RAMP

What RAMP does

RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program) is a regional startup accelerator founded in 2017 and headquartered at 709 S Jefferson St., Roanoke, Virginia. It serves early-stage technology, health, and life sciences startups in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region, and operates as a core program of the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA) alongside the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC). Since inception it reports having accelerated 61 tech companies. It is not a software or product company; it does not build proprietary technology, offer an API or mobile app, and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

RAMP delivers a tiered program structure. On RAMP is a pre-accelerator for entrepreneurs still validating ideas; RAMP In Residence is the signature 12-week in-person cohort program (two cohorts per year) providing 1:1 expert mentoring, free office space with high-speed internet, investor access, fundraising preparation, $10,000 in non-dilutive funding per company, and complimentary regional memberships (RBTC for two years, Shenandoah Club for three years, Virginia Bio for one year); and Exit RAMP provides three years of post-cohort support including workshops and an Investment Pitch Series that connects alumni with venture capitalists. Recent cohort companies span diverse deep-tech and life sciences verticals including gene therapy (Vectorial Corporation), small-molecule biotech (S1P Therapeutics), clean hydrogen (Helix Hydrogen), blockchain randomness (Randao.net), and extended reality (AdaptivXR).

The business model is that of a grant-funded, non-profit economic development organization rather than a fee-earning commercial accelerator. The program is free to accepted companies and, notably, does not take equity — instead disbursing non-dilutive capital. Funding is sourced from government grants (GO Virginia, EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant) and a broad base of regional sponsors and founding partners including Virginia Tech, the City of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College, Carilion Clinic, Middleland Capital, VIPC, and multiple banks and law firms. Its go-to-market is event-driven and application-based, recruiting through the RBTC network, regional press and trade shows, and an online application portal, with geographic scope limited to Virginia (primarily GO Virginia Region 2).

Name

RAMP

Legal name

RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program)

Website

https://ramprb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAMP is a grant-funded regional startup accelerator in Roanoke-Blacksburg, Virginia, offering early-stage technology and life sciences startups a 12-week cohort program with mentoring, free office space, investor access, and $10,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration
• Venture mentoring
• Regional innovation
• Cohort-based programs
• Startup incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Operations: RAMP operates as a non-profit regional accelerator, funded by grants (GO Virginia, EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant) and sponsorship from regional organizations. The program provides $10,000 in non-dilutive funding to each cohort company.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program) is a Roanoke, Virginia-based business accelerator founded in 2017 that supports early-stage science, technology, and life-sciences startups through a tiered set of programs. Its core deliverable is the 12-week RAMP In Residence cohort offering 1:1 mentoring, free office space, $10K non-dilutive funding, and access to partner memberships (RBTC, Shenandoah Club, Virginia Bio), wrapped by On RAMP pre-accelerator assessment and Exit RAMP post-cohort support including the Investment Pitch Series and pathway to Plug and Play.

Product overview

RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program) is a business accelerator for technology and life sciences startups in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region of Virginia. The organization offers a tiered program structure consisting of On RAMP (pre-accelerator), RAMP In Residence (the signature 12-week cohort program), and Exit RAMP (post-cohort support). These programs provide entrepreneurs with mentoring, office space, investor access, curriculum, and non-dilutive funding. RAMP is not a software product company; it provides accelerator services and programs to early-stage startups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On RAMP: Pre-accelerator program for early-stage tech and life sciences entrepreneurs to connect to the innovation ecosystem and business resources.
• RAMP In Residence
• Exit RAMP

Products and services

• On RAMP A pre-accelerator program for prospective applicants that helps founders assess readiness, refine their startup concept, and prepare a competitive application before entering the formal cohort. It is intended for early-stage entrepreneurs considering applying to the RAMP In Residence cohort.
• RAMP In Residence The flagship 12-week in-residence cohort program for selected startups, delivering 1:1 mentoring, free office space, $10,000 in non-dilutive funding, and partner memberships (RBTC, Shenandoah Club, Virginia Bio). It is targeted at early-stage science, technology, and life-sciences startup founders.
• Exit RAMP A post-cohort support program providing graduated cohort companies with continued mentoring, discounted alumni office space, and pathways to follow-on accelerators (including Plug and Play) and investor networks. It is intended for founders who have completed the 12-week RAMP In Residence cohort.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% of U.S. startups that raise pre-accelerator equity

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBTC is a founding partner of RAMP through the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA). RAMP provides free RBTC membership for two years to all cohort companies and alumni.
• Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBIA aligns the strengths and programming of RBTC and RAMP to grow the region's innovation economy, technology and life sciences sectors. RAMP is a core program of RBIA serving GO Virginia Region 2.
• Virginia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Tech is a founding partner providing access to research talent, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, and Virginia Tech's AgTech program.
• Carilion ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional healthcare sponsor providing potential mentorship connections and healthcare industry expertise for life sciences companies.
• Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute sponsor supporting health and life sciences companies with scientific expertise and facilities.
• Virginia BiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Bio provides free one-year membership to health and life sciences cohort companies, connecting them to the state's biotech ecosystem.
• Shenandoah ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free three-year membership to all cohort companies, offering business networking opportunities in the region.
• RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRAMP alumni like Pod Farms participate in RIoT's accelerator program to support deployment and market expansion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Techstars: Techstars is one of the largest global accelerator networks, running 12-week mentorship-driven cohorts for early-stage startups. It directly parallels RAMP's 12-week cohort model, mentor-centric curriculum, and equity/deal structure, though at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global, non-profit accelerator offering cohort-based programming, mentorship, and non-dilutive support. Like RAMP, it is non-dilutive, partner-funded, and focused on founder development rather than equity capture, making it a strong structural peer.
• Village Capital: Village Capital operates peer-driven, cohort-based accelerator programs for impact-oriented startups with non-dilutive or low-dilutive structures. Its cohort model, founder peer-learning pedagogy, and grant-funded operations resemble RAMP's accelerator structure.
• BioGenerator: BioGenerator is a St. Louis-based life sciences accelerator providing non-dilutive funding, lab space, and mentor access to early-stage biotech and health startups. It is directly comparable to RAMP's life-sciences track, which serves gene therapy, biotech, and medical-device startups.
• Rev1 Ventures: Rev1 Ventures is a Columbus, Ohio-based regional startup accelerator and investor that combines cohort programming with follow-on capital. Its regional, non-coastal accelerator-plus-investor model is closely comparable to RAMP's regional Virginia footprint.
• Capital Factory: Capital Factory is a Texas-based regional accelerator, coworking hub, and investor network for early-stage startups. Its regional economic-development mandate and multi-stage founder support closely parallel RAMP's mission in Virginia.
• Innovation Works: Innovation Works is a Pittsburgh-based seed-stage investor and accelerator that runs cohort programs and provides pre-seed and seed capital. Its regional economic-development focus and accelerator-plus-investor model are similar to RAMP's structure.
• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): 500 Global operates a global accelerator network with cohort-based programs targeting early-stage technology startups. Its batch model, mentor network, and investor syndication closely align with RAMP's value proposition at a much larger scale.
• gener8tor: gener8tor is a Midwest-anchored accelerator that runs cohort-based programs with mentor matching, investor connections, and follow-on programming. Its regional-cohort model and accelerator-only focus closely mirror RAMP's structure.

Regional players

• Activation Capital: Activation Capital is a Virginia-based state authority supporting life sciences and technology innovation, including seed funds and programming. As a Virginia-specific peer, it directly competes for the same regional innovation-economy mandate that RAMP serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ramp-accelerator

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments12 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RAMP