National Recognition for JMU and Blue Vigil

JMU's Office of Technology Innovation and Economic Development and Blue Vigil, a local startup, are delighted to announce that Blue Vigil has been selected by a corporate selection committee of the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) as a top 40 “Best University Startups of 2017”!

We have been invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in University Startups Demo Day at Congress April 18-20, 2017! The event raises awareness in Congress of the pivotal role that universities play in the formation of high potential startups, the creation of high-value jobs across the country, and overall national competitiveness.

This recognition highlights the economic development partnership between JMU and the business community that led to the formation of Blue Vigil, exemplifying JMU’s vision “to be the national model of the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.”

“Blue Vigil offers a powerful observation and communications platform to law enforcement officials, first responders, event organizers and others,” stated CEO Todd Stave. “The support from the Harrisonburg investment community and James Madison University is allowing us to rapidly bring this valuable technology to the markets.”

“We are very pleased and honored that Blue Vigil was selected as a top 40 Best University Startup. This national recognition highlights our region’s innovation ecosystem as a vital asset for economic development and growth of technology companies in the Valley.” stated George Pace, founder of Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors (SVAI) whose members provided seed funding to launch the company in 2015.

Blue Vigil is commercializing a tethered hovering observation platform
technology. This aerial platform is designed to provide a low altitude vantage point and can carry a wide variety of cameras, sensors, or radio equipment. It is mobile, lightweight and easy to deploy. Training and additional manpower is not necessary to use the platform. The tether provides the power supply, allowing the platform to stay aloft for a virtually unlimited time.

The University Startups Conference and Demo Day in DC brings together a diverse audience of over 300 people: university Startup Officers, university startups, entrepreneurs, corporations, venture capitalists, angel investors, policy leaders, and federal government agencies. The event provides a venue to form and maintain robust networks among participants aligning university intellectual property and startups with investor and corporate needs. NCET2 programs aim to showcase and support the ecosystems around universities to create startups.