Smart Region Initiative
Northern Virginia and Greater Washington, DC
Our Vision
Transform Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington region into a global urban innovation hub and national testbed for digital services and capabilities that improve the livability, sustainability, health, and resilience of cities.
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Our impact
Companies Assessed
Cohort Companies Graduated
Startups led by women, minorities and veterans
New products launched by cohort companies
Pilot/Test beds established
Smart Region Events/Innovation Challenges
Go Northern Virginia: Investment and Growth
Smart City Works, with partners Washington DC ArchAngels and VA Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), announced a new grant award supporting the Northern Virginia Smart Region Initiative. The $1.9 million grant was approved by the Virginia Growth and Opportunity State Board.
With the "Go Northern Virginia" grant, Smart City Works will fill a much-needed gap supporting high-growth, technology start-ups and SMEs in Northern Virginia. This grant has the ability to accelerate their growth and create pathways of commercialization to spur and sustain economic development.
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Our GOVA program engages and supports high‐tech companies seeking to launch new urban technology solutions. Smart City Works will develop pilot projects for companies to demonstrate, test, and validate their capabilities, products, or services. Armed with the results of these activities, companies confirm technical viability, better demonstrate market product fit, and speed early market adoption.
Through our sister organization, Smart City Works Venture Labs, the 90‐day intensive business accelerator program is designed to propel cohort companies into the marketplace endowed with proven products and equipped with the skills to grow and compete for market share and funding.
Increase regional angel investment in the smart cities space. We plan to identify, recruit, and train 120 accredited angel investors on startup investing. This will be done by
(1) utilizing the Washington DC Arch Angel’s Entrepreneur Assessment and Guidance Report (EAGR) - teaching folks how to assess an innovative tech-based startup
(2) hosting presentations on key industry terms (e.g. due diligence, value proposition). Through community partnerships, we will showcase and attract smart city startups to our region.
i6 Economic Development Challenge
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The Smart Region Initiative, powered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s "i6 Economic Development Challenge" grant, brings together governments, universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations to foster the the development of dynamic, smart city, technology innovations to tackle local, urban challenges and expand economic growth in Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington Region.
Along with our partners from the private sector and local government, our goals are to:
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Sen. Mark Warner
Keynote remarks, Smart City Challenge Finale on February 25th.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
Keynote remarks, Smart City Challenge opening event on January 23, 2021