For Sandra Tran, preparing for tomorrow’s reopening of Nicecream in Clarendon feels like a jump back in time to seven years ago.
Nicecream, a handcrafted ice cream shop with four locations across Northern Virginia and D.C., is reopening its Clarendon (2831 Clarendon Blvd) and Shaw locations on Friday with ice cream scoops and pints to go. Featured flavors are planned to include honey lavender, salted caramel, Nutella, cold brew coffee, bananas and cream, and wild blueberry.
This sponsored column is by James Montana, Esq. and Doran Shemin, Esq., practicing attorneys at Steelyard LLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact James for an appointment.
You may have read that the President of the United States has banned all green card issuance for sixty days. Fake news.
Arlington’s startup ecosystem is off to a strong start in 2026, with a wave of new funding, growing innovation spaces and expanding tech companies reinforcing the area’s role in next-generation and national security-focused industries.
From early-stage startups to more established companies, the activity points to a broad and active ecosystem, one increasingly shaped by applied artificial intelligence and “dual-use” technologies with both commercial and government applications.
Big raises highlight AI-driven innovation
Several Arlington-based startups have already landed significant funding this year, led by two of the region’s largest recent deals.
Maritime intelligence company Quartermaster raised a $43 million Series A to expand its “SmartMast” system, which equips ships with sensors and AI-powered analytics to create real-time visibility across global waterways. The company describes the platform as a distributed sensing network designed to improve maritime awareness for commercial operators and governments alike.
Meanwhile, freight intelligence firm GenLogs closed a $60 million Series B earlier this year to grow its AI-driven platform for tracking truck movements nationwide. Using a combination of roadside sensors, satellite data and analytics, the Arlington-based startup aims to reduce fraud and improve efficiency across the logistics industry.
Alongside these larger raises, smaller seed and Series A rounds, including companies like CLEATUS and BriefCatch, continue to drive activity locally. The sectors may differ, but the throughline is similar: companies using advanced technology to tackle practical, real-world problems.
New innovation spaces bring ecosystem together
The momentum isn’t just showing up in funding. It is also visible in new spaces and programming designed to bring people together.
In April, Arlington hosted the kickoff of DMV Deep Tech Week, a region-wide series of events connecting founders, investors and public-sector leaders working across emerging technologies. The first day’s activities took place at JBG Smith’s new Concorde Conference Center in National Landing, a purpose-built venue for convening the innovation community.
Events like these reflect a broader push to build density in the ecosystem by bringing companies, capital and institutions together.
That same idea is behind the launch of National Innovation Quarter (National IQ) earlier this year. Announced in February, the new district spans Arlington and Alexandria and is designed to connect industry, startups, academia and government around shared challenges tied to national competitiveness and emerging technology.
Backed by partners including Amazon, Virginia Tech and Arlington Economic Development, National IQ will host accelerators, investor summits and other programs aimed at helping companies scale.
Additional spaces are also coming online. The Virtus Innovation Hub opened this spring in National Landing, adding another place for startups, investors and ecosystem partners to gather and collaborate.
Corporate expansion reinforces Arlington’s appeal
It’s not just startups driving activity, more established companies are continuing to grow their presence in Arlington, often for the same reasons.
Scale AI, for example, recently opened a significantly larger office in National Landing, leasing about 22,000 square feet with capacity for roughly 100 employees. The move reflects the company’s interest in closer collaboration with federal and defense partners, as well as access to the region’s talent pool.
And just last week, Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) announced a headquarters expansion in Ballston, a $19 million investment expected to create 210 jobs. The company similarly pointed to access to technical talent and proximity to customers as key factors.
A connected, growing ecosystem
Taken together, the activity shows an ecosystem that continues to build on itself.
Startups are finding early support, while growth-stage companies are scaling. At the same time, new venues, programs and partnerships are making it easier for companies to connect with customers, investors and each other.
While much of the activity is rooted in AI, its applications span logistics, data analytics and government contracting, a reminder that Arlington’s innovation economy isn’t tied to a single factor.
With continued investment, more places to collaborate and a steady flow of new companies, Arlington is becoming a place where technology is both built and applied to the real-world.
(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) A fox that later tested positive for rabies attacked two cats in the Fairlington neighborhood, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington announced today.
AWLA says animal control officers responded Saturday to two separate incidents in Fairlington in which a fox attacked a resident’s cat. The fox was found dead the next day and tested positive for rabies this week.
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Arlington’s coronavirus outbreak is continuing to take a grim toll.
The latest figures from the Virginia Dept. of Health report 967 known COVID-19 cases, 167 hospitalizations and 41 deaths in Arlington. That’s up from that 912 cases, 163 hospitalizations and 32 deaths reported yesterday (Wednesday).
Join Arlington for Palestine and NAACP Arlington Branch for a movie night and community discussion about Israeli apartheid.
We will watch two short Palestinian films about life under Israeli apartheid, hear from a member of Arlington for Palestine about their trip to Palestine last year, and discuss together what all this means to us living in Arlington .
Arlington County has cancelled its popular summer classes and programs, citing concerns about the ongoing coronavirus danger.
The county’s Department of Parks and Recreation announced Thursday that the activities for everyone from tots to older adults are the latest annual tradition to fall victim to the pandemic. The county is still mulling the status of summer camps for kids and expects to make a decision in early May.
Northam Announces COVID Changes — Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesdays that, starting today, Virginia residents can start having nonemergency surgeries and dental procedures again. The governor also announced that the state Dept. of Health will soon start releasing ZIP code-level coronavirus case data. [WTOP, @kamamasters/Twitter]
County Announces New Housing Director — “Arlington County has selected Anne Venezia to be the County’s new Housing Director… She most recently served six months as the Acting Housing Director and was the Housing Finance Manager for four years prior. Venezia joined Arlington County in 2008.” [Arlington County]
In addition to reporting the local news, ARLnow is also providing a boost to local businesses and nonprofits during these trying times.
Many of ARLnow’s advertisers are sticking with us and our readers have also stepped up to support the site, with nearly 300 joining our Patreon campaign. Our business has taken a big hit, but on balance we have been very fortunate to receive this level of community support — and we’re working to pay it forward.
Sylvia Louise Jenkins was born in D.C. in 1936 and made a mark on the area through her faith, her volunteer work, and her family.
She lived in the District most of her life, but passed away in Arlington the Sunday before last, one of numerous assisted living facility residents in Arlington to succumb to the coronavirus.
For Lisa Ostroff, owner of Trade Roots, asking for help is a delicate thing.
While there are countless other residents and businesses in Arlington that need assistance, Ostroff is in the uncomfortable position of asking locals to consider helping tradespeople and artisans at far-flung parts of the world who lack the support of America’s admittedly porous safety net.
