Students from James Madison University (JMU) will be tackling air travel security issues for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) as part of their spring semester of the Hacking 4 Defense (H4D) class.
GO Virginia Region 8 Council is now accepting the third round of proposals for per-capita projects to be funded through the State’s GO Virginia initiative. For a project to be considered by the Region 8 Council, the pre-application has to be received by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) by Wed., Feb. 7, 2018.
We’re delighted to share that our local investors group, Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors (SVAI), has created a website, and contacting them is now easy to do. Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors: https://www.svangelinvestors.com/. From startup resources to an easy-to-use contact form, SVAI has now provided several online-accessible elements to advance their mission. Please use the contact form on their website to apply for funding consideration.
About SVAI
Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors (SVAI) is a network of private investors that help fund entrepreneurial enterprises located in our communities. SVAI’s founding members have broad experience, spanning multiple market sectors, including: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Public Accounting, Outdoor Recreation, Legal, Senior Assisted Living, Insurance, Distribution and Logistics, Agriculture, Commercial Real Estate, Property Management, Government and Technology.
Mission
SVAI’s primary interest is Start-Up/ Early Stage business ventures with funding needs in the range of $50,000 to $300,000 that leverage technology to create a new product or service. A review committee assesses and ranks business proposals based on several factors, including: market potential, scalability, new job creation, intellectual property, competition, management team, business acumen, capital intensity and potential return on an equity investment.
To check out their new site, visit www.svangelinvestors.com.
Today, the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced a Request for Innovators (RFI) for the Smart Cities Internet of Things Innovation (SCITI) Labs. CIT, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), TechNexus, and Smart City Works are seeking to prototype new internet of things (IoT) and smart city technologies for emergency response and management.
The SCITI Labs effort focuses on extensive validation and go-to-market support through its network of industry partners. SCITI creates an accelerated pathway to market through prototype funding and access to first responders (end users) across the United States. Selected performers will be funded at $50,000 for an initial first cut prototype. Some performers will be identified for a second funded validation prototype (at $100,000) over a total period of 18 months. The goal at the end of the second round is to have commercially-relevant capabilities that will be available for first responders by 2020.
CIT invites parties to express initial interest by January 18, with invited final responses due by February 15, 2018. Final selection will be announced in March 2018. More details about funding, evaluation criteria and the application process are available at www.cit.org/sciti/. Please direct inquiries to SCITI.Info@cit.org for general questions or additional information.
About the Center for Innovative Technology, www.cit.org
Since 1985, CIT, a nonprofit corporation, has been Virginia’s primary driver of innovation and entrepreneurship. CIT accelerates the next generation of technology and technology companies through commercialization, capital formation, market development and revenue generation services. To facilitate national innovation leadership and accelerate the rate of technology adoption, CIT creates partnerships between innovative technology start-up companies and advanced technology consumers. CIT’s CAGE Code is 1UP71. To learn more, please visit www.cit.org. Follow CIT on Twitter @CITorg and add the Center for Innovative Technology on LinkedIn and Facebook.
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) in partnership with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, is offering the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Takes Flight at Virginia’s Community Colleges initiative. STEM Takes Flight provides a suite of programs for Virginia community college students pursuing STEM majors (exclusive of allied health and business) and faculty in STEM disciplines statewide. Opportunities include: paid onsite research experiences at NASA Langley and NASA Wallops and a NASA residential faculty professional development workshop. See links below for details on each of the STEM Takes Flight opportunities. The program is underwritten by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and the Virginia Community College System.
These paid opportunities will be identified by both NASA Centers with current Center missions and projects that are at a point which would maximize hands-on engagement of the students at project critical stages, while inspiring students, teaching them the nature of project work, communications and teamwork, and providing strong exposure to a wide range of technical and scientific career paths. Student researchers will work with NASA research advisers on the designated research project over the course of a 10 week, 40-hour- per-week, summer research experience. Students will receive a $5,000 stipend. Application packages are due February 26, 2018.
Supporting objectives are to nurture diversity; to pipeline STEM students to their next academic and workplace steps; and to foster STEM career awareness and workplace skills.
Application and all the details from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium
A professional development opportunity for Community College STEM Faculty is available at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility
May 21 – May 23. Details for the May 2018 STEM Faculty workshop
[The application deadline has passed. The organizers have judged the applications received and communications have gone out to each applicant on Dec. 22, 2017. The cohort will meet on Jan. 26, 2018 for the first time.]
ICAP is a statewide technology-commercialization program offered by the Virginia Network of Small Business Development Centers, George Mason University, and local sponsors (SVTC, SBDC, JMU X-Labs).
Based on the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps™ program for Lean Startups, ICAP 2.0 helps inventors and entrepreneurs take the right first steps in bringing new technologies and innovations to market.
During this FREE 3-week program, you will work with ICAP instructors and your teammates to learn techniques that will help you identify potential customers, learn their needs and how you can build a successful business model from that knowledge.
The Short Course is the beginning of an ICAP process that guides companies through the Five Steps to Startup Success:
Who is Eligible?
All Virginia early-stage technology innovators and entrepreneurs (faculty, students, or the community at large) who are seeking to explore the commercial prospects for their innovations are encouraged to participate in this regional cohort.
Important Dates
During this 3-week program, there is extensive work done outside the classroom. In addition to the two class meetings, participants should expect to spend another 10-15 hours per week on customer discovery and course assignments.
At the conclusion of the program, you will remain connected with your ICAP trainers and SBDC Business Advisors to continue your progress on the Five Steps to Startup Success.
The program is designed to generate a maximum impact over a relatively short duration, and should be considered a required first step for anyone interested in commercializing a technology or product, whether through a startup or licensing arrangement.
Some graduates of this cohort may be eligible to apply to NSF’s full National Seven-week I-Corps Program in which includes non-dilutive grants for customer discovery and prototype development. Additionally, this program can help teams develop better submissions for SBIRs and CRCF grants from Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technologies.
For more information email: Bob@masonsbdc.org
This Cohort is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, JMU X-Labs, and the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council.
Virginia is for Entrepreneurs (VA4E) is an initiative to better match entrepreneurs with potential investors across regions, backgrounds and industries.
The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC) is a non-profit membership organization serving the greater Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Its members are creators and users of technology who gather together for education, networking and business development. By helping technology businesses in the area succeed and grow, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council is an integral component of the region, helping to bring high-paying technology jobs to the Valley.
Leigh Evans, Executive Director
Mailing Address: 800 S. Main Street | MSC 3615 | Harrisonburg, VA, 22807
Physical Address: 127 W Bruce Street | Ice House | Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 568-7882 | info@svtc-va.org