Recognizes one tech or tech-centric business or organization that serves as a model of achievement to which others can aspire, including such indicators as financial success, growth, healthy work environment, commitment to innovation, and contribution to the community.
Recognizes one K-12 educator who has set an example of incorporating the principles of innovation, entrepreneurship, invention, and/or technological achievement in a classroom setting.
Recognizes one individual who currently embodies all the elements of successful tech-centric entrepreneurship, including innovation, employment, leadership, finance, determination, and persistence.
Recognizes an individual or organization for their creativity and resourcefulness in the development of a new product, service or product candidate, and can also include the means by which their innovation will reach its end user.
Recognizes one technology or tech-centric business for its noteworthy achievement of generating secure well paying, primarily tech jobs and retaining highly skilled workers that enhances our ecosystem and benefits the local economy.
CBIC recognizes one entrepreneurial effort that is focused on social good. While they might not have the financial success of other startups, their goal is improvement of the common good more so than private gain. Some classic examples of social goods are clean air, clean water and literacy, and can include access to services such as healthcare. Further, candidates for this award may include startup organizations enhancing our region's ecosystem for the common good. For the purpose of this award, a startup is defined as a breakout company that has been operational for 3 years or less, and preference will be given to those candidates that are tech and tech-centric businesses.
CBIC recognizes an innovation-centric business whose principals exhibit passion, devotion, and innovation. Has also demonstrated significant progress over the recent years or has made an impact as determined by jobs created, revenue generated, or other metrics. For the purpose of this award, a startup is defined as a breakout company that has been operational for 5 years or less and/or is still primarily pre-revenue.
The CBIC Student Entrepreneur of the Year recipient receives the CBIC Student Innovation Grant award of $1,000 to further their innovation-based business.
CBIC recognizes one student entrepreneur – or a team of student entrepreneurs – who have successfully created or advanced the development of a new product, service or product candidate, providing an example to other students to pursue entrepreneurship while at school.
CBIC’s Tech Tour Scholarships recipients will each receive $2,500 scholarships. Scholarships are awarded each year to two area high school students who plan to pursue education beyond high school in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
The CBIC Educator of the Year recipient receives a Technology in Education Grant award of $2,500 to be used on a technology investment of their choice for their classroom or students.
Recognizes one CBIC volunteer who has gone above and beyond the average to make substantial and lasting contributions to the cause of advancing the organization, which is recognizing and rewarding the innovative entrepreneurs in our community.
The CBIC Partnership of the Year Award recognizes new partnership built in the last 18 months that model collaborative innovation and achievement which inspires others, and resulted as well in successful outcomes for the partnership itself, local businesses, education, non-profits, and/or the community at large. Preference will be given to partnerships that transcend each member’s
respective purview.
The CBIC Awards Gala showcases Central Virginia entrepreneurs, innovators, and organizations that contribute significantly to the region's innovation ecosystem. For the past four years, Innovators Row has been regaled as one of the attendees’ favorite portions of the evening. With an estimated 400 gala attendees, a spot on Innovators Row offers exemplary exposure for startups and entrepreneurs.
CBIC will select as many as 30 representatives to showcase their innovative products, ideas, and services on Innovators Row.