Valleys Innovation Council Wins Build to Scale Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to Fuel Tech Company Growth in the Region

U.S. Department of Commerce Commits Nearly $1 Million to Expand RAMP

September 21, 2020

2020 RAMP Cohort Chosen

Roanoke-based business accelerator RAMP — the Regional Acceleration and Mentoring Program — announced the selection of six high-growth startups as part of its fourth round of training.

July 01, 2020

VIC, RBTC AND RAMP FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

Roanoke, VA—Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) today announced they are joining forces in a strategic alliance.

July 01, 2020

RAMP kicks off 2020 program and introduces its fourth cohort

Six high-growth companies have been selected to take part in the fourth iteration of the RAMP business accelerator program, which began its 2020 classes on June 15.

June 30th, 2020

Photos: RAMP Demo Day 2019 at VWCC

RAMP's Demo Day 2019 was held at Virginia Western Community College on Monday. The purpose of the event is to give start-up businesses a chance to promote their products to potential investors.

September 10th, 2019

RAMP accelerator taking show on the road with latest round of growing startups

The upcoming graduates of Roanoke’s startup accelerator took turns pitching their businesses to a room of investors and community leaders at the annual RAMP Demo Day this week — but they’re not finished yet.

September 10th, 2019

Excella is partnering with BEAM Diagnostics to develop a medical app

Excella has been selected as the primary tech partner to develop BEAM's medical mobile app to help prevent alcohol misuse.

August 21st, 2019

Beam Diagnostics, Excella team up on alcohol relapse app

Beam Diagnostics is teaming up with tech company Excella to create an app that detects relapse in alcohol use disorder. The technology will specifically be targeted at helping providers predict when a patient might be struggling.

August 21st, 2019

Tech startup hopes to turn NASA funding and tiny devices into big business

FINCASTLE — A handful of micro assemblers spend their days peering through microscopes on the second floor of a nondescript downtown office building, tweezers in hand as they piece together components small enough to rest on the tip of a pencil.

August 11th, 2019

Governor Northam Announces Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Award Winners

Last week Governor Ralph Northman announced the 2019 Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Award Winners. Among the award winners, two RAMP cohort representatives were named!

June 6th, 2019

Henrico-based Ticket Spicket participating in a business accelerator in Roanoke

Ticket Spicket, a digital ticket sales platform with fundraising for school athletic programs, joins five other startups chosen from the 20 that applied to participate in downtown Roanoke’s RAMP business accelerator.

The budding entrepreneurs are taking up residence in the Gill Memorial Building, where they will spend the next couple of months in a fast-paced program designed to take their companies to the next level — while also putting down deep roots in the region.

June 6th, 2019

RAMP accelerator welcomes third cohort; many of the startups already generating revenue

The third cohort of entrepreneurs that has taken up residence inside the Gill Memorial Building includes a former Microsoft coder, a behavior analyst, a longtime banking executive and a scientist who just won a $750,000 NASA grant.

June 2nd, 2019

RAMP shows off second cohort of startups ready for investors

Elliot McAllister entered RAMP four months ago without much more than a prototype and an idea for a business that would 3D print custom lab testing devices.

He graduated Wednesday with a finished product, pending patents and three customers lined up. The first order for his company, Skyphos Technologies, will ship later this week.

October 3rd, 2018

RAMP accelerator to launch pitch clinics to help young businesses refine ideas

Roanoke-based startup accelerator RAMP is rolling out a new program that aims to help more entrepreneurs hone their startup ideas even if they’re not ready to enroll in business boot camp quite yet.

September 11th, 2018

RAMP accelerator starts over with new crop of promising startups

The third floor of downtown’s Gill Memorial Building was still a blank canvas last week, as a second cohort of businesses moved into Roanoke’s publicly funded startup accelerator program.

May 26th, 2018