Innovation Resources

Mason Enterprise Centers focus on the creation of new companies and the expansion of small businesses. Participants get guidance through:

• Business counseling.
• Workshops
• Training.
• Access to Mason assets (research, class projects, interns).

There are five facilities in Northern Virginia. Find a Mason Enterprise Center near you. 

This Roanoke Regional SBDC provides small business counseling, training, and business resources to the New River Valley region (counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski, and City of Radford).

Find out more about the Roanoke Regional SBDC. (PDF)

The Shenandoah Valley SBDC offers no-fee consulting services to established and new businesses through:

• Assistance in feasibility studies and business planning.
• Market research and marketing.
• Financial analysis, projections, and access to capital.
• Operations and human resource assistance.
• Workshops and training.

Find out more about the Shenandoah Valley SBDC.

The Business Development Center provides no-cost personalized business services, as well as assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in qualifying for and obtaining state and federal government contracts.

Services include:

• Advising and consulting.
• Training and workshops.
• Start-up assistance.
• Product and service needs assessment.
• Technical aid.
• Contract matchmaking.

Participants can also get guidance from ODU’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

ODU also offers resources through its Innovation Research Park.

The UMW SBDC, part of the university's Center for Economic Development, enables entrepreneurs and organizations to grow through:

• Entrepreneurial advising.
• Management training.
• Supportive research.
• Immersive business incubation.
• Facilitating access to student and faculty talents.
• Research and analysis.

An incubation program extends business development services to local startup and early-stage companies looking to grow by providing access to: 

• Professional networks.
• Office facilities.
• Consulting services.
• Peer engagement opportunities.

Learn more about UMW’s Center for Economic Development.

The Longwood SBDC offers free education, consulting, and economic research to those in the early stages of developing and launching a business. Get help with:

• Business plan development.
• Financial analysis.
• Sales strategy.
• Education and training.
• Marketing.

Longwood SBDC offices are in South Boston, Petersburg, and Farmville. 

The W&M Entrepreneurship Hub's team of business and technical consultants provides free services, such as help with: 

• Business planning.
• Finding financial support.
• Determining your customer base.
• Marketing.

An SBDC consultant at the W&M Entrepreneurship Hub can provide personalized guidance and support. 

Learn more about the W&M Entrepreneurship Hub x HR SBDC Partnership.

Norfolk State's Innovation Center serves as an incubator and accelerator to develop businesses, create jobs, seek out investment opportunities, and aid in infrastructural improvements by supporting:

• Events and business forums.
• A co-working platform.
• Startup training.
• Partnership and collaboration. 

Guest speakers could include lawyers, accountants, marketers, and human resource professionals.

Learn more about the center’s incubator programs.

The staff at New River Valley SBDC will help entrepreneurs and small business owners:

• Create a business plan.
• Understand registration, structure, and taxes.
• Conduct a financial analysis.
• Find funding sources.
• Get assistance with marketing.
• Investigate opportunities.
• Expand into new markets.

ICAP aids Virginia-based high-growth-potential technology and innovation-driven ventures with free, intensive startup assistance.

Aspiring entrepreneurs get help from the idea stage through the funding stage in such areas as: 

• Identifying customers.
• Crafting business models.
• Creating fundraising scenarios.
• Developing strategies to attract investors.

Learn more about ICAP.

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA) supports the life cycle of innovation, including:

• Translational research.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Pre-seed and seed-stage funding.
• Acceleration, growth, and commercialization

The goal is to identify the talents and resources to grow and attract technology-based businesses and create new  jobs.

VIPC is the nonprofit operations arm of VIPA. It leads funding, infrastructure, and policy initiatives to support Virginia innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development strategies. Areas of focus include: 

• Private-sector funding opportunities: This program provides grants of up to $75,000 to high-potential, Virginia-based, for-profit technology companies.
• Virginia-based technology entrepreneurs: VIPC lists resources in funding, acceleration, mentoring, and/or other support services to help launch and grow startups.

Find more resources on the VIPC website.

The Virginia SBDC, which has 26 offices across Virginia, offers advice, training, and resources, such as:

• Business planning.
• Marketing.
• Financial analysis.
• Access to capital
• Startup services.

Partners include universities, community colleges, chambers of commerce, municipalities, economic development organizations, and private companies.

Find an SBDC office near you.

Startup Virginia, a nonprofit, serves business founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, primarily through its incubator, which offers:

• One-on-one guidance.
• Access to business tools, platform credits, and student interns.
• Focused workshops.
• Subsidized offices.
• Flexible workspaces.
• Mentors and corporate partners.
• Pitch practices and feedback.
• Individual fundraising support.

Learn more about participating in Startup Virginia’s incubator program. 

The SBSD offers education, assistance, and access to capital to help small businesses grow and create jobs through certifications, financing, and business development.

• The Business Development and Outreach Services (BDOS) division hosts webinars and training on business topics and offers one-on-one business counseling.
• Their Business One Stop (BOS) unit enables aspiring entrepreneurs to create a business and have all the steps organized in one place online.
• For more advanced businesses, SBSD offers a StreetWise MBA program, called New Virginia: Scaling4Growth, a national program that takes a qualified business through an intensive seven-month program to scale up the company.

The VSBFA, aligned within the Virginia SBSD, offers loans directly to businesses and nonprofits, credit enhancements to banks that are lending to businesses and nonprofits, and bond financing to benefit for-profit businesses and 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit entities. 

It also helps small businesses attract equity investments by providing an equity incentive grant program.

The Virginia SBA office provides:

• Funding programs.
• Counseling.
• Federal contracting certifications.
• Disaster recovery. 
• Informational webinars.

It also offers connections to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups

The office serves 92 counties in Virginia, excluding Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church..

Find guidance and information on doing business in the Virginia District. 

Small Business Majority works to empower diverse entrepreneurs by delivering resources and advocating for public policy solutions that promote inclusive small business growth. 

SBM’s Venturize division is a free online resource hub for small business owners who need help accessing tools and resources to grow. 

Lighthouse Labs, a seed-stage accelerator that invests $20,000 per startup without taking equity or fees from founders.

It offers a three-month experience for high-growth startups, designed to help founders develop and expand their market with the help of: 

• Mentors.
• Industry experts.
• Investors.
• Support service.
• Lean startup education.
• Office space.