E-Newsletter

Fairfax County E-Bird for May 30, 2019

Now hear this: Security tokens have become a hot topic in the world of crypto assets. On June 12, the FCEDA and the Chamber of Digital Commerce will present Security Tokens 101, featuring a panel discussion with experts in blockchain technology who will discuss the pros and cons of security tokens and how appropriate they are for business investment. The event at FCEDA headquarters in Tysons is free to attend but registration is required. Click here.

Downhill from here: A huge indoor snow sports resort has been proposed for Lorton. McLean-based Alpine-X, in concert with Netherlands-based SnowWorld International, submitted a public-private partnership proposal to construct “Fairfax Peak” on a county-owned landfill. The proposal envisions multiple slopes, including the longest indoor slope in North America at 1,700 feet, an area for freestyle skiing and snowboarding events, and a hotel with restaurants and bars. Katishi Maake of the Washington Business Journal reports the project, if approved, could take three to four years to complete.

The Eyes have it: Tysons-based cybersecurity firm Verodin has been acquired by Milpitas, Calif.-based security company FireEye in a cash-and-stock transaction worth approximately $250 million. Michael Neibauer of the Washington Business Journal notes that FireEye has already expanded its presence in Fairfax County to include more than 300 employees in Reston. FireEye will gain access to Verodin security platform that identifies gaps in cybersecurity effectiveness.

Pitching new energy: SmartPitch Ventures of Fairfax acquired controlling interest in Annapolis, Md.-based New Energy Equity, which develops solar power systems for commercial and government customers. In a story for Washington Business Journal subscribers, Andy Medici reports that SmartPitch recently raised more than $12 million (all of which went to the deal) and that the Fairfax firm is considering further investments to become an industry leader in sustainable energy and green technologies.

Eat your veggies: There are plenty of terrific farmers’ markets throughout the region, but readers of Virginia Living magazine named the Reston Farmers Market the best in Northern Virginia. Fatimah Waseem of Reston Now reports that the market, operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, will be open Saturday mornings through Dec. 7 at Lake Anne Village Center. It is one of 10 producer-only farmers’ markets run by the Park Authority.

Funding blasts off: Following its launch of 60 Starlink satellites, SpaceX raised more than $1 billion through equity offerings. According to a story by Brenda Marie Rivers in ExecutiveBiz, citing filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company raised $486.2 million in December and $535.7 million in April. The satellites are expected to form part of the company’s broadband megaconstellation in low-Earth orbit. SpaceX has offices in Chantilly.

Emerging strategy: Reston-based tech integrator SAIC announced a partnership with Franklin Venture Partners to broaden its access and exposure to emerging technologies being developed by startups. According to William McCormick’s story in ExecutiveBiz, the move will enable SAIC it to better leverage emerging technologies and to more quickly deliver complex technical solutions.

Expecting growth: Taking advantage of government interest in IT modernization and emerging technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton says it hopes to increase its workforce by 5 percent in 2019. Carten Cordell of the Washington Business Journal takes a deeper look where the Tysons-headquartered contractor stands and its aggressive outlook.

New route for routers: Encore Networks, a Chantilly-based manufacturer of commercial enterprise and industrial hardened routers, agreed to a distribution deal with Connected Solutions Group of Richmond. Potomac Tech Wire linked to  a release.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County

  • ECS Federal received a potential six-year, $276 million task order to assist the Department of Homeland Security in updating a dashboard for the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. GovConWire
  • NTT Data’s federal business won a potential five-year, $218 million contract to provide operational and digital infrastructure support to the U.S. Agency for International Development. GovConWire
  • DynCorp International secured a one-year, $129.7 million contract modification to continue logistics support for Army fixed-wing aircraft. GovConWire
  • Northrop Grumman picked up a $66.2 million contract modification to continue support for the Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance-Demonstrator Program. ExecutiveBiz
  • Under a $75 million agreement, Perspecta will use data analytics, commercial applications and emerging technology to help the Department of Defense update its personnel security-vetting system. ExecutiveBiz
  • Peraton will assist Harris in updating ground computing infrastructure for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R series under a three-year, $54 million contract. ExecutiveBiz
  • CGI Federal secured a potential five-year, $60 million deal to help the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services update a cloud-computing environment for a data repository of healthcare plans. ExecutiveBiz
  • Octo Consulting won an $11 million contract to operate and maintain the  Army’s Property Book Unit Supply Enhanced enterprise software application. Potomac Tech Wire linked to a release.

Upcoming Business Events

  • June 1: TiE DC Startup Workshop — Scaling and Growing Ventures. Interactive event for entrepreneurs of technology and management companies will offer insights from experts on business development, funding and team building. Click here.
  • June 4: Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County. This FCEDA workshop is for those contemplating doing business in the county. The series, which covers a full range of basics, is held in partnership with the Community Business Partnership, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Registration is required. Click here.
  • June 12: Security Tokens 101 — Blockchain-based Investing in Growing Businesses: Event will feature a panel discussion about security tokens as a blockchain-based way to invest in companies. Presented by the FCEDA and the Chamber of Digital Commerce. Click here.
  • June 12: Become a Better Boss to Engage and Retain Employees: Discussion will include practical steps for implementing influential leadership, key drivers of employee engagement and a self-assessment for attendees. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.
  • June 26: Access to Success Multicultural Business Conference — Roadmap to Resources. Free event designed to provide practical knowledge to small, women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Presented by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Click here.
  • June 26: No Pressure Prospecting: Techniques to improve sales performance. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.

FAIRFACT: With $236 billion in 2018, Fairfax County’s 10 Fortune 500 companies had more revenue than all Maryland ($85 billion) and Washington, D.C. ($140 billion) Fortune 500 firms combined.