Entrepreneurs, Startups & Small Businesses
The Possibilities Are Everywhere in FFX NOVA
If you’re a self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit, you’ll feel at home among the 1,000+ startups and new small businesses in Northern Virginia emerging every day. Among our rapidly growing tech community and diverse pool of talent, company founders gain access to capital and the right partnerships to bring their next great idea to fruition.
Creative and innovative by nature, our region is the ideal place for Fortune 500 companies and corporate entrepreneurship. Dream big and access resources like Virginia small business grants in Fairfax NOVA.
Quick Links
- Startup Virginia
- Starting a Business in Fairfax County
- Arlington Economic Development Small Business Resources
- Alexandria Small Business Development Center
- Loudoun County Small Business Center
- Prince William County Small Business Resources
- City of Fairfax Small Business Resources
- Town of Vienna Small Business Resources
- Starting a Business in the Town of Herndon
- City of Falls Church Business Resources
Go for it in Fairfax NOVA
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority offers a variety of resources for new businesses and startups in Northern Virginia, such as free workshops and mentoring.
Browse FCEDA’s Small Business ResourcesFast Facts
Best State for Business Climate (Virginia)
Site Selection Magazine, 2023Unexpected Cities for Entrepreneurs (Fairfax County)
Livability, 2023Most Educated City in America (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria)
WalletHub, 2022Spaces for Rule-Breakers
If you’re looking for stress-free, safe creative environments to do your best work, you’ll find it in FFX NOVA. Entrepreneurs thrive at our dynamic co-working spaces like Refraction in Tysons, Workspace at Reston Town Center and SevaSpaces in Merrifield. Incubators support entrepreneurs starting new businesses in Northern Virginia by providing mentorship and guidance. Startup Virginia connects entrepreneurs of high-growth startups with seasoned mentors and multitude of programs to help them achieve success.
The Mason Enterprise Center at George Mason University (GMU) focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of GMU on enterprise creation and expansion while the 90-day MACH 37 accelerator program is designed specifically for cyber product companies. And Topspin Labs, a technology spinoff incubator, provides new ventures with an expert management team to help support their growth.
Support for Great Ideas and Growing Startups
The FFX NOVA economy is supported by a strong, well-developed investor network. In fact, capital investment in Fairfax County totaled $1.2 billion in the most recent four quarters (through the second quarter of 2023). Several public and private sources of capital help with the launch of startups in Virginia and Fairfax County Economic Development Authority can help you navigate these opportunities!
Startup Events, Seminars & Bootcamps
Annual innovation events in Northern Virginia will help you, a purpose-driven entrepreneur, jumpstart your businesses and learn from other rule-breakers in the community. Almost every month since 2003, FCEDA has offered a free seminar called Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County. More than 5,000 entrepreneurs and would-be business owners have attended one of these sessions over the past ten-plus years.
Loudoun County facilitates several networking events throughout the year and hosts the region’s 1 Million Cups series. Alexandria County’s Alexandria Small Business Development Center offers workshops, advice and insider networking to startups and businesses in the county at no cost. While Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch, a small business assistance program, helps small businesses in the area grow and thrive through curated support. And, Prince William County’s Department of Development Services works with first-time business owners to get their projects up and running fast.