News

Innovation alliance unveils new name and strategic plan for Western Virginia

A strategic alliance has a new name — Verge — and a new vision of acting as the front door for an innovation economy that stretches from Lynchburg to the New River Valley.

Formed last year, the alliance is a joint mission of the Valleys Innovation Council, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program, known as RAMP.

At a virtual news conference Monday, organizers said the unified strength of the three organizations will help solidify connections and better leverage emerging opportunities for the region’s technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Verge will focus on the technology and life sciences innovation ecosystem in the GO Virginia Region 2, a sprawling span of the state that includes the Roanoke and New River valleys, the Alleghany Highlands and the Lynchburg region.

“What is happening in technology in this part of Virginia is really exciting,” CEO Greg Feldmann said in a statement.

“By aligning the efforts of three distinct but synergistic entities, we will all more effectively develop external resourcing, more efficiently implement new programs ensuring each reaches the right audiences at the right moments and in the right contexts to provide maximum value.

“It’s all about comprehensively supporting the many people and organizations who are investing in and shaping the economic future of our region.”

While collaborating in the newly defined joint mission, the three organizations will continue their day-to-day operations under the same leadership.

Recent News

03/13/2025

Zynext Ventures invests in Illexcor Therapeutics to advance novel oral therapy for sickle cell disease

Zynext Ventures USA LLC (Zynext Ventures), the venture capital arm of Zydus Lifesciences (Zydus), today announced its investment in Illexcor Therapeutics (Illexcor), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation oral therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD). This investment underscores Zynext Ventures’ commitment to supporting disruptive healthcare innovations that address significant unmet medical needs. Illexcor is developing

03/05/2025

Virginia Catalyst Awards $3.2 Million in Grants to Support Life Sciences in the Commonwealth

The Virginia Catalyst, also known as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), today announced that it has awarded $3.2 million in grants to four life and bioscience projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These projects were awarded in Grant Round 17. “The Catalyst works to help industry partners and academic investigators to raise follow-on

02/27/2025

Hourigan Strengthens Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing and Data Centers with Key Appointments

Hourigan is expanding its leadership team to support the firm’s growing presence in two of the region’s most technical and high-demand industries: advanced manufacturing and data centers. Hourigan has named Mark Hourigan, Jr. to lead its advanced manufacturing and logistics sector and Mark Rainey to oversee its mission-critical and data center expansion. These appointments build