HEARD AROUND VIRGINIA: April 2026

A startup focused on the fast-growing data center industry and with a major presence in Arlington County has raised about $22.7 million in new funding, according to a Feb. 20 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Emerald AI, which was incorporated last year in Washington, D.C., but has its primary offices in Clarendon, raised the capital from 20 investors. Founded in 2020, Emerald AI aims to address the growing concern that data centers are consuming too much energy. Its Emerald Conductor software platform enables data centers to adjust and reduce energy consumption during peak grid demand. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Clarksburg, Maryland-based autonomous vehicle system developer Forterra, which became a unicorn in November 2025, opened an additional office in Arlington County’s Courthouse neighborhood in late April. The more than 21,000-square-foot office at 1515 N. Courthouse Road has enough room to accommodate 200 people, and Forterra plans to scale up to 300 workers there by the end of the year in roles relating to government relations, product development and engineering. A company spokesperson described the location as an “HQ2.” Forterra, which rebranded from Robotic Research Autonomous Industries in 2024, raised $75 million in Series B funding in 2024 and $228 million in Series C investment in November 2025. (Washington Business Journal)

Arlington County-based trucking intelligence startup GenLogs announced in early February it had closed $60 million in Series B funding. Battery Ventures led the round, and IVP, Cathay Innovation and 9Yards Capital participated, as did existing investors Venrock, Steel Atlas, HOF Capital, TitletownTech and Autotech Ventures. Founded in 2023, GenLogs gathers trucking intelligence through its nationwide network of roadside sensors, satellites and other data streams. It uses proprietary AI to find patterns in that data. The company will use the funding to continue building out its core platform and extend capabilities to shippers, insurers, governments and financial institutions. (News release)

HawkEye 360, a Herndon-based geospatial analytics company, had an additional close of its Series E financing, raising approximately $23 million. The second close, which the company announced March 4, included participation from new investors Ghisallo Capital Management, Principia Growth and Sixty Degree Capital, and continued participation from existing investor Strategic Development Fund. In a news release, HawkEye 360 said it will use the capital to “strengthen its balance sheet and continue executing its strategic growth priorities,” including integrating Innovative Signal Analysis, a Texas-based company that HawkEye 360 announced it had acquired in mid-December 2025 (News release)

In early March, Fairfax County-based cybersecurity company IntelliGRC announced it had closed its $3.5 million seed round on Jan. 31. The company provides a cybersecurity governance, risk and compliance platform for managed service providers and managed security service providers. IntelliGRC is using the funding to accelerate product innovation, expand AI-driven capabilities and scale go-to-market initiatives, it said in a news release. Kyle Hanslovan, co-founder and CEO of Maryland cybersecurity company Huntress, and Blu Ventures co-led the seed round. Marcos Torres, a venture partner at Blu Ventures and former chief financial officer of Huntress, will represent Blu Ventures on the board. (News release)

Radian Forge, a startup specializing in the production of large-scale, precision-grade maritime parts primarily for the U.S. Navy, plans to invest $10.5 million to grow its manufacturing operations in Portsmouth, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Feb. 25. The project is expected to create 53 jobs. Radian Forge, which launched in January, has five full-time employees, according to Chief Administrative Officer Kait Ewoldt. Currently based at the Fairlead Integrated building at 176 Lincoln St., the company expects to ramp up hiring at the end of the second quarter. (VirginiaBusiness.com)