“ We were able to connect him with funding, manufacturers and necessary resources to bring Parthian to life as one of the first companies in second-life battery production.”
Today, Parthian has grown and remains in the state, employing West Virginians in its Morgantown office and plant.
NewForce
No tech ecosystem can flourish without skilled talent, and NewForce, Generation West Virginia’ s six-month, tuition-free training program, is helping build that foundation. Initially focused on software development, NewForce recently expanded to include a data analytics curriculum to meet changing industry needs.
“ Our shift to data analytics was strategic. When we noticed how the market for junior software developers was changing, it made sense to change with it,” says Casey Patterson, New- Force program director.“ Data analytics equips our trainees with in-demand skills like SQL, Python and data visualization, while offering cross-industry career opportunities from health care to energy to education.”
Beyond technical instruction, New- Force emphasizes professional communication, critical thinking, project management and teamwork. With a fully remote, immersive curriculum, trainees build digital portfolios, complete capstone projects and participate in mock interviews with industry professionals.
Additionally, NewForce creates a lasting community. It shows up for its trainees and their growth and potential.
“ Our unofficial motto is once you’ re NewForce, you’ re always NewForce,” Patterson says.“ I think this commitment to growth and sustainability of the community gives people a sense of belonging.”
LG NOVA West Virginia
Since launching its strategic initiative in early 2024, LG NOVA has been actively building an innovation team in
West Virginia, most recently with two new hires— Randy Eager, entrepreneur in residence( EIR) for cleantech, and Scott Smith, director of business development and ecosystem partners. There is also an open position for an EIR in health.
Mitch Carmichael, senior advisor for LG NOVA West Virginia, says these EIRs collaborate with Silicon Valley to bring new business opportunities to the state and are aiming to launch new LG NOVA businesses locally within the next year. Two of the company’ s ventures are already establishing a presence in West Virginia.
“ Primefocus Health, launched in 2024, and PADO, LG NOVA’ s most recently launched company, are making headway with business opportunities in the state. Alongside business and customer growth will be job growth.”
Primefocus Health recently partnered with Marshall Health Network and focuses on supporting patient recovery at home. PADO is developing a power management platform to optimize usage and revenues for businesses through ongoing discussions with local partners.
LG NOVA is also leveraging its Morgantown and Huntington offices to build connections with WVU and Marshall University.
“ While we don’ t have anything formal in terms of how we’ re leveraging universities, we are making a conscious effort to work with them to explore opportunities to work with local startups,” Carmichael says.
Looking ahead over the next six months, Carmichael outlines the team’ s priorities.
“ We can expect LG NOVA’ s West Virginia EIR and ecosystem team will have built out their business proposals in collaboration with their selected startup partners,” he says.“ They will be in the process of running pilots in the state to narrow in on the technology solution for the problem they are going to solve.”
Carmichael says progress will be made on one or two more companies from LG NOVA, and with that will come new projects and hires in the state for those businesses.
Vantage Ventures
Based at WVU, Vantage Ventures plays a critical role in scaling the state’ s tech startups. Its 13-week accelerator program helps entrepreneurs refine their products, build prototypes, gain customer traction and prepare for investor pitches. Startups receive non-dilutive technical assistance funding, and top graduates may secure pre-seed investment from Vantage’ s fund.
“ Over the last 12 months, we’ ve awarded $ 180,000 in technical assistance funding to 18 startups that went through our accelerator program,” says Ryan Angus, Ph. D., executive director of Vantage Ventures and associate professor of entrepreneurship at WVU.“ We’ ve also invested $ 300,000 in three startups: Brite, Plug-In Promotions and GENAIVA.”
Partnerships play an essential role in Vantage Ventures’ efforts to boost innovation in the Mountain State.
“ We rely heavily on partners to identify promising prospects for our accelerator program, provide technical assistance and mentoring to our startups and syndicate with us by investing in the most promising tech-based startups in West Virginia,” says James Carnes, EIR for Vantage Ventures and CEO of Iconic Air.
Vantage Ventures’ long-term vision aims to make West Virginia a startup state.
“ Our goal is to build an efficient and effective entrepreneurship-driven economic development engine that is uniquely tailored to the strengths of West Virginia and its people,” says Elliott Smith, program coordinator for Vantage Ventures. •
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