From M2: Welcome to onRAMP
I am so pleased to welcome you to RAMP's new monthly e-newsletter. 2021 will be an excellent year for our entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we want to keep our entire community up to date on our events, our opportunities and, of course, our successes.
I know our region is proud of the progress RAMP has made, so you will see some spotlights on our companies, our mentors, and the communities that are working together to nurture the ideal environment to start and grow a business.
No matter where you find yourself in the startup pipeline, if you are building a technology-based business with high-growth potential, RAMP wants to connect you to our regional resources.
Our monthly Pitch & Polish clinics can provide valuable feedback on your research or idea if you are early stage. If you've taken steps to form your company and have two or more founders with a minimum viable product, you may want to consider applying to join a cohort. Our applications are currently open for health and life science companies, and if you enter a cohort, you will have access to an additional three years of support.
Here's the deal: our entrepreneur spirit is strong, and we are delighted to share our news with you. Feel free to reach out to me with your thoughts and ideas. I know that we can accomplish so much by working together, so let's get to it.
Mary Guy Miller, Ph.D.
Director, RAMP
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Cohort Alumni Spotlight
It was an incredible opportunity for Laura Godfrey’s startup, Brandpoint Analytics. In October 2019 Brandpoint was invited to the prestigious “Dream Assembly” accelerator hosted by European luxury fashion retail platform Farfetch. It was a chance to learn from fashion industry professionals and network with the labels she sought to connect with her cutting edge pricing technology.
“And we wouldn’t have been ready for that program -- or really accepted -- had it not been for RAMP,” says Laura. “Quality-wise, RAMP is a national level program right here in our backyard.”
As a member of RAMP’s 2019 cohort, Laura received a wealth of entrepreneurial resources from RAMP partners Virginia Western Community College, City of Roanoke, and Roanoke - Blacksburg Technology Council.
Chief among them was 1:1 expert mentoring from entrepreneur Russ Ellis.
“I give him huge amounts of credit,” Laura says. “It’s scary to navigate a new business on your own. Having someone we could bounce ideas off of was incredibly helpful.”
Today Brandpoint is working on closing its first round of investment with eight employees in Roanoke, New York, California and Europe, and is about to start large-scale international pilots.
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Jan. 26 | Pitch & Polish
Our monthly clinics provide a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs to privately pitch their business ideas to a team of regional mentors who want to help them polish their presentation, provide feedback on their business model, and connect them with the resources they need to grow.
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Feb. 15 | Application Deadline for Spring Cohort
RAMP will select five health and life science startups for the 12-week program that provides expert 1:1 mentoring, free office space with high-speed internet, and $20,000 in equity-free funding. Additionally, the program provides ongoing support to alumni for a 3-year period, including opportunities to pitch to angels and VCs.
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Mentor Moment
“Come in humble, be receptive to the fact that your baby may not be the prettiest baby in the nursery, and be receptive to constructive help."
This is the advice offered by serial entrepreneur Doug Juanarena, who has volunteered his time, energy and 35 years of expertise to serve as a RAMP mentor to three successful startups to date. Read our profile here.
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Micro Harmonics knew there were markets for its microwave components. Read how RAMP helped.
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Rendyr wants its portable optical laser cutter to be as ubiquitous as the 3-D printer. Read more.
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Founded in 2017, RAMP is a public/private business accelerator serving high-growth startups in the STEM-H fields. It operates from the historic Gill Memorial Hospital building at 709 S. Jefferson St., along downtown Roanoke’s Innovation Corridor. RAMP’s founding partners include the City of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. To learn more, visit www.ramprb.com.
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About Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council |
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The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council is a nonprofit, member-driven association of businesses and organizations in the greater Roanoke-Blacksburg region, working together to promote the growth and success of the region’s technology sector. Its membership includes more than 250 organizations. The RBTC is the leading resource for the region’s growth and success. It exists to connect and unite the region’s technology community, develop and educate thought-leaders, mentors and the technology workforce, and improve access to talent. To learn more, please visit www.rbtc.tech.
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Contact:
Mary Miller
Director, RAMP
(540) 605-0460
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