Virginia IPC

10/22/2026

VIPC was in Abingdon today for Southwest Virginia Small Business Symposium: Access to Capital. Southwest Virginia is home to talented entrepreneurs and builders, and VIPC was proud to share pathways for connecting capital, expertise, and resources that unlock growth and opportunity. Collaborative events like this support entrepreneurs, catalyze investment, and accelerate innovation that strengthens communities throughout the region.

A big thank you to Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for hosting, and to every founder and partner who came out to connect with us. We’re excited to see what Southwest Virginia businesses build next

Together, we’re growing Virginia’s innovation ecosystems and making Virginia the best place to launch, grow, and thrive!

10/16/2026

VIPC’s Jennifer and Jessie recently attended the AUTM On the Road conference in Washington, D.C., one of four stops across the U.S. bringing together technology transfer and commercialization professionals.

Conversations covered the challenges and opportunities shaping the field, from IP and funding to the future of innovation. It was a great chance to share how Virginia is accelerating university commercialization, including through VIPC’s Lab-to-Launch program, which helps turn promising university research into market-ready ventures.

They were joined by university partners from across the Commonwealth, including the University of Virginia, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University and met many new industry and ecosystem contacts.

Together, we’re turning university research into real-world impact and making Virginia the best place to launch, grow, and thrive!

10/15/2026

What a great day at the Governor’s Rural Summit in Rockbridge County, full of meaningful conversations on the bright future for rural Virginia!

VIPC President & CEO Joe Benevento joined Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery and agency leaders Eric Lin, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Vince Maiden, Virginia Department of Energy, David Manley, Virginia To***co Region Revitalization Commission, Rita McClenny Virginia Tourism Corporation, and David Devan, Virginia Economic Development Partnership to discuss resources, opportunities, and initiatives supporting business growth, innovation, and economic prosperity in rural Virginia.

At VIPC, we’re proud to help entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators turn bold ideas into thriving businesses, right where they live.

We’re grateful to Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Director of Rural Health Transformation Heidi Hertz and the legislators who joined us for their leadership and commitment to rural Virginia, including Speaker Don Scott, Senator Emily Jordan, Senator Tammy Mulchi, Senator Creigh Deeds, Senator Chris Head, and Lily for Delegate.

A special thank you to Kristie Proctor and Virginia Rural Center for hosting an outstanding event and bringing so many partners together.

Rural Virginia is ready to grow, and VIPC is excited to collaborate and innovate!

10/09/2026

VIPC was proud to sponsor the VASEM Health Care Summit at Reynolds Community College which brought together leaders from across Virginia's biohealth and life sciences ecosystem to explore how we can advance innovation and partnerships to enhance access and outcomes.

VIPC’s Joe Benevento and Allison Youngblood shared panel insights alongside Sally Allain, Chief Health Sciences Growth and Innovation Officer, Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute; John Newby, CEO, Virginia Bio; Jennifer Siciliano, Chief External Affairs Officer, UVA Health; and Heidi Hertz, Director, Virginia Rural Health Care Transformation; William Hazel, MD, Executive Director of Claude Moore Opportunities and Chair of the Virginia Community College System Foundation; Rachel Rees, CEO, Virginia Health Care Foundation; and Kelly Cannon, CEO, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association Foundation.

Discussions focused on how Virginia can strengthen partnerships between industry and research and how the Commonwealth’s rural health investment can help more Virginians access care.

A big thank you to VASEM for convening this community, and to our session sponsors, healthhaven, PhRMA, the George Mason University College of Public Health, and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine for making it possible.

It was an honor to welcome Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin Figueroa as the keynote speaker and thank you VASEM President Al Grasso, Director Nat Draper, and co-chairs Beth Bortz and Robert Phillips, whose leadership brought the summit together.

Together, we're making Virginia the best place to launch, grow, and thrive!

10/08/2026

Coffee with Virginia Venture Partners — Ask Me Anything: Launch Grant Cohort 7

Thinking about applying for VIPC's Launch Grant?

Join Dustin Dunbar and the VIPC team for an open Q&A on Cohort 7. We'll cover eligibility, the 1:1 match requirement (including in-kind contributions), allowable use of funds, and what reviewers look for in a strong application.

Date: October 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Click here to RSVP:https://bit.ly/3WdX4FE

Cohort 7 applications close Friday, October 30, 2026.

10/07/2026

Thank you James Madison University President Jim Schmidt for joining VIPC CEO Joe Benevento to sign an MOU making JMU Virginia’s first R2 research university to join VIPC’s statewide Lab-to-Launch partnership!

Virginia is home to world-class research universities like JMU, and through VIPC’s Lab-to-Launch, we are increasing accessibility, enhancing effectiveness, and accelerating the translation of university research into real-world impact that can strengthen communities and improve lives throughout Virginia. JMU will now be able to utilize the innovative, founder-friendly Virginia Fast-Track License, which streamlines IP licensing and provides a faster, easier, and less costly pathway for advancing breakthrough discoveries from the lab into the marketplace.

VIPC created Lab-to-Launch through a first-of-its-kind statewide collaboration with Virginia’s six R1 research universities to accelerate university research commercialization, technology transfer, and startup spinouts. We’re excited to build on that foundation and expand new growth opportunities across the Shenandoah Valley.

A big thank you to the entire JMU leadership team, including Anthony Tongen, VP of JMU’s Division of Research, Economic Development and Innovation, for being great partners and sharing an ambitious vision for the future.

Together, we’re growing Virginia’s innovation ecosystems and making Virginia the best place to launch, grow, and thrive!

10/01/2026

VIPC is now accepting applications for the Tech Innovation Fund, part of Virginia's Rural Health Transformation Program!

The Fund will provide non-dilutive awards to organizations with novel healthcare technology solutions addressing chronic disease prevention and management in rural Virginia communities.

To learn more about this opportunity, register for one of our upcoming informational webinars:

Webinar #1: October 6 at 11:00 AM ET
Register here: https://bit.ly/4y0T1tQ

Webinar #2: October 7 at 3:00 PM ET
Register here: https://bit.ly/4xVQe4O

Webinar #3: October 9 at 1:00 PM ET
Register here: https://bit.ly/4yybkHW

Applications are due October 29 at 5:00 PM ET.

Virginia's RHTP is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Learn more and access application materials here: https://bit.ly/47sOIfN

Virginia Rural Health Transformation: Tech Innovation Fund Info Webinar

10/01/2026

VIPC was proud to serve as lead sponsor and partner with Virginia Commonwealth University to bring together Richmond’s innovation ecosystem at the Virginia State Capitol for “Startup Showcase: University Intellectual Property in Action.”

Thank you Delegate Lindsey Dougherty, VA House Dist. 75, President Dr. Mike Rao, Secretary Carrie Chenery, VCU VP for Research & Innovation Dr. Srirama Rao, and VIPC President & CEO Joe Benevento for sharing their insights and advocacy for accelerating university research commercialization — moving breakthrough discoveries out of the lab and into the marketplace through the launch of new startups.

Thank you as well to Delegates Betsy Carr and May Nivar for joining us and showing their support for Virginia’s entrepreneurs and innovation economy.

Lighthouse Network’s Debbie Irwin introduced a Startup Showcase featuring 10 exciting technology startups spun out of VCU that are turning breakthrough discoveries into real-world solutions.

Through VIPC’s “Connected Continuum,” many of these startups have been able to access early-stage funding, commercialization resources, and ecosystem support as they move from idea to impact.

And the power of collaboration continues with regional ecosystem organizations including Startup Virginia, Lighthouse Network, and Activation Capital, which provide local landing pads with resources to help founders build and grow their companies right here in Virginia.

09/30/2026

VIPC joined innovators, researchers, and government leaders at the National TechConnect Conference, along with the co-located SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation Conference and Defense TechConnect Conference.

It was a valuable opportunity to connect with founders, federal program managers, and partners to share how VIPC helps Virginia entrepreneurs turn breakthrough technologies into companies, from early-stage funding and commercialization support to connections across the Commonwealth's defense-tech and startup ecosystem.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk SBIR/STTR funding, emerging technologies, and what's next for Virginia innovation.

VIPC is honored to help make Virginia the best place to launch, build, grow, and thrive!

09/29/2026

Coffee with VIPC's Virginia Venture Partners: Wes Barton, Founder & Managing Partner at Third Prime

Join us Friday, October 2 at 9:00 AM for a fireside chat with Wes Barton, Founder & Managing Partner at Third Prime, who went from M&A lawyer to co-founding a premier early-stage venture firm with over $500M in assets under management.

Wes will share Third Prime's investment thesis, what he looks for when leading a round, and how founders can position themselves for the right early investors.

Don't miss this chance to hear direct advice from a veteran investor building across FinTech, PropTech, and industrial technology.

Register: https://lnkd.in/ebA3V94A