Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI)

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8:30AM-4:30PM M-F
703-324-5171 TTY 711
12015 Route 50, Suite 510
Fairfax, VA 22033
Rebecca Moudry
Director

Department Resources

Fairfax Founders Fund

Category: Programming Support Approved: June 28, 2022​

FFF Celebration Photo
FFF Cohort #2 Celebration at Bunnyman Brewing

Category: Programming Support 

Approved: June 28, 2022 

Project Description:  

The Fairfax Founders Fund is a grant and technical assistance program that provides early-stage funding of up to $50,000 to high-growth startups based in Fairfax County. This competitive grant supports the County's economic development strategy and Countywide Strategic Plan.  

To date, thirteen companies have been awarded grant funding from the first two cohorts.  

Project Partners​:

Department of Economic Initiatives ​| Fairfax County Economic Development Authority ​

​Funding Summary​:

County Investment: $1,000,000​
Total Investment: $1,000,000​

County Funding to Date: $275,000​
Direct Revenue Generated: TBD​

Project Goals:​

  • Foster innovation-driven businesses and job creation while preparing young companies for future investment opportunities.​
  • Promote Fairfax County's advantages by connecting startups with local partnerships and supporting the development of technology clusters.​
  • Champion economic mobility by providing a source of early-stage capital to high-growth businesses with diverse ownership.​
  • Program outreach to underrepresented and diverse founders, including women, people of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities.​

Project Milestones:​

  • Five companies were selected for grant funding in the first cohort in 2023​
  • Eight additional companies received grant funding through the program in 2024​
  • Applications for the third cohort closed on May 5, 2025, and are currently under review.

Project Outcomes:

  • Project Received IEDC Excellence Award in 2024

  • Short-Term Contract Success:

    • Pluribus Inc. (second cohort) –  Awarded a $1,123,469 Phase III Contract with Andrews Airforce Base 
    • Saltenna LLC (second cohort) – Awarded a total of $5,300,000 in contracts with the USSOCOM and DTRA
    • Medium-Term Intellectual Property Success:
    • 3D Orthobiologic Solutions (3DOS) (first cohort) – Executed a license for their patent associated with graft technology for segmental bone defect repair
  • Long-Term Product Success:
    • Near Start Fusion(first cohort) - Developing two new rail gun products for the energy and medical device industries
    • Bloom Catch(first cohort) – Expanding its product offering to include an API integration with point-of-sale transactions. 
       

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