Mentor Spotlight: Interview with Hal Irvin
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 entrepreneurs as they make their way through the RAMP-In-Residence curriculum.
Outside of RAMP, Hal currently serves as Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology Outreach at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion where he facilitates partnerships between companies and researchers. Concurrently with is work his work at Virginia Tech, Hal is a board member of the Roanoke Innovation Corridor Planning Committee and a member of the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation Scholarship and Foundation Grants Committee.
In 2024, Hal was the recipient of the TechNite Ruby Award which recognizes an outstanding member who has proven to be a brilliant and valuable asset to the Roanoke Blacksburg region. We had the opportunity to sit down with Hal and discuss his work in the regional tech community, what he thinks makes the Roanoke Blacksburg innovation ecosystem special and more.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you find your way into the tech space?
I find that if you go into an opportunity with an open mind and try to be helpful then it’s a great launching pad for developing relationships where there is synergy and opportunities for alignment. I have a background in higher education and I’ve worked in different environments. Before I came to Roanoke, I worked at a consultant group at GA Tech where I was exposed to economic development. When I came to Roanoke to work for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, their focus was on supporting their outreach in the community. Over that first year, I met lot of people from RBIA and saw an opportunity to better connect RBIA and the research happening FBRI.
One of the things I’ve found in this region, is that people are very focused on the impact they can make. There are a lot of people who want to see others succeed and the environment that creates helps people grow. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like the community here. I’ve never come across a community as open, welcoming, and enthusiastic about the successes of others. It’s a wonderful place to collaborate and work together.
Can you talk about your role in FBRI and how that plays into the greater innovation ecosystem?
I’m all about making connections. I love working to help FRBI’s growth and connecting with opportunities where our faculty can be successful, particularly with startups and the commercialization of their research. These efforts bring me in frequent contact with Carilion Clinic and RBTC, and with the state and Virginia Innovation Council.
How did you find your way to RAMP and what is your role there?
I found my way to RAMP through FRBI. Since I was new in town, I decided to do a “breakfast tour” meeting with people who had been suggested to me as strong contributors to the innovation ecosystem. When I met with folks from RBIA they all mentioned how supportive they were of FBRI’s mission.
Greg Feldman in particular was active in the committee that helped start RAMP. He asked me to chair the advisory committee for 18 months which I was thrilled to do.
The synergy between the organizations is great. Four companies that came out of FBRI have gone through RAMP. At FBRI, we have a program call the Fralin Commercialization Program that supports VT students and employees in starting companies. This model helps faculty stay in research, but facilitates young people becoming CSOs and CEOs. And what’s wonderful is all people in the ecosystem are so excited to see these young people succeed.
You’re also a mentor to startups. What is the process of mentorship like?
It’s exciting being a mentor because I’m witness to the potential of the bright minds we have here. Our regional higher education system attracts brilliant young people and the ecosystem creates great opportunities to develop their talent. I love encouraging these folks to apply to RAMP.
Everyone in the community pulls together to provide referrals and you can see the growth. This year’s application pool saw 25 companies apply to RAMP, which is a record number of companies!
What is one thing you think every tech entrepreneur should know when they are starting out?
The main thing is to make sure you’re scanning the horizon for support that’s out there. It takes 10-12 years and millions of dollars to bring a drug to market. You don’t have to do it alone. You have lots of opportunities that have been developed in the last 5-10 years that are available to you to help you succeed.
Anyone who is starting a company needs to educate themselves about the funding, mentoring, and support. Entrepreneurship is so challenging and competitive that it’s critical for founders to surround themselves with resources they need for success. Some of the resources available are GO Virginia, Virginia Tech, Project Vital, RBIA, the City of Roanoke, Carilion, VIPC, RBTC, RAMP and the Virginia Bio association. You don’t want to miss anything that’s available.
You wear many hats in the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Ecosystem. What keeps you motivated and inspired to serve?
The synergy and the willingness of others to contribute to our success. When you have people working together, you can see a direct benefit to our region from the talent growth and some of our early-stage companies. I love the people here. In the nine years I’ve been here I’ve met really wonderful people and it’s really special to work together.
One of the great pleasures I’ve had in working in this space is the RBTC Beer and Biotech series. I’m the co-MC with someone from Carilion. It’s a simple example of intentional community building that has big impacts over the long term. The event brings in companies from all over the state and when you do that month over month, year over year you gather more and more people. We have attendees from VWCC, VT, Radford and more which is exciting because we want them to see is that there’s a future here that they can be part of.
What big goals are you working toward for the regional innovation ecosystem?
To support any faculty, graduate candidates, and postdocs with their entrepreneurship goals and to give them a place where they can thrive long term.
We want to see those companies grow and have such an economic impact in 5 years so that we become an attractor for other companies to move into the region and hire talented people. What we’re working on right now is foundational. In ten years time we want those companies to have multiple hires and want other companies to see this region as a great place for talent, so other founders come here because there are so many great resources. We want to become a very busy biotech community.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I like to travel a lot. I love hiking in Mexico and South America. Once, I flew one way to Tical in Guatemala and took boats, buses, and cabs all the way back exploring Guatemala.
RAMP is 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), RAMP, and Common Wealth Angels.