Website
  • Covid Business Recovery
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Early Education Business Program
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
Website
  • Covid Business Recovery
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Early Education Business Program
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
  • Covid Business Recovery
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Early Education Business Program
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
Website
Website
  • Covid Business Recovery
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Early Education Business Program
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
2022Access to CapitalBusiness ExpansionICAPSouthwestStart-up

MOVA Technologies

Elysia January 17, 2023

MOVA Technologies discovers its customer base and scales with the Virginia SBDC-ICAP

Raised $1.5 million in private equity; received $420,000 in grants; created 3 jobs.

MOVA Technologies

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.”

Little DaydreamersLittle DaydreamersJanuary 17, 2023
InHealthRVAJanuary 17, 2023InHealthRVA

Contact Us

+1 703-277-7703

help@virginiasbdc.org

10306 Eaton Place
Suite 180

Fairfax, VA 22030

Stay Connected

Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Youtube

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and GO VIRGINIA, a state‐funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.

Copyright © 2021 Virginia SBDC. All Rights Reserved