• E-Newsletter

Hungry sharks: Tysons-based startup TaDah Foods pitched its frozen natural food business model Sunday on the season opener of the ABC TV show “Shark Tank.” Sara Gilgore of the Washington Business Journal has the full story about company founder John Sorial — and that he secured a deal from the newest shark, Kind LLC founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky.

A big investment: Tysons-based Blue Delta Capital Partners announced it raised $150 million for its third fund, blowing past its $125 million target. In an interview with the Washington Business Journal’s reporter Andy Medici, co-founder Mark Frantz said that the company intends to invest in nine or 10 companies this time around, in potential iterations of $10 million to $30 million investments at a time.

Learning curve: Amazon Web Services is extending its AWS Educate cloud-computing curriculum to more universities and community colleges across the Commonwealth — including George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College — and the four largest school districts in Northern Virginia including Fairfax County Public Schools. The curriculum features online cloud-computing classes to grant programs to bolster K-12 computer-science programs. The Washington Business Journal has a full list of the partnerships.

Certain path: Reston-based CertiPath, which develops identity-authentication technology and services,  signed a 7,000 square-foot lease at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza. According to a release picked up by citybizlist, CertiPath is relocating its headquarters to the Reston Station neighborhood, which will provide employees and customers access to Metro’s Silver Line, as well as an office environment equipped for the company’s continued growth.

Ticket to ride: Ridership on the Silver Line continues to increase. Tysons Reporter shares news about how use climbed at all five stations over the last year, led by a 25 percent jump at the McLean Station.

Under construction: Terra Site Constructors, an infrastructure and highway construction firm, announced that it will establish a new corporate headquarters in a still-to-be-determined location in Fairfax County. According to the company’s press release, it chose to relocate its base here to accommodate the company’s growing workforce and to support its long-term strategic goals.

Upon further reflection: In an interview with the Washington Business Journal, retiring Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova reflected on how she came to embrace smart-growth policies and public transportation for the ever-changing county.

Expanding its footprint: Chantilly-based Centauri bought Kord Technologies, increasing its expertise in cybersecurity, defense and aerospace. The Washington Business Journal reports that the purchase adds capabilities to Centauri’s portfolio in areas such as directed-energy weapons and offensive and defensive missile systems.

What’s old is new again: Reston Now reports that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan to redevelop the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association site on Old Reston Avenue into two, three-story office buildings and a campus-style setting. The 5.2-acre site also includes the historic A. Smith Bowman Manor House, which will be a backdrop for the new structures.

Dream ticket: In a recent interview with Tysons Reporter, the Vienna-based co-founders of TicketFam shared the history behind their ticket-platform technology and how they’re using it to disrupt the way people buy and sell tickets.

A new brew: Aslin Brewing Company has begun construction on a new facility in Herndon after receiving approval from the Town of Herndon. Reston Now reports that the Herndon location, which will be located at 771 Elden Street, will include a tasting room, terrace seating, and a rooftop bar.

Golden opportunities: The Center for Innovative Technology based in Herndon is launching a series of events providing an overview of funding opportunities available through the organization. Technical.ly DC reports that these events are open to Virginia-based researchers and entrepreneurs, although an application is required.

Time is on their side: Year-to-date figures released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showed that Dulles International Airport (IAD) made the top five airports for on-time departures, according to NBC 4. Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) trailed behind at No. 16 and No. 20, respectively.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County:

• Applied Insight subsidiary Stratus Solutions won a cloud contract from U.S. Cyber Command.  Technical.ly DC
• Alion Science and Technology received a potential five-year, $969M task order from the General Services Administration to provide integrated logistics support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services for combatant commands. GovConWire

Featured business events

• October 3 – GMU’s 2019 Government Contracting Conference: Confronting the Challenges Facing Today’s Government Contracting Community. A conference for government, industry, and academia to explore issues in government contracting. Use code FCEDA for $100 discount when purchasing ticket. Click here.
• October 3 — How Business Gets Done between India and the U.S. A webinar presented in Herndon and in Hyderabad, India, by the Dulles Regional Chamber and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce as part of a series on opportunities and obstacles in doing business globally. This forum will feature subject matter experts from the U.S. and India. Click here to register for the webinar or click here to attend the event in-person.
• October 15 — Amazon Small Business Spotlight. Meet regional small businesses, artisans and startups that are using Amazon to reach new customers and grow their businesses. Click here.
• October 17 — GMU’s Annual Business Celebration. Annual networking gala, business showcase, and distinguished alumni awards, which highlights the entrepreneurial spirit, success, and engagement of GMU’s School of Business community. Click here.
• October 29 — TiE DC Capital GovCon. A forward-looking and informative conference for companies looking to do business with the federal government. Hear from government contracting leaders in our region, connect with TiE DC’s community of government contractors and learn how to achieve your growth goals. E-Bird readers get 10% off tickets. Enter the code “PARTNER10” at check out. Click here.
• November 14 — BL Small Business Expo. Visit with about 70 different exhibitors presenting a wide range of products and services that could help you enhance your business and/or life. Keynote speaker will be Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.
• November 14 — Opportunity Richmond Highway. Learn about new financial incentives for new development on Richmond Highway such as Opportunity Zones and the Economic Growth Improvement Program. Presented by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation and the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce. Speakers include Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.