IvySys Technologies began with a clear purpose. After completing his PhD at Georgia Tech and working as a software engineer and program manager at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, James DeBardelaben noticed a recurring challenge: large organizations collected massive amounts of data yet struggled to convert it into meaningful insight. That widening gap between collection and understanding motivated him to build a company capable of closing it for the defense and intelligence communities.

James launched IvySys in 2006, supporting government agencies as a traditional contractor with expertise in measurement and signature intelligence. As social media, publicly available information, and emerging data sources reshaped the information landscape, IvySys expanded its capabilities to meet the moment. The company now delivers artificial intelligence and advanced analytics tailored to mission-critical environments.

At the core of IvySys’s work lies DataFaucet, a platform that generates scalable synthetic datasets for operational analysis, predictive modeling, and scenario testing. The technology emerged from years of research supported by national science and defense initiatives. It has advanced into a Phase III SBIR effort and now actively supports government missions, including spatiotemporal synthetic data development for operational analysis teams.

Transitioning from consulting to true technology development forced IvySys to rethink its structure, streamline operations, and build a foundation focused on innovation rather than hourly contract work.

“That transition was challenging but necessary,” James explained. “We had to reshape our company into one that could move quickly and build products with real long-term value.”

As James refined the business, he also cultivated relationships within Virginia’s innovation ecosystem. His first connection to the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) came through a statewide innovation roundtable, where he met TJ Master from the Virginia SBDC – Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP). Their conversations evolved into a mentorship that has guided IvySys through strategic planning, marketing insights, introductions to university partners, and access to programs aligned with the company’s goals.

TJ kept James informed about opportunities spanning campus-based innovation programs, venture conferences, and pitch events. These introductions helped IvySys forge connections at George Mason University and gain insight into business development resources throughout the region. “The most valuable part of working with the SBDC has been the personal relationship,” James said. “Even when he does not have the exact answer, TJ always knows who to connect me with.”

Looking ahead, IvySys aims to expand its capabilities within defense markets while adapting its technologies for commercial applications. The company also participates in entrepreneurship programs that offer go-to-market expertise and a network of advisors focused on commercialization. Over the next five years, James hopes to position IvySys for a strategic transaction or merger that accelerates the reach of its technology.

“We have built something that has the potential to support both national security and the commercial sector,” James said. “The SBDC has helped us stay connected, focused, and aware of the resources available in Virginia. That support has been invaluable as we grow.”

Economic Impact

• Sustained employment with 6 full-time & 2 part-time staff
• Advanced research into a commercial-ready synthetic data platform
• Earned a $2.1M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant to support tech development
• Strengthened ties with Virginia’s university & small business ecosystems
• Established new pathways for commercialization through SBDC mentorship

Rory Brogan, founder and CEO of Torev Motors, has always enjoyed building things – an interest he says likely started while playing with LEGO blocks as a child.

That interest continued throughout Rory’s life and led him to earn dual degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and an MBA from Georgetown University.

While studying engineering, Rory became interested in developing a more efficient and environmentally-friendly electric motor. And like it did as a LEGO-obsessed child, his creativity and imagination led to invention…or at least so he thought.

“After about 50 iterations of motor drawings, I came across the axial flux motor design,” he relates. “I thought I had invented something — then I learned Michael Faraday beat me to it in the mid-1800s.”

However, Rory found new applications for the motor in today’s world and shaped his “reinvention” into a double axial flux motor that improved vehicle efficiency and performance. It was enough to give him the foundation of a business that he launched the day he graduated from Georgetown’s MBA program in September 2022.

Shortly into his entrepreneurial journey, Rory realized he needed more than passion to launch a business. That led him to the Virginia SBDC – Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), which assists Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups on their paths to success.

Rory was connected with ICAP Mentor TJ Master, who taught him to dig into the specifics of why customers should care about his product. A major point of emphasis was the environmentally friendly aspect of Rory’s motor design.

“90 to 93 percent of electric motors rely on magnets that are produced by rare earth metals,” Rory explains. “Harvard National Review reported that every ton of rare earth metals can create 2,000 tons of radioactive waste. Reducing that amount is a big win for the environment.”

Looking to raise funds for his new business, Rory also turned to TJ and the SBDC.

“TJ coached me for a number of competitions including the Accelerate Annual Conference in 2022 and the $75K Virginia Innovation Partnership Commonwealth (VIPC) Commercialization Fund Grant,” Rory adds. “We received funding from both.”

Torev Motors also received a $3,500 grant from VIPC Federal Grants; was one of four winners (out of 1,500 applicants) in the Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) in April 2024; and one of three winners in the Summer 2024 EPIC (Energy Program for Innovation Clusters) Pitch Competition.

Recently Torev Motors surpassed $1 million in funding, which Rory says “will make a world of difference as we move into the development stage.”

“I credit TJ for telling me about the Virginia SBDC,” Rory continues. “Without the SBDC and ICAP, I wouldn’t have known about the VIPC that led to several funding grants. We wouldn’t be where we are today without ICAP and assistance we received from TJ.”

A knee injury changed Dave Johnson’s life forever. Connecting with business partner Evan Eckersley and the Central Virginia SBDC to launch Icarus Medical Innovations turned that tragedy into triumph.

Dave’s injury — sustained while playing high school football at age 15 — led to early onset osteoarthritis, decreased mobility and chronic pain. As his symptoms progressed, and surgery proved ineffective, he began modifying his own braces by installing springs that offset the load on his knee. His first prototype allowed him to return to his longtime passion of snowboarding and bend his knee without pain. It also proved to be the foundation for Icarus.

“I knew I was onto something, and then every year I tried to make it better,” says Dave, who filed his first patent in 2016. He soon realized that his problem was one that impacted one in ten Americans seeking knee pain relief.

With a novel design but minimal experience running a business, Dave first met entrepreneur Evan Eckersley at a local accelerator program in 2020. Powered by the pair’s complementary skillsets and mutual excitement in driving impact through innovation, Icarus Medical Innovations took flight that same year.

When the two connected with Central Virginia SBDC Director Rebecca Haydock, Icarus began to soar.

“I come from a background of believing there’s nothing free out there,” Dave says. “But every time I met Rebecca, she was genuinely interested in what we were doing. She always asked how she could help and what we needed. She made introductions, got us mentors, got us connected to this or that. She’s been such a huge help.”

Rebecca had previously mentored Evan during his first entrepreneurial venture, Lytos Technologies. He knew she could connect their fledgling company with market contacts for manufacturing, sales and more.

“Rebecca was always bringing valuable guidance and connections to our team. Her mentorship is a big reason that I have continued down this path as an entrepreneur” Evan says.

Four years later, Icarus has expanded to nearly 50 employees, five lines of innovative braces with market-leading outcomes, and a growing national footprint. They have also been able to leverage other SBDC resources, such as the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) mentors and International Business Development Program (IBD). Through the IBD Program, Dave and Evan visited an industry-heavy region in Northern Italy in October 2024. That trip put them in contact with Italian manufacturing companies seeking to collaborate with businesses eyeing international expansion.

“It’s interesting to us because we need a launchpad into Europe,” Dave says. “We can make any custom device from an iPhone scan using our software, instantly and anywhere in the world, so we’re looking at establishing 3D printing capability there. In the meantime, we’re trying to build demand and a distribution network, first throughout Italy but really all of Europe.”

That IBD Program trip weaved seamlessly into Icarus’ business model, which has leveraged digital technology with advances in 3D printing manufacturing to streamline production of bespoke devices at scale.

“We started out building braces practically in a closet,” Evan says. “Now we’ve established a print farm right here in Charlottesville using some of the most advanced software and additive technology in the industry. We’ve cracked the code on how to scale through our software.”

As Dave and Evan have proven, with the SBDC in Icarus’ corner, the sky is the limit.

Shrishti Singh completed a doctorate degree in bioengineering at George Mason University (GMU) in December 2022. With support from her GMU mentors, she created a promising new imaging technology with potential to impact many lives — including her own.

After finding an injectable contrast dye that enhances healthcare imaging capabilities, under the mentorship of Dr. Remi Veneziano, Assistant Professor of GMU’s bioengineering department and Dr. Parag Chitnis, director of GMU’s bioengineering Ph.D. program, Shrishti shifted her career focus from scientific research to entrepreneurship. With a vision to take her groundbreaking technology “from the research bench to the patient’s bedside,” she co-founded NIRView with Dr. Veneziano and Dr. Chitnis.

During the last year of her PhD, with a novel product and trusted mentors at her side, Shrishti sought out a business advisor for the entrepreneur piece of the puzzle. A consultation with the Mason SBDC connected her with the ICAP Life Science Mentor Elizabeth Pyle, whose work with the Virginia SBDC’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) aligned perfectly with Shrishti’s technology and entrepreneurial vision.

Virginia SBDC-ICAP helps Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups like Shrishti’s move from idea to launch, offering advising, training and pathways to funding. Elizabeth and Shrishti’s first meetings were to understand the technology, followed by more concrete business planning.

“After Shrishti and her mentors had conducted 20 customer interviews, we realized there was something to develop as a business,” Elizabeth adds.

After completing the Virginia SBDC-ICAP cohort, Elizabeth guided Shrishti and Dr. Remi Veneziano through the I-Corps Program created by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help move academic research to market. Shrishti’s faculty mentors, have since received funding from a number of sources, including the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation Commonwealth Commercialization Fund ($75,000), an NSF I-Corps National Grant ($50,000), and an NSF I-Corps Site Grant ($3,000) to take the technology forward. Shrishti won the top award at the 2023 Patriot Pitch Competition ($6,000) and the event’s Mason’s Choice Award ($1,000).

“The SBDC introduced me to a whole new world,” Shrishti states. “The ICAP Program showed me that while you might have the best technology, if no one wants to buy it, you don’t have a business.”

Additionally, Shrishti was recently nominated for the Forbes Under 30 Summit and has shared her experience as an entrepreneur through several interviews, including the PhD Talk Show podcast episode “From PhD to Entrepreneurship: A Researcher’s Journey of Turning an Idea into a Reality.”

As Shrishti and her team continue to lay the groundwork for the 2024 incorporated NIRView, she plans to use the Prince William County Innovation Park, a university-centered research park anchored by George Mason University, to continue developing her product. This will allow NIRView to progress toward a full launch while Shrishti continues to seek additional funding sources.

“Starting from this space, we hope to expand and enhance the realm of healthcare imaging,” Dr. Veneziano says.

Shrishti and her team note their appreciation for all the assistance they received from the SBDC. “The support we got from the SBDC was amazing,” Dr. Chitnis adds.

“Learning the business end was a bit scary for me,” Shrishti concludes. “Having someone like Elizabeth to rely on — that support was extremely helpful for all of us.”

When it comes to small-scale thermal measurements, Laser Thermal serves a need that hasn’t been fully realized in the market for decades: testing the thermal conductivity of items 1,000 to 10,000 times smaller than the average diameter of a human hair.

“We’re the definition of a niche market,” says Laser Thermal CEO and Co-Founder John Gaskins. “We are the only people doing what we’re doing.”

Until John launched Laser Thermal with Patrick Hopkins in February 2020, that kind of measurement science wasn’t available commercially — meaning that John and Patrick were literally designing their business model from scratch. In October 2020, John sent a consultation request to the Central Virginia SBDC, and the next day, he met with Director Rebecca Haydock on Zoom.

“There are a million different things that you can’t research when it comes to starting a business,” says John.

That’s where the SBDC offered assistance. As John’s main advisor, Rebecca connected him with specialists who helped support Laser Thermal in different areas, including finances, bookkeeping, web development and marketing. Laser Thermal also worked with both the Virginia SBDC’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) and the International Business Development Program (IBD).

“I could send an email and ask, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about this. Am I off base?’ Or ‘Is there anybody I can talk to about this?’” John says.

For the large industrial and academic companies Laser Thermal works with, information is everything, especially regarding optimization, performance, and cost cutting. The Laser Thermal team takes lab scale equipment that, for most people, is very unapproachable and packages it so that anyone can use it.

“You come into our applications lab, and I can teach you how to use our tool in 30 minutes,” says John.

John notes that the SBDC played a key role in helping him design his business model.

“A lot of our structure came from those early days talking to the SBDC, Rebecca and various mentors that we were plugged into.”

Ultimately, John points to mentorship as the most valuable resource he gleaned from the SBDC. Throughout the product development process and growth of the business, he notes that it would have been easy to feel like he was making decisions in a vacuum. Rebecca and the SBDC provided a sounding board that allowed an idea formulated in a University of Virginia lab to grow into a thriving small business boasting 17 employees, two granted patents, two additional filed patents, and over one million dollars in sales.

Today, Laser Thermal continues to scale with commercial tool sales, testing and contract services, and three government grants, including funds for new product development through the Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. As John looks to 2024, he predicts plenty of growth and innovation, and he knows it will happen with the SBDC by his side.

“I’ve probably recommended the SBDC to half a dozen different businesses I’ve run into since we started working with them.”

The SBDC has also helped connect John to the entrepreneurial community, an essential support for all aspiring small-business owners.

“The entrepreneurial community in general is very giving,” he says. “They’re giving of advice. They’re giving of resources. They’re giving of connections to other people. Be willing to take advice, and let it inform how you choose to grow your business in the future.”

Geoff Orazem launched Federal Foundry in 2016 to help small business owners succeed in the federal market. When his company struggled to grow, Geoff realized he needed a better understanding of his business and target customers.

After consulting with the Virginia SBDC Network, Geoff was advised to enroll in the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP). Participating in ICAP influenced Geoff to make fundamental changes to the way Federal Foundry operates.

“I made assumptions about my customer base that were wrong,” Geoff says. “Fortunately, ICAP was there to point out my mistakes.”

Virginia SBDC-ICAP, part of George Mason University and the Virginia SBDC Network, is a statewide collaborative network that supports tech startups during the critical initial phases of business development. Geoff connected with the Virginia SBDC-ICAP through his friend, ICAP Mentor Gary Grenter, who has extensive experience in production management and has founded four companies.

“Gary’s an excellent coach,” Geoff says. “Everything about ICAP is great, but the most valuable piece for me is customer discovery.”

Before founding his business as a government contractor, Geoff served as a Marine infantry officer. After leaving the Marine Corps, he graduated from Harvard Law School, and worked as a government contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Drawing on that experience, Geoff was well equipped for the ICAP program and compared it to military boot camp: “It’s a process requiring hard work and discipline but with a big payoff. Once ICAP showed me the value of customer discovery, I started doing it — still do it when considering a new capability.”

Since completing ICAP, Geoff has incorporated those customer-centered practices into his business. As a result, Federal Foundry has experienced newfound growth. One of the company’s tools, the FedScout app, currently has 1,300 users and was awarded a major contract of $1.5 million in federal grants from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Geoff credits Gary and the Virginia SBDC-ICAP program for that success. “Gary has a ton of experience and networks, plus he’s a good sounding board,” Geoff says.

Geoff considers ICAP’s free service a big win. “It’s been a good couple of years for Federal Foundry,” he concludes. “In the past I made business assumptions that were wrong. Thankfully, ICAP was there to help me correct the errors.”

MOVA Technologies’ selective air capture technology offers a system with nearly infinite possibilities. In the business world, however, limitless potential is not always an easy place to start. With the guidance of the Roanoke Regional SBDC and the Virginia SBDC Network’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), MOVA Technologies spent the past two years narrowing its focus.

Founder Steve Critchfield incorporated MOVA Technologies in 2016. Under the leadership of CEO John Schott and Communications Manager Luke Allison, the company is scaling up — in part due to the applicability of its system in a world racing against climate change. MOVA Technologies transforms pollutants into products — or as Luke puts it, turns liabilities into assets.

“We aren’t capturing air pollutants to simply throw them away,” Luke says. “Instead, we are selectively harvesting these captured pollutants in a pure form so they can be returned to the supply chain. So not only are we cleaning the air, but we are creating valuable and sustainable reuse, recycle, and resale options.”

Luke met Roanoke Regional SBDC Advisor Cheryl Tucker in 2020. Shortly after, he enrolled in the Virginia SBDC-ICAP’s introductory course, to work on defining his customer segment and value proposition.

“ICAP really helps you look at things through the eyes of the customer,” says Luke. “You could have the biggest, brightest, greatest idea, but if it doesn’t help the customer, then the customer will never buy it.”

During the ICAP course, Luke also developed an important network of connections. ICAP mentor Irfan Ali helped him determine where to broaden and narrow MOVA’s approach. ICAP Director Josh Green provided contacts for potential investors, such as venture capital firms. Additionally, ICAP connected MOVA to the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) and provided strategic guidance and support for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant submission, which resulted in a $174,000 award through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Now that MOVA has defined a path from discovery to commercialization, the company plans to expand its portfolio of market-focused pollution harvesting products, grow its customer base, and grow its intellectual property. To date, MOVA has raised $1.5 million from angel investors, $420,000 in grant funding, and created three new jobs.

Both Luke and John believe that ICAP is an absolute must for small companies.

“So many small companies don’t necessarily know how to ask the right questions, discover opportunities, and then bring those forward to the market to assess market opportunity,” says John. “ICAP has been very good for us. It’s helped us pivot from some of our initial forays and really lock in on some things that the market is after.”

Working with Richmond-area nonprofits on youth development programs, Johnathan Mayo noticed a problem: many of the young people he encountered lacked academic motivation. This realization sparked Team Excel, a “reverse fantasy sports” app that turns success into a game, organizing teams to compete with one another based on metrics like academics, attendance, and community service hours. More importantly, Team Excel transforms students into teammates.

Johnathan initially tested his business idea as a pilot program under a nonprofit — with impressive results. Over four years, students increased their GPA by an average of 27%.

“We saw kids holding each other accountable, pushing each other, motivating each other as part of a team to do better,” he says.

Johnathan quickly recognized that to scale Team Excel, he needed to pivot out of the nonprofit sector. In 2019, he registered as a Virginia benefit corporation, which allowed him to create a technology solution that he could scale. He also recognized that he needed guidance in order to grow his business.

Enrolling in the Virginia SBDC’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) offered Johnathan essential startup support and connected him with mentor Neil Agate and ICAP Director Josh Green. ICAP helped Johnathan analyze his business model and his marketing strategy, with a focus on customer discovery.

“ICAP really dug deep into your target audience,” says Johnathan. “You might have ten potential audiences, but they really helped you determine who your end customer is.”

ICAP’s advice continues to guide Johnathan. When he first started Team Excel, he focused exclusively on K-12 student-athletes. However, since the pandemic, he’s taken a broader approach.

“Chronic absenteeism and low engagement from students are such huge problems that schools are looking for solutions to service all of their students,” he explains.

Recently, Johnathan pivoted to marketing Team Excel as an enhancement tool that can be used by any existing school, nonprofit or sports team. In 2022, he launched Team Excel in 12 schools, hired his first full-time employee and launched a new website. Eventually, he foresees Team Excel expanding into higher education.

Throughout this impressive growth, ICAP has offered ongoing support, and Johnathan makes it a point to attend monthly meetings and keep up with his mentors.

“It keeps up an ecosystem of founders and mentors — people in the startup ecosystem in Virginia,” he says.

Johnathan readily recommends the Virginia SBDC-ICAP Program to any small business owner.

“Thinking about your journey in business, it was a really good starting point,” he says, “a network of people that really want to see you succeed.”

Justin Amoyal launched Impruvon Health in May 2020 with a mission that was as personal as it was entrepreneurial: to prevent unnecessary deaths due to medication mismanagement. The Virginia SBDC Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) was there to help.

“In 2019, I got the worst call of my life,” Justin recalls. “My brother had passed away due to medical mismanagement. I wanted to solve the problem.”

Justin’s idea took root and began to grow when he met ICAP Mentor David Powell. ICAP, under the Virginia SBDC network, has mentors across the Commonwealth who offer expertise in launching innovation-focused companies.

“David prepared our team for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program we were selected for,” Justin explains.

I-Corps programs offer an immersive learning experience focused on transforming innovative ideas into successful products customers are asking for. That program was ideal for Impruvon Health, as the platform uses internet of things (IoT) technology to connect healthcare professionals in enterprise care settings such as nursing homes, adult and group homes, and addiction recovery centers. The platform enables agencies, their staff, and clients to automate previously manual, and error prone processes related to medication prep, administration, and record keeping.

“Impruvon Health stops errors, saves nurses time, and helps organizations maximize reimbursement for services they are already providing. We are helping agencies increase revenue for improving their tools and care they provide!” Justin states.

But even the best business idea requires adequate funding. To bring his innovative solutions to the healthcare providers who need it, Justin applied for and was awarded the Prince William County IGNITE Grant of $50,000. The startup funding allowed him to lay the groundwork for both his app and a workforce that now includes 11 employees.

In every aspect of building that business, David was there to help.

“David is constantly helping us avoid costly mistakes.” Justin adds. “David has also helped us with tough decisions such as investor selection and negotiations and played a significant role in us moving forward with Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC).”

That expert guidance also resulted in an increased client base.

“We currently have six enterprise clients with about 35 sites across the country and are growing every month,” Justin says. “Our team, including employees and David is what makes all of this possible. They see the impact of our product and are passionate about delivering to our clients.”

 Justin is a big supporter of the Virginia SBDC-ICAP mentoring program.

“It’s incredible to have a mentor like David,” Justin concludes. “David kept us focused and on the right path. I don’t know if we’d be here today without his help.”