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Spotlight Articles

RAMP Mentor Spotlight: Interview with RAMP Entrepreneur-In-Residence Mike Abbott

Posted on: July 18, 2025

Product development design engineer Mike Abbott wears a lot of hats. From a founder, to consultant, to mentor, he brings his passion for good ideas and intentional innovation to every role. At RAMP, our entrepreneurs learn from his wealth of experience and knowledge through his role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and…

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RAMP Company Spotlight: Interview with Toni Sperry of Pod Farms

Posted on: May 19, 2025

Pod Farms, LLC based in Pulaski, VA, is setting out to address the problems of crop production through hydroponics. Through their patented technology, Pod Farms is working hard to unlock hyper-local food production for commercial grow operations, community grow centers, and home hobbyists.  South Carolina native Toni Sperry is…

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Mentor Spotlight: Interview with Hal Irvin

Posted on: April 14, 2025

RAMP mentor Hal Irvin is an integral part of the Roanoke Blacksburg technology community, where he leverages his skills as a master connector of people and ideas. At RAMP, Hal sits on the advisory board in addition to working as a RAMP Mentor, where he guides technology and life science…

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On RAMP Alumni Spotlight: Interview with Amethyst Edmond

Posted on: March 14, 2025

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…

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Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Kumar Kandasamy of Enabled Engineering

Posted on: February 24, 2025

RAMP alum Dr. Kumar Kandasamy is the founder and CEO of Enabled Engineering, a manufacturing technology company in Blacksburg, VA. After completing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India, Dr. Kandasamy completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Missouri S&T with a specialization the…

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Partner Spotlight: Harvey Brookins of National Bank

Posted on: November 19, 2024

RAMP mentor Harvey Brookins is a commercial banker with the National Bank where he serves as the executive for the Roanoke market. He was tapped to lead the first full-service branch in Roanoke where built a great team of banking professionals and lives out his…

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Alumni Spotlight: Baraka Kasongo of Volatia

Posted on: October 7, 2024

Volatia founder Baraka Kasongo knows firsthand the challenges of navigating a new language in a new community. When he immigrated to the U.S. in 2001, he did not speak English. His experience of struggling with language barriers galvanized him to create a solution that would ease language barriers and…

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Alumni Spotlight: An Interview with Diane Kees of Micro Harmonics

Posted on: June 27, 2024

Right now,  there are radio telescope receivers in Italy and Korea that are operating thanks to highly advanced components developed in Fincastle, VA. The company responsible? Micro Harmonics.  Micro Harmonics is a 2019 RAMP alumni company that specializes in ferrite components like millimeter wave isolators, millimeter wave circulators, and…

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Alumni Spotlight: An Interview with Drs. Feng Lin and Ray Xu, Co-founders of Fermi Energy Inc.

Posted on: June 5, 2024

Two Blacksburg-based battery scientists are fundamentally disrupting the battery industry with revolutionary cathode technology. Drs. Feng Lin and Ray Xu co-founded Fermi Energy, Inc. specializing in the development of large-scale production of low-cost, sustainable cathodes. As electric vehicle ownership rises, so does the need for the batteries that power them.

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Alumni Spotlight: An Interview with Dr. Sarah Snider, BEAM Diagnostics CEO & Co-Founder

Posted on: April 15, 2024

Just six years ago Dr. Sarah Snider was completing the RAMP-in-Residence program and today her company, BEAM Diagnostics, Inc., is leading the way to destigmatize screening for substance use disorders and advance proactive patient care.  As CEO and co-founder of BEAM, Dr. Sarah Snider exemplifies the perseverance and leadership required to…

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