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The startup scene in United States
The City identifies DroneUp as a Virginia Beach-founded startup, established in 2016. In a 2022 release, the City described the company as providing on-demand drone services to commercial, military, and government organizations, including public-safety and disaster-management support. [1, 2]
About
The City identifies DroneUp as a Virginia Beach-founded startup, established in 2016. In a 2022 release, the City described the company as providing on-demand drone services to commercial, military, and government organizations, including public-safety and disaster-management support. [1, 2]
On August 24, 2022, the Virginia Beach Development Authority approved an $800,000 Economic Development Investment Package grant to DroneUp, contingent on headquarters-expansion and job-creation milestones. The City’s announced expansion plan projected $6.95 million in investment and 510 additional local jobs; these were planned figures, not verified outcomes. The Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism later reported that Walmart ended its relationship with DroneUp in 2025 and that the company did not meet pledged employment goals. [3, 4, 5]
In Spring 2023, Old Dominion University reported a $1.8 million federal SMART grant project involving ODU, DroneUp, Riverside Health, the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, and VIPC for medication delivery on the Eastern Shore and Tangier Island. This was a regional project, not a city-proper service footprint. [6]
The City identified Crunchy Hydration, EdLogics, and SalesE as Virginia Beach-based startups participating in the final round of the Startup World Cup Virginia Regional on August 21, 2025. [7, 8, 9]
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Virginia Beach ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | #251 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
13 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Virginia Beach
Investors 10
Investor
InvestorBuilding a legacy in fintech through strategic acquisitions.
InvestorEmpowering founders through community-led growth.
The 3 most prominent of 10. Browse all investors
Incubators 2
IncubatorTransforming people and nations through business.
IncubatorAccelerating innovation and growth for businesses.
Accelerators 1
AcceleratorEmpowering founders through mentorship and resources.
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Raising in Virginia Beach
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
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Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
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Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingFrom public sources
What the sources say about Virginia Beach
ODU documents a regional public-private delivery project involving the Virginia Beach-founded DroneUp.
Source: Spring 2023 Strategic Plan Progress Reports ALL FINAL FOR WEB POSTING (8-28-23).xlsxVIPC attributes a statewide 2025 venture figure to NVCA/PitchBook; it is not a city-level total.
Source: Virginia Startups Raise Record $2.9 Billion in Venture Capital Investment in 2025 – Highest in Commonwealth HistoryStartupBlink describes three inputs in its scoring method.
Source: Top Startups in Virginia Beach | StartupBlinkThe city named this company among the Virginia Beach-based finalists.
Source: Three Virginia Beach Startups to Compete at… | City of Virginia BeachThe program lists a full-time founder and Norfolk travel among its requirements.
Source: Accelerate - 757 Collab757 Collab describes the program’s duration, capital and mentor access.
Source: Accelerate - 757 Collab
Questions about Virginia Beach
How does Virginia Beach rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #251 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025).
How many startup investors are based in Virginia Beach?
10 investors based in Virginia Beach have a profile here, including 757 Angels, Evergreen Financial Technology Group and DayDream Fellows. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Virginia Beach has 1 accelerator and 2 incubators on record, including 757 Accelerate and Regent University Center for Entrepreneurship.
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Virginia Beach
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