 From left to right: Jackson Ward Collective co-founders Kelli Lemon, Rasheeda Creighton and Melody Short - Courtesy of Jackson Ward Collective - Story By Kaitlynn R. Copinger - June 07, 2021 "Now that the Richmond ecosystem has been talking about the challenges facing Black and other underrepresented founders for more than a year, what’s changed? And — perhaps more importantly — what work remains?" "Funding: The Crucial Piece" "...The Center for Innovative Technology, or CIT, launched the Virginia Founders Fund in 2018 and has since directed more than $3 million toward founder who are women, BIPOC and veterans, as well as those located outside of Northern Virginia. There are aspirational, strategic and programmatic goals throughout the Fiscal Year 2022 operating plan that are dedicated to furthering our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts - especially in light of the national conversation about systematic racism,” spokeswoman Sara Poole Last fall, CIT Gap Funds hosted a roundtable event to bring together BIPOC founders to discuss barriers to forming and funding minority-led startups, a discussion that is expected to yield changes going forward..." 
Stafford County and the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) Announce Opening of the First Virginia Smart Community Testbed | Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on a new partnership between high-tech companies and Stafford County.
(News4's Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey has been covering this side of the state since joining NBC4 in 1992. She's joined by reporter Drew Wilder.)  Green Dollars By 2025, TemperPack wants to be the world’s largest sustainable packaging company. Four years ago, a $12 million investment from SJF Venture marked a turning point to helping the company reach that goal, Powers said. More early stage funding can help the next clean tech startups take off, he said. That’s where organizations like the Center for Innovative Technology are playing a role. CIT GAP Funds has made equity investments in 16 early-stage clean tech companies since 2007, investing $50,000 to $500,000 in each company over time, said Marco Rubin, Senior Investment Director...  Virginia Venture Connect | Ep 6: Forget Smart Homes, We're Talking Smart Cities | Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) | Interview with David Ihrie, CIT Chief Technology Officer David Ihrie talks about CIT Smart Communities, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA), and what projects might lend themselves for development in the Shenandoah Valley. About the SVTC: The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council is a non-profit that serves technology users and creators in the Shenandoah Valley. Its members gather together for education, networking, and business development. By helping technology businesses in the area succeed and grow, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council is an integral component of the region, helping bring high-paying technology jobs to the Valley. Website: https://svtc-va.org/ Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) - interview with Sean Mallon, Vice President, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at CIT
CIT's Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Division (EED) was established in July 2020 to support and promote technology-focused entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Starting with the understanding that entrepreneurs are important drivers of economic growth, EED supports Virginia-based partner organizations that support entrepreneurs through the early stages of business formation and growth. Charlottesville Business Innovation Council | Interview - Bob Stolle, President & CEO at CIT | Center for Innovative Technology | Virginia  The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at CIT would like to thank The Virginia legislature and many others for support in establishing the Commonwealth as a national leader in the Unmanned Systems Industry – land, sea, air, and space (UxS). Evidence of that leadership is provided by Business Facilities Magazine, which ranked Virginia as the top state in the nation for unmanned aerial systems two years in a row for "unmanned systems leadership, facilities, and industry connections, both military and civilian." The following short video provides insights on UxS from government and business leaders in Virginia.  By Kaitlynn R. Copinger | January 19, 2021, 09:56am EST A Virginia nonprofit organization wants to help young companies in strategically important industries commercialize their technology and create jobs in the commonwealth. The Center for Innovative Technology believes a new fund will help them do just that. The Commonwealth Commercialization Fund recently kicked off its first funding round with a plan to disperse $7 million in grants of up to $100,000 in 2021.  True to The Monthly Blend’s mission of catalyzing regional collaboration, in this Episode, we bring together the brand new CEOs of both TEDCO and CIT, mirror organizations in their respective states of MD and VA. Troy Stovall and Bob Stolle meet for the first time and share their visions for their organizations. Topics include investment, stimulating economic development, areas of focus, and diversity & inclusion. You may be surprised to hear what these leaders have to say about what’s coming for MD and VA!  "Richmond is home to a host of business incubators, nonprofits and educational initiatives that foster innovation and creativity; we look at what they do, the projects they support and what’s on the horizon..." “CIT is focused on the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship in all sectors of Virginia, or all regions,” says Bob Stolle, president and CEO of CIT. “We have a variety of programs that provide direct investment into early-stage companies and seed-stage investment for equity positions in early-stage startups.” Mallon is a familiar face: He previously worked for CIT GAP Funds and has now returned to the nonprofit to lead this new division focused on strengthening programs for entrepreneurs throughout Virginia.  State of Virginia - CIT is a nonprofit corporation that invests in technology companies within the state. The Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Division is one of four the nonprofit recently created as the operating arm for the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority. Investment, Commercialization and Strategic Initiatives make up the other three divisions.  CIT is coordinating a flood sensor pilot project that originated with the Department of Homeland Security. “And the ultimate goal would be to be able to do this throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Kirby told WDBJ7.  The city has partnered with Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology to bring specialized flood sensors to certain tributaries in the city. Chuck Kirby with CIT says that came about thanks to ongoing efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to combat certain natural disasters – including urban flooding.  Great story in the news last night on a vital group effort to bridge the internet access gap ahead of the school year and help make #broadband economically feasible in hard to reach places in #Virginia! Interviews with Stafford County CTO Michael Cannon and #CITSMART David Ihrie and Keith Walker, CEO of Aer Wireless as well as Pete Torres and his kids (Homeowners association and pilot program participant.) We are working together to pilot a new technology that could help make broadband economically feasible in hard to reach places. The County has a VATI grant. It would look for more funding there to expand coverage beyond the initial pilot. Aer will also provide private service offerings to homes that can access the signal but not eligible for the pilot since they don’t have kids in Stafford schools. Tom Walker joined Neil Cavuto today on Fox Business Network to discuss DroneUp's recent drone delivery testing with UPS, Center for Innovative Technology Virginia (CIT), and Workhorse Group Inc. Click through to watch now: https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6151637756001/#sp=show-clips Neil Cavuto @TeamCavuto | Senior Vice President, Managing Editor and Anchor for both FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. Anchor of FNC's Your World, Cavuto LIVE and FBN's Cavuto: Coast to Coast.  Interview Tom Walker, DroneUp CEO, discusses how his company is teaming up with UPS to deliver medical supplies to frontline COVID-19 workers | Tom Walker | CEO of DroneUp | CIT GAP Funds Portfolio Company | Virginia Center for Unmanned Systems at CIT Advisory Board Member
Apr. 23, 2020 - 2:26 - Tom Walker, DroneUp CEO, discusses how his company is teaming up with UPS to deliver medical supplies to frontline COVID-19 workers
Interview Tom Walker, DroneUp CEO, discusses how his company is teaming up with UPS to deliver medical supplies to frontline COVID-19 workers | Tom Walker | CEO of DroneUp | CIT GAP Funds Portfolio Company | Virginia Center for Unmanned Systems at CIT Advisory Board Member
Video link:https://video.foxnews.com/v/6151617096001
 The fastest-growing industry of new aircraft in the history of aviation. But how will drones be regulated? Find out more in this BBB National Programs episode: Regulation of the Skies | CIT CEO Edward Albrigo talks about the Future of this technology with Host James E. Lee and Sharon Rossmark, CEO, Women And Drones
Many thanks to BBB National Programs for the interview: |
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Updated 6/21/2021