Regional innovation ecosystem
Verge is a strategic coalition of organizations that lead and drive public and private collaboration on innovative projects in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region of Virginia that expand to the state level and beyond. The Verge alliance, including the Regional Accelerator & Mentoring Program (RAMP) and Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), provides programming, coaching, talent attraction/development, and connectivity to elevate the greater technology and biotechnology sectors in Region 2.
- RBTC provides opportunities for technology companies and the associated professional community. Established in 1998, RBTC is a member-driven association working to promote the growth of the Roanoke-Blacksburg technology community. The organization serves as a business resource for technology entrepreneurs and companies seeking greater success.
- RAMP offers an intensive 12-week competitive program that provides startup companies with 1:1 expert mentoring, free office space, and access to angel investors and non-equity capital.
Our Team
With offices in Roanoke and Blacksburg, our team is available to help your company across the region.
Let’s expand our reach
With over 45 tech and biotech start-ups supported so far, we want to expand our resources to support and connect pre-seed entrepreneurs, as well as those exiting the RAMP in residency programming. We now support startups in health and life sciences as they prepare for post-RAMP programs like JLABS.
Partnerships with programs like SBDC’s ICAP assist Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups with pre-RAMP mentorship and services. The Verge alliance is also working with JLABS to better understand their needs in building out a health and life sciences pre-acceleration program. Exit RAMP support includes ongoing programming, mentorship, connection to mentors, annual memberships, including RBTC and Virginia Bio, and network-building events.
The acceleration resources and connections we offer are free or low-cost to our entrepreneurs, and we never take equity, so our organization relies on grant funding and private donations to support our work. Thank you for helping us grow our innovation economy here in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region!