Award Nominations Open through Feb 29
Charlottesville, VA, February 16, 2016– The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 CBIC Awards, CBIC’s signature event honoring Central Virginia’s most innovative organizations, startups and individuals.
Nominations for the 2016 CBIC Awards come on the heels of national attention for Charlottesville’s startup community. In January, the National Venture Capital Association released a report showing the Charlottesville area is the hottest venture capital market in the country with the greatest growth and rate of growth in VC funding.
“That’s not just a one year ranking,” CBIC Executive Director Tracey Greene noted, “it’s based on our performance over the past five years. San Francisco, New York and Boston land most of the deals, but since 2010, no city has sizzled with startup VC capital more than Charlottesville.”
The 2016 CBIC Awards Gala, the largest and only one of its kind recognizing the region’s most successful startups and innovators, will be held at The Boar’s Head on Thursday, May 26. Nominations for the 18th annual CBIC Awards are now open at http://cvilleinnovation.org/awards.
“Charlottesville has all the ingredients to be a national leader in business innovation, venture capital investment, and high-wage job creation,” said Tracey Greene, CBIC Executive Director and co-chair of the 2016 CBIC Awards Gala. “CBIC members and sponsors work year-round to nurture an atmosphere of innovation celebrated by the CBIC Awards and now a brand for our region and to ensure Charlottesville remains a leader in tech, innovation and startups.”
The 2016 CBIC Awards include the following categories:
Award winners will be determined by a panel of judges with the exception of the winners of the CBIC Social Good Award, chosen by gala participants, and the CBIC Volunteer of the Year, awarded by the CBIC board of directors.
The recipient of the CBIC Educator of the Year will receive a $2,500 CBIC technology in education grant to support innovation education in the classroom. All other honorees receive commemorative awards along with gift certificates and other recognition. Past honorees include Apex Clean Energy, Maternity Neighborhood, VividCortex, Relay Foods, PsiKick, WillowTree Apps, Rivanna Medical, Teachstone, and dozens of other local innovators, including teachers and students.
The 2016 CBIC Awards Gala begins at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, at Boar’s Head, 200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The official resort of the University of Virginia, Boar’s Head is located on a bucolic 573-acre country estate and will feature exhibit space for CBIC Innovators Row, showcasing area startup companies.
Tickets are on sale now for this popular annual event. Seating is limited and early reservations are strongly encouraged and incentivized with early-bird pricing. Individual tickets can be purchased online through CvilleInnovation.org. Sponsorships and table sales are available through Tracey Greene by email at executive@CvilleBIC.org, or by phone: (434) 242-5886.
ABOUT CBIC
As the region’s technology council, the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) promotes innovation and entrepreneurship and supports growth and success among the Charlottesville region’s technology-focused organizations. CBIC provides a forum for ideas and a collective voice on behalf of the technology sector. Through collaborative partnerships, educational resources and strategic relationships, CBIC enhances, publicizes and champions technology initiatives that strengthen economic and social vitality in our area.