Programs

  • PitchPlus Educational Programming

    Truist - Verge received a $200,000 grant from Truist Foundation to offer new educational programming and support structures through its PitchPlus program that helped regional entrepreneurs and founders better understand the fundamentals of capital finance, how to access and connect to it. An access to capital Blue Ridge PBS video series was produced and launched, in addition to microgrants awarded to startups to support their grant writing efforts, new educational/web resources designed, and increased PitchPlus programming, networking events, and connections made for entrepreneurs to business mentors.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $237.9K

  • Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program

    RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program) - offers two cohorts per year, with their headquarters located in the Gill Memorial Building, Roanoke, Virginia. Accepted cohort companies are engaged in a 12-week program that focuses on mentoring, coaching, networking, and educational events to help grow their business, access to capital resources, free office space with high-speed internet access, $20,000 in equity free funding, and additional alumni support post acceleration.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $258.9K

  • EDA Expansion Programming

    EDA - In October 2020, RAMP received a major endorsement by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which awarded a nearly $1 million grant to Valleys Innovation Council/Verge. This grant is focused on expanding programming in four key areas: 1. Startup Pathways to respond to the need for more focus on pre-acceleration companies by providing mentor connections, supporting the health science & technology commercialization fellowship with Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and supporting translational research from Virginia Tech. 2. Scaling the Accelerator-in-Residence Program by providing support for six in-residence cohorts over the three-year period adding a program coordinator to support the expansion, increasing access to domain expert mentors, and providing hybrid in-person and virtual courses. 3. Enhanced Support for Later-Stage Startups through Exit RAMP programming designed to provide alumni support through ongoing mentoring, PitchPlus programming to help connections to regional innovation ecosystem resources, and research connected workspace. 4. Resource Development and Research through mentor development and training, making connections to regional innovation ecosystem resources, and research connected to tracking the growth and development of the regional innovation economy.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $112.6K