Charlottesville Celebrates Innovation: 2026 Honorees Announced at 27th Annual CBIC Awards Gala
Charlottesville, VA – May 28, 2026 – The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) tonight hosted its 27th Annual Awards Gala at The CODE Building, bringing together hundreds of the region’s leading founders, technologists, investors, and community leaders for an evening celebrating the people building the future of Greater Charlottesville.
Centered around the theme “Where Innovators Take Center Stage,” the Gala spotlighted the individuals and organizations driving innovation forward—not just through breakthrough ideas, but through the relationships, capital, and community that allow those ideas to scale.
“Founders live here. Innovation grows here. People flourish here—and that’s not by accident,” said Tracey Greene, Executive Director of CBIC. “What makes this region special isn’t just great ideas—it’s the people who show up for each other. The builders, the backers, the connectors. Tonight, we’re celebrating the ones who don’t just imagine what’s possible—they do the work to make it real.”
The evening was emceed by Shawn Mulligan, Founding Partner of Design Clarity, whose warmth and energy carried the program while keeping the focus squarely on the honorees and their impact.
Recognizing Excellence Across the Innovation Ecosystem: 2026 Awardees
The CBIC Awards recognize achievement across the full spectrum of the innovation economy—from early-stage founders to established companies, educators, and ecosystem builders. Each category reflects a critical ingredient in building a thriving, innovation-driven region.
CBIC Entrepreneur of the Year
Honors a visionary founder whose leadership and execution are scaling both company and regional impact.
Tom Thorpe | Afton Scientific
Driven by an engineer’s mindset and long-term vision, Thorpe led a historic $200M expansion of his sterile injectable manufacturing firm—creating more than 200 high-tech jobs and positioning Charlottesville as a global force in biotechnology.
Sponsored by: Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
CBIC Employer of the Year
Recognizes an organization that sets the standard for workplace culture, talent development, and economic contribution.
Afton Scientific
Afton has evolved from a local mainstay into a global commercial powerhouse, combining a “grow-your-own” workforce strategy with advanced robotic manufacturing to anchor the region’s leadership in life sciences.
Sponsored by: Cville Capital Partners
CBIC Startup of the Year
Celebrates a high-growth company demonstrating exceptional traction, innovation, and market potential.
Icarus Medical Innovations
Transforming orthopedics through custom 3D-printed bracing, Icarus has achieved explosive growth—including a 1,283% increase and a $7M Series A—demonstrating Charlottesville’s strength in advanced biotech innovation.
Sponsored by: 434 Accelerator
CBIC Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Honors a student founder translating technical skill and ambition into real-world venture creation.
Landon Campbell | RedSide Custom Tools
Balancing a dual-engineering course load at UVA, Campbell built a precision manufacturing startup generating $78,000 in revenue—showcasing discipline, ingenuity, and next-generation hardware innovation.
Sponsored by: City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development
CBIC Educator of the Year & Tech in Education Grant Awardee
Recognizes an educator advancing innovation through hands-on, future-ready learning.
Brenning Greenfield | Charlottesville City Schools
Greenfield is redefining STEM education by replacing theory with practice—engaging students in real-world problem solving through partnerships with UVA robotics initiatives.
Sponsored by: Albemarle County Economic Development Office and AFCEA Central Virginia
CBIC Innovator of the Year
Celebrates a company pushing the boundaries of technology to solve meaningful, real-world problems.
Rivanna Medical
With AI-powered clinical tools and new FDA clearances for its Accuro system, Rivanna is revolutionizing bedside diagnostics and eliminating critical bottlenecks in emergency care.
Sponsored by: Sir Speedy
CBIC Partnership of the Year
Honors a collaboration that expands opportunity and strengthens the regional ecosystem.
New Hill Development
Through its 11,000-square-foot BEACON Kitchen, New Hill is enabling scalable growth for over 70 local food businesses—pairing infrastructure with financial empowerment to build lasting economic equity.
Sponsored by: Marcela Foshay & Matt Hodges
CBIC Business of the Year
Recognizes an established company demonstrating exceptional growth, innovation, and leadership.
Rhoback
From a Darden startup to a $170M performance apparel brand, Rhoback has leveraged technology-driven growth while anchoring its headquarters—and talent—in Charlottesville.
Sponsored by: Flora Pettit
CBIC Social Good Award
Celebrates innovation that improves lives and expands access to opportunity.
Roversa Robotics
Focused on equitable AI literacy, Roversa delivers accessible robotics platforms to K–12 students—bringing physical computing into classrooms and empowering future innovators.
Sponsored by: Design Clarity
CBIC Impact Award
Honors an individual whose leadership has created lasting, transformative impact across the regional ecosystem.
Eric Martin
For years, Eric Martin helped students at the University of Virginia see entrepreneurship not simply as a career path, but as a means to create meaningful impact in the world. But ideas alone do not build entrepreneurial confidence, companies, or ecosystems—people and communities do.
Through his leadership of UVA’s entrepreneurship initiatives, mentorship of countless founders, and creation of meaningful connection points between students, investors, and innovators, Martin has helped transform Charlottesville into a stronger, more connected launchpad for entrepreneurial success.
Sponsored by: Hantzmon Wiebel CPA and Advisory Services
CBIC Volunteer of the Year
Recognizes an individual whose sustained service has significantly advanced CBIC’s mission and community impact.
Craig Honick
For more than thirteen years, Craig Honick has helped shape how CBIC tells the story of innovation in Charlottesville. Thriving communities do not emerge from events and organizations alone—they require generous leaders willing to mentor, convene, and continuously reimagine what is possible. Through his service as CBIC Chair emeritus, Gala researcher, judge, emcee, mentor, strategist, and co-chair of CBIC’s Strategic Marketing Council, Honick has strengthened the connective fabric of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—while amplifying the stories that attract the people who
help it grow.
Sponsored by: CBIC
About the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC)
The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) is the region’s catalyst for innovation-based businesses. CBIC turns complexity into clarity and connections into innovation—bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders to build what’s next.
Through curated convenings, capital access efforts, and strategic alignment across the ecosystem, CBIC helps transform ideas into companies—and companies into engines of regional growth.
CBIC’s vision is a future-ready Greater Charlottesville where innovation-based businesses are built, connected, and thriving—and where the people behind them flourish.
For more information, visit www.cvilleinnovation.org
Media Contact
Tracey Greene
Executive Director, Charlottesville Business Innovation Council
📧 executive@cvilleinnovation.org
📞 (434) 242-5886