Hokie 100
Hokies building what’s next
Hokie 100 celebrates the fastest-growing companies founded, owned, or led by Virginia Tech alumni. The annual program recognizes the growth and impact of Hokie entrepreneurs while building connections across Virginia Tech’s innovation ecosystem.
Celebrating the Inaugural Hokie 100
Virginia Tech celebrated the inaugural Hokie 100 on September 2, 2026, at Academic Building One in Alexandria. The celebration brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, university partners, faculty, and students to recognize the growth, innovation, and impact of Hokie-led companies.
The 2026 cohort represents businesses across industries and regions and demonstrates the reach and strength of Virginia Tech’s entrepreneurial community.
2026 Honoree List
Congratulations to the companies recognized as part of the inaugural Hokie 100. The 2026 honorees reflect the ambition, creativity, and impact of Hokie entrepreneurs building and growing companies across a wide range of industries.
| Rank | Company | Hokie Leader(s) | Location |
| #1 | Game Plan Tech | Christian Burbach, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer | McLean, Virginia |
| #2 | Radar | Paul Petrus, Former Chief Technology Officer & Senior Advisor | San Diego, California |
| #3 | MagicSchool AI | Adeel Khan, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Denver, Colorado |
| #4 | TrustPoint | Chris DeMay, Founder & Chief Operating Officer | Herndon, Virginia |
| #5 | TRAXyL | Daniel Turner, Chief Executive Officer | Gainesville, Virginia |
| #6 | Stale Chips | John Hawley, Founder & Innovation Facilitator | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| #7 | GlacierGrid | Gerald Zingraf, President & Chief Operating Officer | San Francisco, California |
| #8 | Peter Constructive | Dave Peter, President | Atlanta, Georgia |
| #9 | ViaTrie | Lisa Zellers, Chief Strategy Officer. Sherry Gernhofer, Chief Operating Officer | Arlington, Virginia |
| #10 | GigaBeam Networks | Michael Clemons, Founder & Chief Executive Officer. Eric Workman, Chief Strategy Officer | Bluefield, West Virginia |
| #11 | ProsperOps | Erik Carlin, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer | Austin, Texas |
| #12 | Reach Power | Jeffrey White, President | Redwood City, Califonia |
| #13 | PlanetiQ | Chris McCormick, Founder & President | Golden Colorado |
| #14 | Opkalla | Aaron Bock, Chief Executive Office & Managing Partner | Charlotte North Carolina |
| #15 | Sedaro | Robbie Robertson, Chief Executive Officer. Daniel Martin, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer. Sebastian Welsh, Chief Technology Officer | Arlington, Virginia |
| #16 | Algofy AI | Haktan Suren, Chief Executive Officer | Austin, Texas |
| #17 | Amplify Solutions | Andrew Plofchan, Co-founder & President | Potomac Falls, Virginia |
| #18 | SelecTech | Beth Ann Greenberg, Chief Operating Officer. Adam Moyer, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer | College Park, Maryland |
| #19 | Tailored Alloys | Hunter Taylor, Founder & Chief Executive Officer. Amiel Bernal, Chief Operating Officer | Youngstown, Ohio |
| #20 | TotalShield | Adam Rossi, Owner & Chief Executive Officer | Gainesville Virginia |
| #21 | Cogwheel Marketing | Stephanie Sparks Smith, Founder and Digital Matriarch | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| #22 | AKKO | Eric Schneider, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | New York, New York |
| #23 | Monarch Weather & Climate Intelligence | Kathryn Prociv, Executive Vice President | Encinitas, California |
| #24 | BullpenRE | Tyler Kastelberg, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | San Francisco, California |
| #25 | Hive Systems | Alex Nette, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer. Michael Cardman, Chief Financial Officer | Richmond, Virginia |
| #26 | Excelity | Jason Dever, Founder & Director | Warrenton, Virginia |
| #27 | South Block | Amir Mostafavi, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer | Falls Church, Virginia |
| #28 | Takt, Inc. | Glynn LoPresti, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer | Reston, Virginia |
| #29 | Jeeva Clinical Trials | Harsha K Rajasimha, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Manassas, Virginia |
| #30 | BPX | David Hamilton, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Chatham, New Jersey |
| #31 | CareerCraft | Shane Thomas, Co-founder & Chief Program Officer | Austin, Texas |
| #32 | KBH Solutions | Tarun Ganeriwal, President & Chief Executive Officer | Smyrna, Georgia |
| #33 | Vertosoft | Chet Hayes, Chief Technology Officer | Leesburg, Virginia |
| #34 | Hylaine | Adam Boitnott, Chief Executive Officer | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| #35 | Intention 2 Impact | Nina Sabarre, Chief Executive Officer | Arlington, Virginia |
| #36 | Steampunk, Inc. | Matt Warren, Chief Executive Officer | McLean, Virginia |
| #37 | Procon Consulting | Kyu Jung, Co-founder & President | McLean, Virginia |
| #38 | Cary Street Partners | Walter D. Bayne, President & Managing Director | Richmond, Virginia |
| #39 | Seismic Software | Doug Winter, Founder, Board Member, & Chief Executive Officer | San Diego, California |
| #40 | Hot Corner Digital | Ross Tudor, Founder, Chairman & President | Richmond, Virginia |
| #41 | James River Exteriors | Michael B. Chaney, President | North Chesterfield, Virginia |
| #42 | Pilates Loft | Alia Staples, Owner & Teacher Trainer | Arlington, Virginia |
| #43 | R.W. Murray Co. | Jonathan L. Barbour, President | Manassas, Virginia |
| #44 | OC Beachfront Rentals | Steven Lasik, Principal | Ocean City, Maryland |
| #45 | Full Visibility | Rob Andreev, President & Founding Partner | Vienna, Virginia |
| #46 | Henritze Dental Group | Andrew Henritze, Chief Executive Officer | Roanoke, Virginia |
| #47 | Back to Nature Landscaping & Construction | James Ulmer, Owner & President | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| #48 | Fringe | Isaiah Goodall Co-Founder & Head of Strategic Partnerships | Richmond, Virginia |
| #49 | Nailbiter, Inc. | Amit Dhand, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Herndon, Virginia |
| #50 | Adroit Insights | Kristen McGarr, Founder & Owner | Kihei, Hawaii |
| #51 | SEA Studio | Scott Edmonston, Founder & Principal Architect | Millville, Delaware |
| #52 | Triple Crossing Brewing Co. | Adam Worcester, Owner & Vice President of Finance | Richmond, Virginia |
| #53 | HHHunt | Ann P Kelly, Chief Financial Officer | Glen Allen, Virginia |
| #54 | NVE | Neil Villarin, President | Herndon, Virginia |
| #55 | IMS Consulting | Dan Miller, Founder | Vienna, Virginia |
| #56 | Commercial Tool and Die | Laura Symanski, President | Marshall, Virginia |
| #57 | accelHRate | Kim McGovern Shanahan, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer | Oakton, Virginia |
| #58 | Opticity Wealth Partners | John A. Iezzi, Founder & Private Wealth Advisor | Richmond, Virginia |
| #59 | Virginia Asset Management | Chris Williams, President & Managing Partner | Midlothian, Virginia |
| #60 | Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness | Kevin Bowen, Owner and Operator | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| #61 | Forsyte IT Solutions | Chuck McBride, Chief Executive Officer | Richmond, Virginia |
| #62 | AchieveUnite | Theresa Caragol, Founder & Chief Execitive Officer | Alexandria Virginia |
| #63 | MindPetal | Sony George, Chief Execitive Officer | Vienna, Virginia |
| #64 | BOOST | Stephanie Alexander, Chief Executive Officer | Reston, Virginia |
| #65 | Immigrant Food | Tea Ivanovic, Co-Founder | Washington DC |
| #66 | Chainbridge Solutions | Aarti Smith, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer | Fairfax, Virginia |
| #67 | BreakingT | Alex Welsh, Chief Executive Officer | Reston, Virginia |
| #68 | Elation Brewing | Kenny VanHook, President & Owner | Norfolk, Virginia |
| #69 | Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do | Barry Shackelford, Owner & President | Arlington, Virginia |
| #70 | Rehoboth Ale House | Adam Newman, Owner | Rehoboth Beach, Delaware |
| #71 | Blue Ridge Graphics | Will Kulick, Integrator and General Manager | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| #72 | KBH Thompson | Tarun Ganeriwal, Chief Executive Officer | Smyrna, Georgia |
| #73 | Buchanan & Edwards | Brian Karlisch, Co-Founder & Chairman Board of Directors | McLean, Virginia |
| #74 | Thomas Instrumentation | Cassandra Gluyas, Chief Executive Officer | Cape May Court House, New Jersey |
| #75 | Ride Source | Lisa Sink, Co-Founder | Vinton, Virginia |
| #76 | Rising Silo Brewery | Greg Zielske, Brewer | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| #77 | Premium-PPE | Brent Dillie, Managing Partner and Co-Founder | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| #78 | McDonald Morrissey Associates | Michael Mobile, President and Owner | Concord, New Hampshire |
| #79 | Site Collaborative | Graham Smith, President & Landscape Architect | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| #80 | MCDStudio | Matthew McDonald, Principal & Owner | Bethesda, Maryland |
| #81 | Jones Group International | James Jones, Chief Executive Officer | Vienna, Virginia |
| #82 | W2 Communications LLC | Evan Weisel, Principal | McLean, Virginia |
| #83 | Piedmont Properties of the Carolinas | Scott Hensley, President | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| #84 | Netarus | Christopher Machut,Chairman | Norfolk, Virginia |
| #85 | Midtown GC | Jeff McMahan, Owner & Managing Partner | Midlothian, Virginia |
| #86 | Sorba Engineering | Meredith McComas, Owner & Chief Executive Officer | Dulles Virginia |
| #87 | Venus Aerospace | Sassie Duggleby, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Houston, Texas |
| #88 | Business Management Associates | LaJuanna Russell, Owner, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer | Alexandria Virginia |
| #89 | Gizmatic | Will Vatis, Chief Executive Officer | Oxon Hill, Maryland |
| #90 | Toffler Associates | Maria Bothwell, Executive Chair | Arlington, Virginia |
| #91 | DeepSig | Tim O'Shea, Chief Technology Officer | Arlington, Virginia |
| #92 | Maxterial | Mehdi Kargar, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Brown City Michigan |
| #93 | iPower LLC | Deborah Hunt, Owner & Chief Executive Officer | Reston, Virginia |
About Hokie 100
Hokie 100 is a Virginia Tech recognition and storytelling program designed to celebrate alumni entrepreneurs and their contributions to business growth. The program creates visibility, connection, and pride by elevating founders and business leaders who are building, scaling, and leading impactful companies.
Through year-round storytelling, community engagement, and an annual awards celebration, Hokie 100 showcases what happens when Hokies turn ideas into enduring enterprises.
How Hokie 100 Works
- Hokie 100 is led by Virginia Tech in partnership with Lunch Pail Ventures. Eligible companies are founded, owned, or led by Virginia Tech alumni and are evaluated through an independent, data-driven process based on percentage revenue growth over a defined multiyear period.
- Virginia Tech does not nominate or rank participating companies. Additional recognition is presented to rising companies, social innovators, and an outstanding Hokie entrepreneur.
Benefits for Hokie 100 members
- Elevate your company as one of the fastest-growing Hokie-led businesses
- Strengthen your connection to Virginia Tech’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Engage with fellow founders, executives, investors, and innovators
- Explore potential partnerships and business opportunities
- Receive recognition through featured content and year-round touchpoints
- Participate in networking opportunities and the annual Hokie 100 celebration
Stay Connected
Interested in the next Hokie 100 cycle? Stay connected for future application information, program updates, and opportunities to engage with Virginia Tech’s entrepreneurial community.
Proud partners and sponsors of Hokie 100 include Lunch Pail Ventures, the Entrepreneur Resource Center, the Office of Research and Innovation, Innovation and Partnerships, the APEX Center for Entrepreneurs, and the Institute for Advanced Computing.