On RAMP Alumni Spotlight: Interview with Amethyst Edmond

Up-and-coming tech entrepreneur Amethyst Edmond is an active member of the Roanoke Blacksburg technology community. Hailing from Hampton, VA, Amethyst is a two-time Norfolk State University alumna, earning a bachelor of science in biology degree and a master of science in cybersecurity. 

Amethyst is a recent graduate of the On RAMP pre-accelerator program that introduces prospective Founders in the technology and health & life science spaces to entrepreneurship and business strategy. She took the time to reflect on her experience in the program and share what she finds inspirational about the regional innovation ecosystem.

Tell us the origin story of your company idea. What inspired you? 

I attended the Experience Conference: RISE and heard keynote speaker Rishi Jaitly talk about the human gap in the rapid integration of AI/LLMs into our society. It made me consider what I could create that would help our youth 50 years down the line. What could I bring to the world that would benefit them and keep them relevant in a technologically focused world?

How did you choose On-RAMP as your pre-accelerator?

It really was a no brainer for me. I already work very closely with RBTC, participating in a lot of their programs. I love their teams, from organization to collaboration, so I knew the program would be great for what I was looking for. 

What has it meant for you to have participated in On-RAMP? 

Participating in On-RAMP has been one of the most eye opening and influential things I’ve done for myself. It was both a confidence boost and a reality check. Being able to learn about all of the resources available and hearing the first-hand accounts made the idea of starting a business more tangible. 

I was also very excited to learn some foundational knowledge to start a business, like target marketing, pitching and problem formatting. These were skills that I have used as the foundation of my business.  

Who are some Roanoke Blacksburg mentors that have impacted you? 

Dr. Ryan King, Dr. David Townsend, Katie Beach, and William Korbach. Each of these people have been an inspiration and driving force in my development as a speaker, innovator and young entrepreneur. Dr. Townsend is a phenomenal professor who has shown me ways to think outside of the box and connect my ideas creatively. Which goes hand-in-hand with the innovative conversations I have with Dr. King, my mentor from the On-RAMP program. He allows me to express my ideas and challenges me with fresh, new perspectives that help me to expand my thought process. Katie and Will have shown me what it means to be confident as a leader in business and how to set my goals and achieve them using my specific skill set. 

What piece of advice would you give early-stage tech/biotech entrepreneurs?

“To have a great idea, you have to have many,” and, “Science for the sake of science has no place in business.” These are two of my favorite things Dr. Ryan King has shared with me and I think they are helpful to keep in mind when you are starting out in tech entrepreneurship. The first inspires me to keep on dreaming and the second reminds me that, some of my dreams have to have a focal point. 

I’m a scientist by nature; I love questioning and thinking about things and that is ok. But as an aspiring business owner, I have to focus not only on the why, but the problem and the solution. 

What are you most looking forward to about the next phase of acceleration?

For me, the next phase of acceleration is beginning to, “pour the concrete,” establishing the base of my business. With On-RAMP, I was able to build my foundation. So, I am excited to lay the groundwork because I know from there things are going to take off. 

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I’m a creative and I like to use my brain and my hands to build beautiful things. I write, I sing, I dance, I draw and any other medium that catches my eye I create in. And that makes me even more confident that I will be successful in this next phase of my life. 

RAMP and RBTC are part of the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA), established to grow the region’s innovation economy, technology and life sciences sectors, and the supporting professional communities. It aligns the strengths and programming efforts of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP).