The Roanoke-Blacksburg Innovation Network DBA Valleys Innovation Council
Growing our Innovation Ecosystem: Scaling the Success of the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP)
Blacksburg, VA
Venture Challenge
Federal Share: $982,443
Local Match: $1,096,741
The Valleys Innovation Council is seeking $982,442 in grant funds as part of a $2.08 million project to scale up current accelerator and startup assistance programming and grow the regional innovation ecosystem over 3 years in order to support scalable startups in technology and health and life sciences across our service footprint of Virginia through coordinated actions centering on the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP). The “Growing our Innovation Ecosystem: Scaling the Success of the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP)” project would focus on activities in four key areas: Startup Pathways, Scaling the Accelerator-in-Residence Program, Enhanced Support for Later-Stage Startups, and Resource Development and Research. Matching resources to support this work are provided by the applicant, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council, GO Virginia, the Center for Innovative Technology, Virginia Tech and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the City of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, among other program sponsors. This project would support 10 Mentor Connect Clinics, 12 Commercialization Fellows, at least 6 informational sessions to institutional researchers, 6 accelerator cohorts of 5 startups each with Demo Days for each, 25 accelerator alumni companies in the Exit RAMP program, 9 PitchPlus workshops and events, 3-4 Regional Entrepreneurship Summits, 6 mentor development events, and 3 innovation ecosystem in review reports, among other outputs.