Biz Talk

Arlington’s business community benefits from proximity to top universities and a strong pipeline of emerging talent. A state-backed initiative is now making it easier for local employers to tap that pipeline while reducing costs and strengthening long-term workforce strategies.

The InternshipsVA program, offered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), helps Arlington companies build high-quality, paid internships that convert into full-time hires and keep graduates in the Commonwealth.

What is InternshipsVA?

InternshipsVA is designed to make it easier for employers to launch and grow internship programs. Key offerings include:

• Guidance from regional internship managers

• Free access to Handshake to recruit college students statewide

• Training, toolkits and best practices

• Matching grants covering up to 50 percent of intern wages

For Arlington employers, this translates to lower recruiting costs, simpler hiring processes and a clearer path from intern to employee.

A Financial Incentive That Supports Growth

A major draw is the matching grant program, which reimburses up to $7,500 per intern, covering as much as half of wages.

Eligible employers, typically those with 150 or fewer Virginia employees, can receive up to $75,000 annually.

In a competitive talent market, this support helps Arlington companies scale internship programs and compete for early-career talent.

Arlington Employers Already Seeing Value

Two Arlington-based companies, KnowBe4 and Hanwha Defense USA, illustrate how the program delivers results.

At cybersecurity firm KnowBe4, leadership views the program as a strategic hiring tool:

“Participating in the InternshipsVA program represents KnowBe4’s commitment to immerse students directly into high-impact, real-world roles as we continue to search for top talent,” said Veena Bricker, Chief Human Resources Officer at KnowBe4. “InternshipsVA provides a strategic framework, turnkey resources and a direct connection to motivated, career-ready students. We highly recommend InternshipsVA to any employer looking to reduce recruitment costs, boost long-term retention and launch valuable careers right here in Virginia.”

For Hanwha Defense USA, InternshipsVA enabled rapid expansion of its program:

“The help and support of VEDP was crucial to allowing us to get our internship program off the ground, especially in the pre-planning and launch phases,” said Tommy Howard, Talent Manager at Hanwha Defense USA. “We were able to double the number of internships we offered due to the wrap-around support that the InternshipsVA team provided. This has allowed for greater access to real-world experience for Virginia students interested in the defense industry and better understanding the intersection of our business, government affairs and communications operations.”

Together, these examples show how InternshipsVA has helped Arlington employers build talent pipelines aligned with their specific workforce needs.

Supporting Arlington’s Workforce Strategy

Internships are more than a short-term hiring tool. They are a key driver of regional competitiveness, helping align education with employer demand and encouraging graduates to begin their careers locally.

For Arlington, this supports business retention, talent attraction and sustaining a diverse, highly skilled workforce.

By lowering barriers and providing structure, InternshipsVA strengthens connections between employers and Virginia’s higher education system.

Easy to Get Started

Getting started is straightforward. Employers can:

• Complete a short training program

• Post internships on Handshake

• Apply for matching grant support before hiring

Companies remain in control of hiring and managing interns while benefiting from state support and resources.

Arlington Economic Development (AED) is proud to have connected KnowBe4 and Hanwha Defense USA to this valuable program. Arlington employers interested in launching or expanding an internship program are encouraged to contact AED’s Business Investment team to learn how to access funding, connect with student talent and build a stronger workforce pipeline.

Summer in Arlington means packed farmers markets, community events and plenty of dogs enjoying the outdoors alongside their owners. For Chippin, a pet food company scaling the use of sustainable proteins, these summer traditions have been more than just a part of local life. They have helped shape the company’s growth.

Headquartered in Arlington since 2021, Chippin attends dozens of events across the DMV each summer. The company is inspired by the unique ability pets have to bring people together and spark conversations that might not otherwise happen. A simple “Would your dog like a treat?” has opened the door to discussions about everything from digestive health and food allergies to stories about flying invasive fish and the environmental impact of traditional protein sourcing.

Founded on the belief that environmental challenges can become opportunities for innovation, Chippin built a consumer brand around alternative proteins, including cricket protein and invasive silver carp. Their work with invasive carp has been supported by conservation leaders, including the World Wildlife Fund, as an example of how market-based solutions can address environmental challenges. By creating economic value for an invasive species, the company helps align ecological restoration with commercial opportunity.

As the company has grown, so has the opportunity. What began as a pet food brand is now evolving into a broader ingredient platform. This year, Chippin launched IGNIZA, an ingredient platform designed to unlock nature-positive proteins for the pet food industry, starting with invasive silver carp.

The company is already expanding beyond carp. Through a USDA-funded initiative, IGNIZA is developing supply chains around invasive blue catfish, a species threatening the health of the Chesapeake Bay. By creating commercial demand for invasive species, the company is advancing market-based solutions that benefit ecosystems, local economies and domestic supply chains.

Arlington has been the ideal place to launch and scale this vision. The unique combination of a highly educated workforce, thriving startup and technology ecosystem, and proximity to Washington, D.C. has enabled Chippin to build partnerships with conservation organizations, government agencies and mission-driven businesses working to solve complex environmental challenges.

Just as importantly, Arlington’s dog-loving community has helped inspire the company’s evolution as it works to build the next generation of sustainable pet food ingredients.

This summer, as the team continues meeting dogs and their owners across the region, they are reminded that some of the best business ideas start with a simple conversation. Sometimes, that conversation begins with a dog treat.

Arlington Economic Development supports innovative companies like Chippin as they grow and scale in the region. Learn more about resources for startups and mission-driven businesses.

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.