News Release
January 15, 2021

CBIC Awarded $76,500 GO Virginia Grant to Build Digital Connection Platform for Charlottesville/Region 9 Business Community

Project underway and expected to launch in stages in the first quarter of 2021

(Charlottesville, VA) ... The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for virtual and remote connections for everyone in the business communities of Charlottesville/Albemarle and the greater Region 9 counties. While virtual connections were a growing option for many prior to the pandemic, they became a lifeline and a necessity for many this past year.

Joining the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) as a member is a great way to connect with your community and gain access to unique members-only benefits. The group is composed of organizations of all sizes, as well as individuals and students. Our member base consists of leading tech companies, both small and large, in the greater Charlottesville area, non-profit organizations focused on technology and entrepreneurship, and a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and contract organizations that support their success, who are always on the lookout for creative solutions to today’s challenges. 

The CBIC Annual Meeting will take place on October 13th at 5 pm. Members of CBIC are asked and encouraged to cast their online vote prior to the meeting via this online proxy form, regardless of whether or not they are attending the virtual meeting.

I, Adrian Felts, Chairman of the CBIC, call for the Annual Meeting of the organization to be held on Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 via a virtual online event. The Tech on Tap networking event will begin at 5:00 pm, with a short break for the Annual Meeting at 5:30. Tech on Tap will resume at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. All members of the Council are encouraged to attend. 

Thank you to our event sponsor Residence Inn by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown and Ting Charlottesville. 

Vote for 2020-2021 CBIC Officers & Board Members!

Virtual Gala Celebrates Tech in Education, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

(Charlottesville, VA) … For the first time in its 22-year history, the CBIC Awards gala was held not in a ballroom or theater, but in the new gathering realm that is the Internet. This Thursday evening, September 10, Central Virginia's leading innovators clinked glasses from respective remote viewing locations -- from as far away as Martha’s Vineyard and San Diego -- to honor recipients of the 2020 CBIC Awards. 

From the Desk of Tracey Greene

June is  Racial Equity Month, and how fitting that is. Our business community needs to unite for justice. This is a call to collectively take a stand for civilized norms that go well beyond the basic respect for dignity. We must end centuries of violence against our fellow black Americans and all minorities.

From the Desk of Hope Rana McCutcheon, Ce2 Program Director

Mark your calendars for the next edition of Charlottesville Entrepreneurs & Espresso (Ce2), a free and open event where entrepreneurs, startup founders, and advisors, (and those aspiring to be any of those things) meet to learn from one another. 

From the Desk of Tracey Greene, CBIC Executive Director

While it’s safe to assert that nearly every business has been or will be impacted by this pandemic, we know that a large portion of our innovation-based and technology oriented businesses had a head start. Let me explain!

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation has announced  that former BlackRock executive Patrick Edelmann has joined the team as Managing Director. His responsibilities include: spearheading the Foundation’s initiatives with Emily White, MD, to facilitate commercialization of the technology; launching our Institutional Giving program with Ann Taylor to include family offices, corporate foundations, and community foundations; and leveraging our Veterinary Program on a path to widespread utilization for the treatment of companion animals.

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From the Desk of Tracey Greene

On April 9, 2020, CBIC collaborated with the Central Virginia Small Businesses Development Center (CVSBDC) to produce a recorded webinar, Decoding the CARES Act, which is now available 24/7 online here.

At CBIC, we are cheering you on and want your business to survive in order to thrive! CBIC has established a team of volunteer mentors, advisors, SMEs, consultants, investors, and business leaders willing to volunteer some of their time to help you navigate this challenging environment. 

If you need assistance with your business, or if you are offering some of your time to advise a business, entrepreneur, or startup in need, please complete this form to either describe your expertise being offered or describe the challenge(s) you are attempting to resolve, respectively. I will personally work to connect those in need with experts to brainstorm and problem solve.