Virginia Beach Economic Development

10/14/2026

We celebrated five years of the International Incubator yesterday by providing the public and our Virginia Beach Development Authority members a tour of the space and an opportunity to engage the businesses looking to grow in VB.

Since opening five years ago, the International Incubator has welcomed 19 global companies looking to establish their U.S. operations.

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Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development: We help create a vibrant economy, which benefits the city, by attracting new companies, helping existing companies grow, and assisting entrepreneurs with their nascent ideas.

10/02/2026

Welcome ViDARR Inc., to the Virginia Beach defense industrial base! Our team was proud to support this expansion with site selection and incentive support and see it come to fruition at today's ribbon-cutting.

ViDARR supports the warfighter with night vision and optical equipment, and mobile and quick-deployment drone manufacturing for special and expeditionary forces.

Their arrival adds a new partner and resource to assist our warfighters in Virginia Beach, the epicenter of America's Military Metro.

09/29/2026

Meet Orca AI Government and Defense, one of the most recent additions to the Virginia Beach International Incubator.

Founded in Tel Aviv, Orca AI has a proven track record of making the seas safer. Its technology gives operators a clearer understanding of their surroundings, helping them navigate and respond to potential threats with greater accuracy.

Listen to Alon Shantzer, Vice President of Business Growth, on why Virginia Beach was the clear choice to set up its U.S. operations—and how our Business Development team helped make it possible.

09/25/2026

A lot of excitement surrounded the Advanced Air Mobility Exposition as industry leaders and experts spoke and demonstrated the next generation of advanced unmanned air systems and vehicles.

VBED’s Paul Bayer attended the event at Christopher Newport University, where he watched and engaged with experts as Virginia Beach looks to increase its leadership in unmanned systems.

Virginia Beach is already home to several autonomous craft and systems developers, and the Navy just announced it's establishing a Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

Virginia Beach has the resources and business environment, along with VB-based defense and technology partners, that allow this industry to reach new heights.

09/23/2026

Five years. 19 companies. Lots of success.

The Virginia Beach International Business Incubator expands the city’s reach and workforce globally through this unique and growth-focused resource.

Optii Corporation is one of the success stories that used the Incubator to establish a U.S. presence, scale their business, and utilize our connections to build relationships with key defense and research partners.

Global businesses. Local connections. New opportunities.

09/18/2026

A fantastic night at the Virginia Cup watching four Virginia Beach-based businesses compete for $50,000.

Congratulations to Manly and Where 2 Wheel for their wins. Manly took home both the People's Choice and third place. Where 2 Wheel came in second.

Thank you to Innovate Hampton Roads for allowing us to partner with you and celebrate these growing businesses.

09/17/2026

Expanding into a new country comes with big opportunities—and plenty of challenges. That’s where Virginia Beach’s International Business Incubators come in.

We go beyond standard strategies to fast-track a company’s ability to scale within the U.S. market by providing a 12- to-24 month runway of resources and connections to grow and establish themselves.

Global businesses. Local connections. New opportunities.

09/15/2026

Congratulations to the Armed Services YMCA for opening its new Virginia Beach facility earlier today.

The new Child Development Center offers more than 200 care spaces for our active-duty families, enhancing the health and well-being of our community.

Thank you to the YMCA and DoW for letting us participate in today’s celebration.

09/14/2026

Meet, greet, and cheer on Virginia Beach’s own competing in this year’s Virginia Cup during our pre-party on Thursday, Sept. 17th, from 3-5 p.m.

Four Virginia Beach-based companies are vying for the $50,000 grand prize to accelerate their growth. We’re gathering at the Hive to eat and network ahead of the event at the Sandler Center.

Join us for the pre-party by clicking the link and registering ahead of time:
https://bit.ly/4dwL9bM

09/14/2026

For five years, the International Business Incubators have helped make Virginia Beach a preferred destination for international companies looking to grow in the U.S. market.

By connecting international businesses with local partners, resources, and opportunities, the incubators help companies build a strong foundation for success while contributing to Virginia Beach’s growing global business community.

Global businesses. Local connections. New opportunities.