Established in 1985, this organization supports early-stage commercialization and financing for innovative technologies, entrepreneurs, and companies within Virginia. It focuses on seed funding and assisting innovators to launch new businesses, create high-paying jobs, and stimulate economic growth across the state.

Virginia Venture Partners is a corporate venture capital firm based in Richmond, Virginia, established in 2005 as a part of the Virginia Innovation Partnership. The firm focuses on seed-stage investments in technology, life sciences, cleantech, and energy startups located in Virginia. By providing near-equity and equity investments, Virginia Venture Partners aims to foster rapid growth in its portfolio companies while generating significant economic returns for entrepreneurs and co-investors. The firm's investment strategy includes dedicated funds such as the GAP BioLife Fund, which targets life science companies, and the GAP Tech Fund, focusing on IT and technology firms. Through these investments, Virginia Venture Partners seeks to contribute to the economic development of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm founded in 1977 and based in Menlo Park, California, with offices in the United States, India and China. It makes investments across technology and healthcare startups at multiple stages, from seed to growth, including software, cloud, data, internet services, fintech, AI, e-commerce, and enterprise technology, as well as healthcare information technology, life sciences, medical devices, and biopharma. It also considers energy technology and infrastructure opportunities, such as solar, batteries and smart grids. The firm pursues a global approach, with activity in the United States, Asia and other regions, and supports companies through rounds of financing ranging from small to sizable investments as they scale. NEA focuses on building portfolios in software, IT services, consumer technology, and healthcare technology, backing ambitious entrepreneurs across sectors and geographies.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency in the United States that funds and supports research and education in science and engineering. It funds fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering and administers non-dilutive funding programs to aid early‑stage technology development, helping translate discoveries into commercially viable products and services. Through grants and fellowships, the NSF supports researchers, educators, and startups, contributing to innovation and U.S. competitiveness. The agency operates with a substantial budget to advance science, engineering, and STEM education nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leads initiatives in food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. It aims to expand markets for agricultural products globally, foster alternative markets domestically, improve rural infrastructure, enhance food safety, promote nutrition education, and manage public lands collaboratively.

Mountain State Capital, established in 2018, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies based in the Greater Appalachia region of the United States. It typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in companies, targeting information technology and healthcare sectors. Mountain State Capital operates as a Small Business Investment Company, providing early-stage risk capital to high-growth companies in the region.

OODA is a management consulting firm based in Reston, Virginia, founded in 2009. It specializes in global security, technology, and intelligence, delivering advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, and crisis response for governments and corporations. The firm helps clients identify, manage, and respond to global risks and opportunities through bespoke research and due diligence, supported by a network of executives, experts, and analysts that provides actionable insights across security, technology, and business domains.

NextGen Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2011 that focuses on seed and early-stage investments in technology companies across the United States. The firm operates through a broad network of venture partners and targets category-defining and industry-defining technology opportunities in a sector-agnostic approach. It typically invests in seed and early rounds, with check sizes described as ranging from hundreds of thousands to a couple million dollars, and may participate in larger rounds as needed. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, with additional offices in Boston and Arlington, the firm emphasizes building partnerships with founders and accelerating growth through its expansive partner network. NextGen seeks to back ambitious companies using collaborative funding structures and strategic support to help scale globally.

Founded in 1989, Columbia Capital is an investment firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. It focuses on growth-stage technology companies operating in enterprise information technology, digital infrastructure, and mobility sectors across North America and Western Europe.

GE Equity invests globally across various sectors, focusing on established companies with high growth potential. It takes minority ownership positions and offers growth capital, buy-out co-investments, secondary direct purchases, recapitalizations, and LP investments.

Grotech Ventures is a Maryland-based venture capital firm founded in 1984 that focuses on early-stage and growth technology companies across the United States. The firm targets sectors including technology, cybersecurity, fintech, supply chain and logistics, software and vertical software, and TMT. It typically makes initial investments in the low to mid single digits per company and reserves capital for follow-on rounds to support growth through the company’s early and expansion stages. Grotech emphasizes a personal, long-term partnership with entrepreneurs, aligning its support with the founder’s definition of success. Beyond capital, it seeks to contribute through its experience, network, and hands-on involvement to help companies mature and scale.

WesBanco, Inc. is a bank holding company based in Wheeling, West Virginia, that operates through its subsidiary, WesBanco Bank, Inc. The company offers a range of financial services, including retail and corporate banking, personal and corporate trust, brokerage, mortgage banking, and insurance services. WesBanco serves its clients through community banking and trust and investment services, providing various deposit accounts, loans for residential and commercial real estate, consumer installment loans, and home equity lines of credit. Additionally, the company offers investment products such as mutual funds and annuities, as well as securities brokerage services. WesBanco also operates an insurance agency and a full-service broker/dealer. As of the end of 2019, the bank maintained 236 branches and 227 ATMs across multiple states, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Founded in 1870, WesBanco has established a significant presence in the financial services sector.

SineWave Ventures is a venture capital firm that provides early-stage capital to United States technology companies, spanning commercial and public sector applications. The firm seeks to deliver attractive returns to its investors while backing entrepreneurs who develop solutions for challenges faced by large enterprises and government entities. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with Virginia operations, it focuses on information technology, software‑as‑a‑service, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity sectors. It operates as a registered investment adviser, supporting startups across the United States with a disciplined, technology‑driven approach.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a master limited partnership based in Houston, Texas, that owns, manages, and leases a diverse portfolio of mineral properties across the United States. The company primarily focuses on coal, soda ash, and other natural resources, with significant coal reserves located in regions such as Appalachia, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin. In addition to coal, its assets include oil and gas royalties in Louisiana, timber in West Virginia, and trona ore mining and soda ash refining operations in Wyoming. Natural Resource Partners does not engage directly in mining but instead leases its properties to experienced operators, generating royalty income from these long-term agreements. The company's operations are organized into two main segments: Coal Royalty and Other, and Soda Ash. Founded in 2002, Natural Resource Partners has established itself as a key player in the natural resources sector.

Meritus Ventures is a venture capital firm based in London, Kentucky. It makes equity investments in expansion-stage private companies, with a focus on rural areas of central and southern Appalachia. The firm targets opportunities in information technology, industrials, and technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, and its activity spans across Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Appalachian counties in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It may provide operational support to portfolio companies.

FirstEnergy Corporation, established in 1996 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, is a diversified energy company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. The company operates through regulated distribution and transmission segments, owning and managing a vast network of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution systems. These include coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, natural gas, wind, and solar facilities, as well as 24,486 circuit miles of transmission lines and 269,691 miles of distribution lines, with a total installed transformer capacity of approximately 156,115,196 kilovolt-amperes. In addition to its core operations, FirstEnergy also provides energy-related products and services to retail and wholesale customers, contributing to the strengthening of local communities through its foundation's support of nonprofit organizations.

Blu Venture Investors is a venture capital and private equity firm focusing on seed and early-stage technology investments and related special situations such as acquisitions and spin-offs. It backs software, SaaS, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, digital media, and technology companies across B2B and B2C models, with interest in materials, chemical and biological sciences, and solutions for defense, homeland security, and intelligence communities. The firm targets the mid-Atlantic region—Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina—and typically invests between $50,000 and $3 million per round, often syndicating larger rounds with partners. It aims to take majority stakes and provides board seats, advisory support, and, when needed, C-level executives. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, Blu Venture Investors combines capital with active mentorship from experienced operators to help early-stage companies scale.

Altice USA is a leading broadband communications and video services provider in the United States, serving over 4.9 million residential and business customers across 21 states. It offers innovative products such as high-speed internet, pay television, telephony services, Wi-Fi hotspots, proprietary content, advertising services, international news, and hyper-local news tailored for specific communities.

MVB Bank is a community bank based in West Virginia that provides a full range of financial services to individuals and commercial clients. The bank offers deposit products including checking, NOW, money market, savings, and certificates of deposit, and a broad loan portfolio with commercial and commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, construction loans, and consumer loans. It issues debit cards and safe deposit rental facilities and provides mortgage banking and wealth management services. The bank also distributes non-deposit investment products through a broker-dealer network, offers correspondent lending for other community banks, and provides insurance products such as title, individual, commercial, employee benefits, and professional liability with a multi-channel delivery through branches, ATMs, drive-through facilities, and online and telephone banking.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Dermatologists of Central States is a practice management company serving dermatology clinics across Ohio and neighboring states. For over four decades, DOCS has been dedicated to providing centralized non-clinical resources, enabling clinicians to focus on delivering high-quality dermatological care and enhancing patient experience.

Founded in 1970, Eastern Vault Company specializes in manufacturing a wide range of precast and prestressed concrete products. Its offerings include prestressed bridge beams, custom-designed products for tunnel sections, and various precast items such as manholes, vaults, and drainage systems. The company serves clients primarily in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Novitas Capital, established in 1997, is a Pennsylvania-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in technology and life science companies. With offices in Wayne, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Allendale, NJ, and Morgantown, WV, Novitas has a proven track record of over a decade in generating returns by discovering and investing in promising start-ups with strong intellectual capital and breakthrough concepts. The firm manages approximately $237 million across three venture funds and currently has around 30 active portfolio companies. Novitas' success is driven by its investment philosophy, strong partner relationships, and the significant hands-on experience of its team in guiding companies to growth and value creation.

Brinker International, Inc. operates casual dining restaurants, primarily under the brands Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's is known for its bar and grill offerings, featuring a menu that includes signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and tableside guacamole. Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal, prime steaks, and desserts. As of June 2013, Brinker International's system included 1,591 restaurants across 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as locations in various countries including Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Chili's segment, reflecting its strong presence in the casual dining market.

American Electric Power Company, Inc. is a major electric public utility holding company based in Columbus, Ohio, that engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across 11 states, serving over 5 million customers. The company operates through various segments, including Vertically Integrated Utilities and Transmission and Distribution Utilities. American Electric Power generates electricity from a diverse mix of sources, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy such as wind and solar. It also supplies wholesale electricity to other utilities, rural cooperatives, and municipalities. In addition to its core electric services, the company maintains a substantial infrastructure, including railcars and barges for coal transport, and actively invests in renewable energy initiatives to enhance its energy portfolio and minimize environmental impact. Founded in 1906, American Electric Power emphasizes reliability and sustainability in its operations and community engagement.

EQT Corporation is a natural gas production company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a significant focus on the Appalachian region, particularly the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Founded in 1925, the company has established itself as a leader in the industry, employing advanced horizontal drilling technology to minimize environmental impact. As of year-end 2023, EQT's proven reserves reached 27.6 trillion cubic feet equivalent, with net production totaling 5.79 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, predominantly from natural gas, which constituted 94% of the production. Furthermore, EQT is involved in gathering and transmission operations and serves as the general partner and major equity owner of EQT Midstream Partners. The company is dedicated to safe and responsible energy production to meet the growing demand for clean-burning energy while enhancing the communities where it operates.

U.S. Silica Holdings is a prominent producer of high-quality silica products, including unground silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay, and aplite. Established over a century ago, the company traces its origins to the discovery of the Oriskany sandstone deposit in West Virginia by Henry Harrison Hunter, who showcased silica sand at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Over the years, U.S. Silica has expanded its operations through acquisitions and the development of a diverse range of over 200 unique products. The company operates a comprehensive network of production plants and packaging facilities across the United States, facilitating reliable procurement of silica and other industrial minerals. A significant portion of its revenue is generated from its Oil and Gas Proppants segment, supporting hydraulic fracturing operations. U.S. Silica emphasizes collaboration with customers to innovate product applications while maintaining a commitment to health, safety, quality, and environmental integrity. In 2008, the company was acquired by Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Berwind Natural Resources Corporation is a land and resource management company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1962, it specializes in the ownership, leasing, development, and sale of mineral resources, primarily focusing on natural gas and coal reserves across Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. As a fifth-generation, family-owned business, Berwind has a rich history and is committed to effectively managing its assets in the natural resources sector. Formerly a subsidiary of The Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, Berwind continues to leverage its legacy in resource management.

Giant Eagle is a regional supermarket chain operating primarily in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana. Established in 1931 through the collaboration of five families, Giant Eagle has evolved from its roots in small grocery stores to a prominent player in the grocery industry. The company provides a wide range of products, including bakery items, dairy, deli, frozen foods, meat, produce, and prepared meals, as well as personal care and household goods. With a focus on quality and competitive pricing, Giant Eagle aims to meet the diverse needs of its customers while maintaining a strong presence in the neighborhoods it serves. The first Giant Eagle supermarket opened in 1936, and the chain has continued to expand, adapting to changing consumer preferences over the decades.

Core10 is a North American provider of banking and lending products and services. It offers the Accrue platform, designed for community banks and credit unions seeking digital innovation. Core10's US-based development team operates from smaller cities with lower cost of living, maintaining quality while reducing costs.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is dedicated to promoting job creation, economic growth, and improved living standards for Americans through collaboration with businesses, universities, and communities. The department's responsibilities encompass trade, technology, entrepreneurship, economic development, environmental stewardship, and statistical research. It aims to enhance the international economic position of the United States by facilitating global trade and expanding markets for U.S. goods and services. The department advocates for business policies that foster innovation and competitiveness, enabling companies to thrive domestically and abroad. Additionally, it manages the nation's resources to support environmental and economic health, while also safeguarding public safety and marine life through weather monitoring and resource preservation. Important functions include conducting the decennial census, which underpins American democracy and secures intellectual property rights. The department is led by the Secretary of Commerce and operates with a significant budget and a workforce of nearly 47,000 employees. Established in 1903, the U.S. Department of Commerce is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company founded in 1993 in Alexandria, Virginia by David and Tom Gardner. It builds an investment community by delivering free and premium financial guidance, detailed company analyses, model portfolios, and real-time market content through its website, publications, broadcasts, and newsletters. The firm also operates investment advisory and asset management subsidiaries that offer discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio services and manage equity mutual funds for clients. With a broad reach to millions of readers and viewers, The Motley Fool aims to promote shareholder value and transparent, independent guidance for individual investors worldwide.

Founded in 2019, New Dominion Angels is an angel group based in Richmond, Virginia. It invests in early-stage startups, primarily focusing on Mid-Atlantic region companies operating within software as a service and internet-of-things sectors.

Paladin Capital Group is a global investment firm that supports and grows innovative companies through venture, expansion, and growth capital. The firm specializes in technology, products, and services with dual use for commercial and government markets, combining financial acumen with national security and technical expertise to add value across market sectors and stages. It emphasizes active investing, offering strategic guidance, access, and relationships to portfolio companies. Paladin focuses on digital infrastructure resilience and investments in advanced technologies and solutions that monitor, manage, and defend critical infrastructure dependent on cyberspace. Headquartered in Washington, DC, it maintains offices in New York, Silicon Valley, London, and Luxembourg, enabling it to source opportunities and support global growth.

Founded in 2011, Razor's Edge Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm based in Reston, Virginia. It invests in high-growth technology companies operating at the intersection of national security and commercial markets, with a focus on defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and emerging technologies.

Tencarva Machinery is a prominent distributor of process equipment and services, catering to industrial and municipal clients across the Southeast United States since 1978. The company specializes in providing a wide range of pumping systems, fluid handling systems, air handling equipment, and liquid process equipment tailored for various industries, including chemical, citrus, paper, textile, and power. In addition to its diverse product offerings, Tencarva also operates repair centers and field service teams capable of servicing most types of rotating process equipment. This comprehensive approach ensures that clients receive reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet their specific application needs.

Intelsat operates an integrated satellite and terrestrial network, offering diversified communications services worldwide. It provides managed broadband, trunking, video, private networks, and other connectivity solutions for media companies, telecommunications operators, internet service providers, multinational corporations, governments, and maritime customers.

Founded in 1995, SOSV is a global venture capital firm headquartered in New Jersey. It focuses on seed-to-growth stage investments in deep tech innovations, primarily in bio-tech/life sciences and hardware/robotics sectors, with a commitment to human and planetary health.

NRV, established in 2011 and based in Richmond, Virginia, is an early-stage venture capital firm. It invests in innovative, U.S.-based companies operating in consumer goods, healthcare, leisure, and tech sectors. NRV provides capital, strategic counsel, and valuable connections to support these companies as they reach their growth inflection point, typically investing at the Series A round and reserving follow-on capital for future financing needs. The firm backs big ideas that aim to capitalize on societal megatrends, potentially driving significant change.

Battery Ventures is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 1983 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It engages in venture capital and private equity investments in technology companies, with emphasis on software (including application and infrastructure software), IT infrastructure technologies, consumer internet and mobile services, industrial technologies, and life science tools. The firm seeks to back category-defining businesses with potential for scalable growth, often supporting companies through multiple stages and across select global regions.

Founded in 1992, Sands Capital is an independent, employee-owned investment management firm based in Arlington, Virginia. It specializes in fundamental, bottom-up research to identify high-quality growth businesses globally, from early-stage private companies to leading public entities across various sectors.

Moonshots Capital is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. It makes seed-stage investments in technology startups led by founders who are building products that re-imagine work and personal life in large and growing markets. The firm uses a disciplined investment process to identify companies with moonshot potential. It focuses on dual-use technology, fintech, consumer Internet, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Moonshots Capital is a registered investment adviser and supports portfolio companies through early growth to scale.

Blue Heron Capital is a Richmond, Virginia-based private equity and growth-capital firm that makes growth equity investments and lower-market buyouts in United States-based companies, often with an East Coast focus and an additional office in Washington, D.C. The firm targets healthcare (including technology-enabled services), information technology, B2B platforms, security (mobile and cloud), logistics and supply chain, asset tracking and management, and business services. Typical commitments range from about 2 to 6 million, with growth equity usually 2–4 million, and preferred stakes can be majority or minority. Blue Heron emphasizes operating involvement, seeking to invest only where it can contribute deep, relevant experience and play an active oversight role. It provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and a wide network to support portfolio companies, aiming to help them achieve revenue growth, profitability, and scalable solutions for customers.

Harbert Management is a privately owned investment management firm focused on alternative asset classes, with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, and offices across the United States and Europe. Established in 1993, it manages investments across private equity, venture capital, real estate, mezzanine debt, and related strategies. The firm targets value-enhancement real estate through its US Real Estate and European Real Estate platforms and serves a broad client base including foundations and endowments, funds of funds, pension funds, financial institutions, insurance companies, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. It operates through dedicated investment teams in multiple cities to source and analyze opportunities, and its structure includes subsidiaries such as a venture capital affiliate. The firm emphasizes disciplined, principle-based investing and a global reach to access diverse markets and opportunities.

NextPoint Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm founded in 1990, based in Washington D.C., with additional offices in Boston and New York. The firm focuses on investing in companies primarily located in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the United States. NextPoint Partners targets various stages of investment, including incubation, early-stage, mid-stage, and mature companies, with a preference for sectors such as communications, software, internet, new media, and business-to-business services. Typical initial investments range from $250,000 to $2 million, with a total investment limit of up to $6 million per company. The firm has managed funds that include an early-stage venture capital fund and a private equity hedge fund, reflecting its commitment to supporting a diverse range of businesses within its preferred industries.

leading global alternative asset manager

Booz Allen Ventures, founded in 2022 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, serves as the corporate venture arm of Booz Allen Hamilton. The firm targets early‑stage companies that develop differentiated technologies applicable to federal mission sets, focusing on defense technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, and deep technology. By investing in these areas, Booz Allen Ventures seeks to support innovations that enhance national security and government capabilities.

Warburg Pincus is a global private equity and venture capital firm founded in 1966 and headquartered in New York, with offices around the world. It provides capital across the full life cycle of companies, from founding startups and early-stage financings to growth equity investments, restructurings, and late-stage or management buyouts, often acting as a lead investor and taking minority or majority stakes and board seats. The firm targets a broad range of sectors including consumer, energy, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, technology, media and telecommunications, industrial and business services, real estate, and software, with investments spanning software, fintech, energy, and other growth opportunities. It pursues value creation by backing durable, high-potential companies and generally holds investments over several years. Its global footprint enables activity across North America, Europe, and Asia, aligning with management teams to build scalable, market-leading businesses.

Ten Eleven Ventures is a cybersecurity-focused, global venture capital firm that backs cybersecurity companies across stages worldwide, addressing digital security needs. The firm identifies, funds, and helps grow top cybersecurity businesses by leveraging its team, network, and experience. Since its founding, it has raised over $1 billion and completed around 40 cybersecurity investments, including KnowBe4, Darktrace, Twistlock, Verodin, Cylance, and Ping Identity.

Founded in 2000, General Catalyst is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage and growth equity investments. It focuses on accelerating ideas, careers, and companies towards success by providing ongoing momentum and mentorship based on deep experience.