Fall 2025 RAMP Recap: Cohorts Celebrate Achievements and Growth

The Fall 2025 programing season is drawing to a close, and our newest startups are putting the finishing touches on their projects and pitches while reflecting on a remarkable year. Members of On RAMP, RAMP In Residence, and Exit RAMP have achieved extraordinary growth and deepened their connections in the regional innovation ecosystem. 

“Working with the brilliant innovators in our ecosystem is always inspiring,” said RAMP Program Manager Jessie Dunn. “Each new cohort brings a wealth of fresh perspectives and unique solutions to pressing problems in life science and technology. This season’s cohort was no exception.” 

The season officially wraps up on December 3 with the annual Demo Day and Tech the Halls event held at the German Manor in Blacksburg. It’s a festive, holiday event where the RAMP In Residence startups share their pitches live. In the meantime, here’s a recap of the season highlights for each of our Fall 2025 Cohorts. 

Fall 2025 On RAMP Highlights

On RAMP is the pre-accelerator program. Five idea-stage teams participated in this season’s cohort. Under the guidance of ecosystem mentors, their work focused on developing their business plans, identifying markets and customers, and defining their idea vs. the problem. 

• Riebos Bioproducts (Roanoke, VA)—Founders Jack Leff and Riley Dehority are developing a cost-effective and customizable supply of human saliva samples for biomedical research. 
• Wujin Sun (Blacksburg, VA)—Wujin is developing minimally-invasive biomedical devices that combine biosensing and controlled drug delivery.
• Lytic Biotechnologies (Blacksburg, VA)—Founders Shannon Whiles, Bryan Hsu, and Zach Baker are developing an innovative oral drug delivery platform that uses engineered bacteriophages to produce therapeutics directly in the gut. 
• Vectorial Corporation (Roanoke, VA)—Alexey Zaitsev is developing a gene therapy to restore heart function in patients with heart failure. 
• Ellyvated OBM (Centreville, VA)—Elly Hurst provides neuroinclusive operations management and strategic marketing support for neurodivergent and cross-cultural entrepreneurs. 

Throughout the 4-week program, cohort members participated in workshops led by regional and statewide partners including the Roanoke SBDC, ICAP, VIPC, and VA Bio. One particular programing highlight included a special session by RBIA’s Jess Edwards that focused on building social capital and tailoring effective elevator pitches.

One of the most powerful aspects of On RAMP is the genuine connections members build with each other—sharing resources, introductions, and support—and the greater ecosystem. The program concluded on October 22 with a networking social and elevator pitch event. 

Fall 2025 RAMP In Residence Highlights

RAMP In Residence is our 12-week flagship accelerator program and features an intensive curriculum centered around customer discovery and market validation. Like On RAMP, this season’s cohort included 5 startups spanning a diverse set of industries including infant nutrition, music business, education, and sports safety gear. 

• Anthro Systems Limited is developing custom 3D-printed bicycle helmets that are perfectly fitted to each rider’s head for maximum safety and comfort.
• Back to Eden Infant Formula offers a novel, minimally processed, whole food-based infant formula that is customized to individual infant needs based on age and tolerance.
• milkmade is creating a smart device that measures breast milk in real time, helping parents know exactly how much milk their baby is getting.
• The Music Advocacy Project works to support and enable a more transparent and profitable live music industry for independent venues, artists, agents, and promoters.
• Strokes of Genius, LLC is on a mission bridge the gap in literacy and technological access by designing engaging and equitable learning experiences through an immersive testing platform.

Alongside close mentorship, founders worked to grow visibility, connection, and skills necessary for successful commercialization. Collectively, they have completed more than 300 customer discovery interviews. This work has uncovered critical insights that are actively shaping their product direction, customer targeting, and strategy.

In fact, Anthro Systems Limited made a significant strategic shift from exclusively focusing on bicycle helmets, expanding to include automotive racing helmets as well. They spoke with pit crew and team personnel at Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race in Martinsville and gained valuable insights into needs, safety concerns, and use cases in automotive racing. Meanwhile, milkmade was invited to pitch at the Accelerate Investor Conference in November, validating their growing traction and visibility. 

Throughout, the companies have supported each other through the program. They’ve built strong connections with each other and with the wider innovation community through mentorship and events like the Emerging Technology Conference.

Fall 2025 Exit RAMP Highlights

Exit RAMP serves RAMP In Residence alumni with 6 weeks of ongoing mentorship in advanced fundraising strategy, and pitch refinement. This season, 3 alumni companies from Spring 2025 participated in Exit RAMP.

• Huginn Sonography, (Roanoke, VA)—Dr. Lana Wahid & Ross Baker are creating a wearable ultrasound bladder scanner that can reliably and accurately measure bladder volume and promote proactive voiding to avert bladder stretch injury and its sequela. 

• Pod Farms, LLC, (Pulaski, VA)—Toni Sperry & Alexander Yurista provide hydroponic equipment and expertise to new or expanding controlled environment agriculture (CEA) farms, schools and community organizations. 
• QlutchQMS, (Roanoke, VA) is developing the first Quality Management System (QMS) software platform built in the post-AI generation. 

This season’s programming included topics like VC 101, due diligence prep, fundraising strategy, and market research. The cohort also completed pitch-practice sessions in two formats: 

• Formal group pitches with feedback and Q&A.
• Investor-style 1:1 or small-panel meetings with real-time questions and interruptions.

In addition, 2 of the 3 Exit RAMP companies, along with Qentoros, also a RAMP alumnus, pitched at the second annual Investor Roadshow in Chapel Hill, NC. The event was produced in partnership with Lighthouse Network, R!oT and Launch Chapel Hill. Founders were able to make meaningful connections with the audience of nearly 50 attendees, including 12 investment firms. 

The cohort concluded on October 15 with a final pitch session attended by additional ecosystem mentors.

Be Part of the Fall 2025 Final Celebrations at Demo Day and Tech the Halls 

It’s been an eventful season and we’re looking forward to celebrating the vision, growth, and achievement of our RAMP program participants at Demo Day, followed by holiday cheer provided by RBTC at Tech the Halls! A staple of our year, this festive celebration is the perfect blend of tech-focused programming and holiday fun. 

Join us Dec. 3 from 5-8pm at the German Club Manor in Blacksburg to hear pitches from our RAMP In Residence cohort and help welcome the newest innovators into our ecosystem. Thanks to RBIA sponsors, Tech the Halls is open to the public and free to attend, though RSVP is required. Register for Demo Day and Tech the Halls today!