two and hope to expand across multiple categories! “Built on flavor, backed by culture” [is] our motto. Our branding is customer-first focused and involves a lot of storytelling. I’m also a Food Network champion and understand both American and Indian palates fully. A potato chip with a point of view!

MY DATE JAR

VIRGINIA BEACH

Founder: Bretton Key
Founded: 2021
Capital raised: $68,000
Employees: 1
Service provided: For customers, event plans and itineraries. For business clients, advertising, marketing and data analytics

What makes your company different?

We’ve built an integrated platform that doesn’t just suggest ideas — it delivers a complete, actionable experience. Our solution engages users on multiple fronts, ensuring every recommendation is tailored, actionable and easily bookable. On the business side, we empower local venues and tourism partners with data-driven marketing tools and direct customer acquisition. This dual focus on end users and business clients, combined with our nationwide scalability and SWaM certification, uniquely positions My Date Jar to drive rapid growth and sustainable success.

The pitch:

Are you tired of spending hours planning a memorable night out? My Date Jar simplifies experience planning by delivering personalized, curated recommendations through channels like SMS, email and our intuitive on-demand app. We serve busy couples, social explorers and solo adventurers while empowering local tourism, attractions, destination and hospitality businesses to connect with high-intent customers. Our multichannel offerings include HART, an AI tool that creates simple, on-demand itineraries. With over 3,000 active users and 12,000-plus experiences delivered nationwide, our proven platform drives repeat engagement and measurable results for our partners. Invest in My Date Jar to help transform everyday outings into unforgettable memories while fueling huge growth for both our consumer base and business clients.

OASIS HEALTH GROUP

VIRGINIA BEACH

Founder: Cory McCoy
Founded: 2023
Capital raised: $11,000
Employees: 5
Service provided: Holistic health and wellness services

What makes your company different?

Oasis Health bridges all the gaps created by traditional big box gyms and fitness centers to further enhance each member’s experience and well-being. Unlike traditional gyms, Oasis Health integrates several holistic wellness services under one membership instead of focusing on one singular service. A commitment to community is also fostered through our partnered mental health support groups and free community workouts.

The pitch:

The demand for high-quality fitness and wellness experiences is rising, and Oasis Health Group provides an experience no other fitness center in Hampton Roads offers: On-site mental health therapy/counseling and unlimited personal training under one roof. We deliver high-quality, comprehensive services that reduce costs while improving client outcomes. Daily and/or monthly exercise consistency is rewarded with a monetary discount each month, applicable to the following month’s membership fee. Integrating this innovative model into our business simultaneously improves our clients’ financial, physical and mental health. Oasis Health aims to capitalize on the current global wellness trends with our holistic approach to all pillars of wellness. With a proven track record of operational excellence and organic growth, Oasis Health is positioned for rapid expansion in a market projected to exceed $7 trillion globally by 2025.

ONSUNDAYS

RICHMOND

Founder: Samantha Chin
Founded: 2024
Capital raised: $25,000
Employees: 1
Service provided: Fashion-forward tennis and pickleball apparel and accessories

What makes your company different?

Instead of preppy pleats and patterned polos, OnSundays is reimagining tennis and pickleball apparel with a modern streetwear aesthetic. Our clean, tailored designs symbolize a version of self-expression, style and comfort that’s currently missing from the game. OnSundays is embracing a direct-to-consumer approach, leveraging e-commerce, social media and strategic pop-ups to build a grassroots following before expanding into select retail partnerships. This model will allow us to scale while maintaining authenticity and connection with our customers.

The pitch:

OnSundays is revolutionizing tennis and pickleball apparel by blending streetwear aesthetics with athletic functionality. We’re tapping into the $350 million racquet apparel market, focusing on young, fashion-forward athletes who seek self-expression, inclusivity and a sense of community. OnSundays designs gender-neutral, stylish apparel and accessories for both competitive play and casualwear. Our products aim to include innovative solutions like intuitive ball storage and advanced moisture-management fabrics to address athletes’ common challenges. In the six months leading into March, we achieved key milestones including product design completion, strategic manufacturing partnerships and initiating a direct-to-consumer strategy that leverages social media and local community events. As we prepare for online expansion, OnSundays is not just selling apparel; we’re fostering a movement where fashion meets function, empowering athletes to excel and express themselves without compromise.

OTTERWISE

RICHMOND

Founder and CEO: Aliyah Desautels
Founded: 2024
Capital raised: $0
Employees: 2
Service provided: Talent vetting and development

What makes your company different?

Unlike traditional hiring platforms, Otterwise reveals candidates’ real-world skills, behaviors and potential by observing how they work on live projects. This hands-on approach reduces hiring risks for employers while giving candidates the insights they need to confidently pursue the right career path.

The pitch:

Hiring shouldn’t feel like a blind date — but for startups, it often does. Without clear insights into a candidate’s real potential, employers hire the wrong candidate about 80% of the time, with turnover costing half of the hire’s salary. Otterwise is an AI-supported platform that helps startups test-drive candidates for behaviors, working styles, strengths and growth areas, while equipping them with practical skills to contribute faster. By observing candidates as they work on live projects, both candidates and employers can collaborate risk-free before making a commitment. This approach leads to better hiring insights for employers and gives candidates the information they need to confidently pursue the right career path. Our unique model increases career readiness by 60% and reduces turnover risk by 40%.

QENTOROS

BLACKSBURG

CEO: Michael Miller
Founder: Dr. Jessica Gilbertie
Founded: 2022
Capital raised: $595,000
Employees: 8
Service provided: Developing a novel biotherapeutic for treating septic arthritis and osteoarthritis

What makes your company different?

Qentoros’ focus is on developing a biologically derived treatment for inflammatory conditions, called Bio-Ply, with initial targets to veterinary patients and then moving into human treatment. The technical approach has been proven in pre-clinical trials to perform significantly better than even combinations of other treatments. In veterinary applications, Bio-Ply has been shown to be 100% effective in the treatment of septic arthritic joints in equine patients, restoring the majority to pre-injury health and competitive status and rescuing the remainder from certain euthanasia.

The pitch:

Bio-Ply has been wildly effective in treating numerous veterinary patients with inflammatory conditions for which all other treatments had failed. It has applications in equine operations, especially with thoroughbred racehorses and their foals. Markets for equine treatments are significant but represent a minority position in comparison to the addressable market sizes for companion animals and farm animals, especially in treating mastitis in cows. The National Institutes of Health has provided $600,000 in grant funding to demonstrate potential for human applications, and a corporate partner has provided $500,000 of nonequity support to assist in achieving FDA compliance. We seek $1.5 million in additional funding to complete the manufacturing scaleup and finalize FDA approval within the next 18 to 24 months.

SALIVIQ DIAGNOSTICS

HARRISONBURG

Founder and CEO: Julia Halterman
Founded: 2024
Capital raised: $170,000
Employees: 2
Service provided: Developing highly accurate saliva-based diagnostic tests

What makes your company different?

As an innovative and agile startup, SalivIQ Diagnostics creates value through our ability to be flexible and make key decisions quickly. Our patent-pending diagnostic technology allows us to be first movers in the saliva diagnostics space, and we are harnessing the expertise of a strong team and great industry partners to remain nimble and build a high-quality product.

The pitch:

SalivIQ Diagnostics is transforming the future of disease detection with game-changing, saliva-based tests. Our flagship product, SalivIQ Strep A, delivers a highly accurate, noninvasive alternative to traditional throat swabs. We’re leading the way as pioneers in the saliva diagnostics space, offering breakthrough tests for strep, COVID/flu, and mono. With a $50 million-plus annual market opportunity by capturing just 10% of our target market, we’re primed for rapid growth. Early adoption at urgent and primary care practices will drive expansion into hospitals and integrated delivery networks, unlocking a total addressable market of $1.7 billion. The benefits are clear: Providers like the high accuracy and increased revenue, payers like low-cost solutions that decrease the overall cost of care, and patients prefer the comfort of saliva tests over invasive throat swabs. With proven results, patent-pending IP and a strong team, we’re moving quickly through FDA clearance to bring our groundbreaking product to market.

TECHNISTA

RINGGOLD

CEO: Kelsey Robertson
Founded: 2021
Capital raised: $1.559 million (to establish a national training and technology center, part of a Defense Department contract)
Employees: 12
Service provided: Curriculum development and educational consulting

What makes your company different?

Our truly comprehensive, turnkey curriculum solution is designed to seamlessly integrate into K-12 classrooms. Unlike many others, TECHnista doesn’t just provide lesson plans and other instructional resources, but offers a full range of services, including identifying industrial-grade equipment, designing lab layouts and creating detailed pacing guides. What truly sets TECHnista apart is the unique blend of technical experts in various manufacturing fields paired with educators who have extensive K-12 classroom experience.

The pitch:

At TECHnista, we bridge the gap between K-12 education and the manufacturing industry. Our team combines K-12 classroom experience with industry expertise to create innovative curricula that meet the technical demands of modern manufacturing. This blend allows us to deliver engaging, technically rigorous educational programs that make learning enjoyable for students and rewarding for educators. Our team has developed and executed nationally recognized manufacturing training programs, successfully training thousands of learners from K-12 students to adult professionals. We’re committed to preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving workforce. At TECHnista, we inspire a passion for technology and manufacturing, equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in tomorrow’s industries.