No matter where you find yourself in the startup lifecycle, RAMP wants to connect you with regional resources if you are building a technology-based business with high-growth potential. Please review the economic impact RAMP had on the regional innovation ecosystem in 2024, and please feel free to download a pdf copy of the metric sheet displayed above. 

The post RAMP 2024 Economic Impact appeared first on Verge.

RBIA has enjoyed a successful 2024, with the support of its sponsors, partners, and funders, as we continue to build regional coalitions, advance biotech, expand RAMP services, lead ecosystem building activities, and develop resources to grow the regional innovation ecosystem. For a PDF copy to download and print of the above, please click here.

The post RBIA 2024 Year in Review appeared first on Verge.

Hear from each of our RAMP Fall 2024 startups as they share their pitch live on stage at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. Then continue the festivities with entertainment, holiday treats, and delicious food and drink. Doors will open at 5:00 pm and programming is to begin at 5:30 pm.

Tech the Halls is open to the public and free to attend! RSVP is required. RAMP alumni and RBTC members are especially encouraged to attend and help welcome three new startups into the technology community.

Help us Tech the Halls and connect with Verge, Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology and RAMP communities in this fun, year-end event in Blacksburg, VA.

REGISTER NOW!

Thank you to our Verge alliance sponsors for allowing this event to be free to attend: VIPC (Regional Innovation Fund), Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Foundation, City of Roanoke, GO Virginia, Woods Rogers, Delta Dental, Gentry Locke, Mitchell Law Firm, Virginia Western Community College, National Bank of Blacksburg, Commonwealth Capital, Middleland Capital, Botetourt County, City of Salem, Giles County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Roanoke County, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Bio, Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

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RICHMOND, VA, UNITED STATES, November 13, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) today announced that Roanoke and Blacksburg, Virginia-based Verge has been awarded a Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) grant for $200,000. Verge is the region’s front door for innovators, founders, and funders to work together and to provide a growing roster of companies – both startups and established – with resources to grow and thrive, creating positive economic impact across the region and within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Verge’s programs build, connect, and support the regional tech- and biotech-based entrepreneurial and innovation economic ecosystem. Its flagship program, the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP), has recently expanded to include “Exit RAMP” to further support startups after their RAMP-in-Residence experience with a heavy focus on access to capital. Exit RAMP support includes ongoing programming, focused mentorship, network-building events, and annual memberships to the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and Virginia Bio. At the other side of the spectrum is “On RAMP,” which includes efforts to increase the pipeline of entrepreneurs and startups in the region and state. On RAMP programming focuses on navigating the local, regional, and statewide ecosystem support network to better prepare startups for acceleration and reduce their barriers to entry.

Over the past three years, RAMP has nurtured 30 startups, who have launched 35 new products into market and created 97 jobs. RIF funding, in addition to a Verge GO Virginia Strengthening Entrepreneurs’ Impact Grant, will help RAMP expand the On RAMP and Exit RAMP initiatives, effectively broadening RAMP’s overall potential impact.

“Verge is highly regarded as a key resource for grants, strategy, and thought leadership throughout Virginia,” stated Erin Burcham, President of Verge. “We are deeply committed to advancing both regional and statewide priorities through ongoing strategic planning, connecting entrepreneurs with top-tier resources, and establishing robust technology-focused economic partnerships across the region, state, and nation. Building a strong ecosystem requires the involvement of the entire community and a network of stakeholders, and as we engage them to broaden our reach and impact, this additional RIF grant is immensely valuable. We are grateful for VIPC’s continued support.”

Verge will also use new RIF funding to continue to strengthen its support of, partnerships with, and the overall expansion of other entrepreneurial support organizations located within the region and across the state, including local governments, higher education, and community-based support organizations. As part of its coalition-building and ecosystem-sustaining work, Verge will continue to work with regional stakeholders and statewide partners to develop resources and collaborations that resolve gaps in the entrepreneurial pipeline and ecosystem as identified through Verge’s ongoing research.

Joe Benevento, VIPC President and CEO, said, “Verge has been a great collaborative partner with VIPC, regional stakeholders, and local entrepreneurs. We look forward to seeing Verge help foster continued regional innovation growth and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem supportive of high-impact startup companies that contribute to the Commonwealth’s economic prosperity.”

“Innovation is happening daily across Virginia, and it’s so important to have an organization like Verge as a resource and support for local founders and startups,” said Conaway Haskins, VIPC’s Vice President of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. “Verge will continue to facilitate new and existing alliances across the regions to expand their support where it can be most impactful. We’ve already seen the impact RIF funding has had on Verge’s operations in the past, and we’re pleased to help them extend their offerings and affect an even greater number of entrepreneurs.”

About Verge
Verge, which includes alliance members Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP), helps facilitate regional connection, communication, and collaboration by identifying regional priorities and funding to advance tech and biotech projects and solutions across the Roanoke and New River Valleys and Lynchburg. Verge serves GO Virginia Region 2 and works to form collaborations with government, business, academia, and other organizations to advance the region and grow a thriving innovation economy. Learn more at www.vergeva.org.

About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
Connecting innovators with opportunities. VIPC operates as the nonprofit corporation on behalf of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA). VIPA / VIPC is Virginia’s designated authority for leading innovation and economic development in the Commonwealth of Virginia through research, commercialization, and technology advancement; entrepreneurship, startup, and venture capital growth; and regional ecosystem, innovation network, and industry sector expansion. As part of its operations, VIPC helps attract and catalyze private investment into early-stage startup companies, provides research and technology commercialization grants to universities and entrepreneurs, and offers resource and funding support for entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation networks, and public-private partnerships at local, state, federal levels.

VIPC’s programs include: Virginia Invests | Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) | Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Development | Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) | Smart Communities | The Virginia Smart Community Testbed | The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center | Virginia Advanced Air Mobility Alliance (VAAMA) | The Public Safety Innovation Center (PSIC) | Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) for SBIR & STTR | University Partnerships | Startup Company Mentoring & Engagement.

For more information, please visit www.VIPC.org. Explore the latest news from VIPC and images from VIPC-supported stakeholder events. Follow VIPC on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

About Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) and the Regional Innovation Fund (RIF)
VIPC’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) acts as a supporter, connector, and convener for entrepreneurial ecosystems and startup communities throughout Virginia. These stakeholders include accelerators, incubators, innovation hubs, economic developers, technology councils, chambers of commerce, industry associations, and others who assist founders during the early stages of business formation and growth. EE manages the Regional Innovation Fund (RIF), a state-funded program that awards competitive grants to Virginia-based entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) that have a strong track record of assisting early-stage Virginia science and technology entrepreneurs and companies. RIF grants provide operational and program funding for successful ESOs and ecosystem-building initiatives. For more information, visit www.VIPC.org.

Angela Costello, Vice President of Communications
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
angela.costello@VirginiaIPC.org
Visit us on social media: Facebook; X

The post VIPC Awards Regional Innovation Ecosystem Grant to Verge to Accelerate the Growing Innovation Economy Throughout Roanoke and The New River Valley appeared first on Verge.

The post Disrupt Up AI Conference in Cardinal News appeared first on Verge.

Register by 11/8!

Review the Conference Agenda, from Nov. 14-15!

The post Register by 11/8 to Disrupt Up AI Conference! appeared first on Verge.

What to Expect at Disrupt Up

Disrupt Up is all about bringing together those of us in tech who are making use of AI, allowing us to discover new ways to push it forward. Here are a few of the electrifying panels and discussions that attendees will have access to:

AI Trends: Disruption in Transformation
Leveraging Patient Data for Better Outcomes
Policy with Purpose: Driving Virginia’s Innovative Future

Peruse the agenda for both days to see all of the incredible panels, speakers, and events we have lined up, then register to secure your spot!

Register NOW and be a part of this exciting conference and opportunity!

The post Counting Down to Disrupt Up 2024 appeared first on Verge.

• Background on the SBIR/STTR program within DoD
• How to assess your win probability for these topics
• Questions to ask the Topic Author and why this interaction is important
• Preparing the Technical Volume: macro to details
• Commercialization and Technology Transition Strategies
• Effective Reviews prior to submission

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Location: 1880 Pratt Drive , Suite 2018, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: $25 per person (includes coffee, bagels, lunch and training materials)
REGISTER: www.virginiaipc.org/events

Customer discovery is one of the most important and least expensive ways to accelerate your pathway to market. This session will be lead by the Virginia SBDC’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) team and will cover:

• What is customer discovery?
• How is customer discovery connected to getting funded?
• What is the difference between customer discovery and sales?
• How to effectively conduct customer discovery interviews.
• What working with ICAP looks like and how it supports startups long-term.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Cost: FREE
REGISTER: www.virginiaipc.org/events

For more details on VIPC-hosted events, workshops, and webinars check out their event calendar in Q4!

The post VIPC October SBIR/STTR News & Events appeared first on Verge.

With the combined funding support of the EDA and GO Virginia, Verge is enhancing its flagship program, RAMP by launching ‘On RAMP,’ designed to assist early-stage startups, as well as ‘Exit RAMP’ to assist with later stage business needs like capital readiness. These initiatives provide tailored programming, connections, mentoring, coaching, and engagement opportunities specifically targeting underserved areas such as the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Giles County, City of Radford, Botetourt County, Montgomery County, City of Salem, Pulaski County and Floyd County.

Additionally, Verge will introduce an Ecosystem Navigator Program to facilitate entrepreneurs’ access to regional and statewide support organizations, while forming a task force to aid early-stage technology and biotechnology firms. The strategy and goals behind the expansion of these programs is not only to improve the success and growth rates of technology-based startups, but to increase the rate and speed in which an idea is brought to market.

The federal project’s success owes much to leveraging GO Virginia funding, which drives progress in emerging sectors such as life sciences and biotechnology. GO Virginia’s strategic financial support has proven crucial in making these initiatives competitive and impactful, empowering projects to achieve significant milestones and contribute meaningfully to their sectors. By extending project lifecycles with state funds, GOVA not only catalyzes new developments but also ensures their sustainability through federal funding.

“The collaborative efforts facilitated by GO Virginia underscore its essential role in advancing critical projects and fostering innovation,” said Erin Burcham, President of Verge. “GO Virginia’s support, combined with the EDA grant, will allow us to expand the scope and impact of our programs,” Burcham said.

This strategic combination of state and federal resources highlights the EDA and GO Virginia’s pivotal role in supporting ventures that deliver lasting benefits to communities.

“The addition of On and Exit RAMP enables our region to provide a full lifecycle runway of guidance and support for tech and life science ventures, no longer will companies need to go elsewhere to access the critical resources and mentorship required to start a high growth venture,” said John Hagy, Director of RAMP.

The post RAMP to Provide Full Lifecycle Programming for Startups appeared first on Verge.

Please join us on October 10 to meet RAMP’s Fall 2024 Cohort! The event will begin at 5 PM with programming begins at 5:30 PM. Meet the Cohort is presented by Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) and National Bank of Blacksburg. This ecosystem building event is a wonderful opportunity for the four new fall 2024 RAMP cohort members to be introduced to a regional audience! We hope you will join us and support them!

 

Register Now!

 

Venue:

Shenandoah Club

24 Franklin Road Southwest
Roanoke, Virginia 24011

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