Nearly 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Virginia gathered to celebrate the Roanoke Blacksburg region’s thriving technology and life sciences community at RBTC’s 25th annual TechNite. Presented by Woods Rogers, the milestone event highlighted the growth, talent, and impact of a region whose innovation economy is gaining statewide and national attention.
The evening culminated with an awards ceremony that honored the past year’s stand out achievements and leadership shaping the community and paving the way for the future. Highlights included the induction of Nancy Agee into the RBTC Hall of Fame, Ruby Award winner Marc Nelson, and Qentoros was awarded the Hart of the Entrepreneur Impact Award.
Held at Virginia Tech’s Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility, the evening marked more than just an anniversary. It celebrated a quarter-century of collective transformation and momentum. The venue provided a striking backdrop to reflect on 25 years of groundbreaking achievements and cast a bold vision for the future of innovation-driven economic growth in the region.
“The 25th anniversary of TechNite is more than a celebration; it’s a testament to the strength of our regional innovation ecosystem,” said Taylor Spellman, Director of the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council. “In just 25 years, we’ve seen this region transform into a destination for tech and biotech. That growth isn’t accidental. It’s the result of collaboration, resilience, and a shared vision of what’s possible when we stay committed to driving innovation.”
As the premier annual gala for tech and life science sectors, TechNite is the heartbeat of the region’s innovation ecosystem. The event featured RBTC’s signature networking and connection, as well as tributes to the people who have helped shape the region’s tech trajectory—from early-stage founders to industry and regional leaders, educators, and ecosystem builders. A particularly special moment occurred when dozens of past TechNite award winners were recognized as a tribute to 25 years of vision, innovation, and impact.
The complete list of companies, leaders, and entrepreneurs honored at TechNite 2025 include:
Kim Snyder, KlariVis – Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes a leader exemplifying what it means to be a risk-taker in technology. Founded by CPA Kim Snyder, Roanoke based KlariVis is an enterprise dashboard and analytics tool designed by bankers for bankers to provide critical, actionable insights to empower strategic decision making.
David Ayares, Revivicor – Innovator of the Year recognizes an individual, a team, or organization that has blazed new trails in the areas of research and innovation. David Ayares founded Revivicor in 2003 and serves as its President and Chief Scientific Officer. Blacksburg based Revivicor is a regenerative medicine company that focuses on human-compatible xenotransplantation to address the world’s organ shortage crisis.
Novonesis & Munters Corporation tied as the Large Leading Tech Company of the Year in an award category that recognizes a Roanoke or New River Valley company committed to advancing the region’s technology community and demonstrating excellence in people, programs, and projects within its industry.
Novonesis is a leader in biotech innovation focuses on research, development and production of industrial enzymes, microorganisms, and biopharmaceutical. Their biosolutions will feed and fuel the world more sustainably and reduce the use of fossil-based resources, chemicals, energy and water. In April 2025, Novonesis revealed its plans to bring new jobs and a $5 million expansion to their existing Salem, VA facilities.
Munters is a global leader in energy efficient and sustainable air treatment solutions helping clients reduce their climate and environmental impact. In 2022, Munters opened a facility in Botetourt County that specializes in providing advanced climate cooling solutions for data centers where they have become a leading manufacturing employer in the region. In March 2025, Munters announced plans to invest $29.95 million to expand its existing facility in Botetourt County, VA. The expansion will add on 200,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility and create 270 new jobs.
The Tiny Cargo Co. – Small Leading Tech Company recognizes a Roanoke or New River Valley company committed to advancing the region’s technology community and demonstrating excellence in people, programs, and projects within its industry. The Tiny Cargo Co., based in Roanoke, is led by Dr. Spencer Marsh. Tiny Cargo leverages the properties of milk exosomes as a naturally occurring drug delivery platform to treat the lethal effects of radiation, as well as a platform technology to enable the treatment of a wide range of other diseases.
Aileen Helsel, Carilion Clinic Innovation – Regional Leadership Award recognizes a member who succeeds in the workplace but also leads by example by contributing significantly to the RBTC community. Molecular bioscientist Aileen Helsel oversees and supports commercialization at CCI through her expert administration of CCI’s Invention Accelerator programs, Makerspace, and Commercialization team.
Bacchus Therapeutics – Rising Star in Biotech recognizes an early-stage biotechnology company. Bacchus Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a breakthrough drug that targets cancer’s hypermetabolic state with a focus on MYC-driven cancers. Bacchus Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Arvin Gouw, a Cancer Nanotechnology Fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine and with 10 years of experience studying cancer metabolism.
QlutchQMS – Rising Star in Tech recognizes an early-stage technology company. QlutchQMS is the first Quality Management System (QMS) software platform built in the post-AI generation. Qlutch has been specially designed for small and mid-sized businesses to empower startups and small businesses to overcome compliance barriers that often stifle innovation.
Gretchen Matthews, Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, Southwest Virginia – STEM-H Educator of the Year recognizes an educator in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region that promotes math, science, and/or use of technology in creative ways to transfer knowledge and help develop future technology leaders. Gretchen Matthews is the director of Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, Southwest Virginia as well as an experienced educator and researcher specializing in applications of algebraic geometry to data storage, protection, and security, especially coding theory and cryptography. Her passion for mentorship and engaging STEM programming helps inspire the next generation of leaders.
Megan Atkinson, Montgomery County Public Schools – K-12 STEM-H Educator of the Year recognizes a K-12 educator in the Roanoke–Blacksburg region that promotes math, science, and/or use of technology in creative ways to transfer knowledge and help develop future technology leaders. Megan Atkinson serves as the CTE and Business Partnerships Administrator. Her commitment to workforce development and community enrichment and her interdisciplinary approach helps students excel in a competitive job market by developing lifelong learners.
Marc Nelson, Roanoke City Economic Development – Ruby Award recognizes an outstanding member who has proven to be a brilliant and valuable asset to the Roanoke-Blacksburg region. Marc Nelson, Roanoke City Economic Development Director, is a champion of the regional technology and biotechnology sector and has played a key role in fostering fruitful partnerships between government, non-profit, research, and entrepreneurial institutions.
Nancy Agee, Carilion Clinic – Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the region. Nancy Agee served as CEO of Carilion Clinic from 2011-2024 and currently serves as CEO emeritus. She led Carilion Clinic’s transition to the clinic model that includes a medical school and research institute in partnership with Virginia Tech. Beginning her career as a nurse at Carilion, Nancy Agee rose through the ranks to lead an astonishing and nationally recognized transformation at Carilion that has a far-reaching impact in the local tech and life science sector.
Qentoros – Hart of the Entrepreneur Impact Award began in 2023 by RBTC members closest to the late Bonz Hart to honor his tremendous spirit and contribution to the Roanoke-Blacksburg technology community. An endowment in his honor was set up to fund The Hart of the Entrepreneur Impact Award, which is given annually to an outstanding entrepreneur in the region. The 2025 honoree, Qentoros, was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants due to their stellar innovation. Qentoros harnesses the power of platelets to treat orthopedic injuries in horses. Their unique product called BIO-PLY combines powerful pain relief with restorative properties that heal formerly terminal injuries. Qentoros is led by founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Jessica Gilbertie and Chief Executive Officer Michael Miller, MS. Dr. Gilbertie is a veterinary translational scientist and holds a BS and MS from Virginia Tech and a DVM from Iowa State University, and PhD and postdoc from North Carolina State University. Miller is an experienced technology and business leader who has been involved in many high-tech developments, Fortune 500 companies and local startups.
Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, RBTC has played a vital role in fueling the region’s tech-based economy, supporting the creation and scale of companies, connecting talent to opportunity, and fostering a sense of belonging among innovators. TechNite is not just a celebration of success, but also a recognition of the economic and cultural engine that innovation represents for the Roanoke Blacksburg region.
The evening was made possible by TechNite 2025 sponsors Woods Rogers, the City of Roanoke, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, Ridge View Bank, Roanoke County Economic Development, TechLab, Member One, Montgomery County Economic Development, Arctic Wolf, Barrows, Avantor, Botetourt County, Glo Fiber and P1 Technologies.
