Regional Innovation Ecosystem

RBTC — RAMP — VERGE

The Verge collaborative alliance serves GO Virginia Region 2 and works collaboratively with government, business, academia, and the private sector.

Verge Alliance

Collaborative Tech Community

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council is part of a larger innovation ecosystem known as Verge, a collaborative strategic alliance established to grow the region’s innovation economy, technology, and life sciences sectors, and the supporting professional communities. 

Verge

Verge  aligns the strengths and programming efforts of the RBTC, the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP), and Valleys Innovation Council (VIC). Verge serves GO Virginia Region 2 and works to form collaborations with government, business, academia, and other organizations to advance the region and grow a thriving innovation economy.

In 2020, Verge received a major endorsement by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which awarded a nearly $1 million grant to support its work primarily through expanding RAMP’s efforts to accelerate new startup ventures, especially in the areas of blockchain, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, health, and life science industries.

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 to achieve greater success.

The RBTC’s membership ranges from emerging technology firms to the largest technology employers in the region. The RBTC’s mission is to promote the growth and success of the Roanoke-Blacksburg technology community.

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.

Since its founding in 2017, RAMP has accelerated the growth of dozens of companies that employ more than 600 workers and have sales in all 50 states and around the world.