This Month's Latest Tech News in Virginia Beach, VA - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Virginia Beach stands at the forefront of technology and AI transformation in 2025, with robust advancements in healthcare, defense, and federal innovation. Major institutions such as the University of Virginia are driving rapid AI integration in healthcare - streamlining medical records, enhancing diagnostics, and personalizing education for medical students - while advocating for transparency and human-centric implementation.

As noted at the AI in Health Care Symposium, balancing innovation with regulation remains crucial:

“It is critical for people to understand how to generate prompts ... we've got to remain diligent about keeping the human as part of the equation.” - Dr. Meg Keeley

On the federal side, Virginia Beach–based tech firms like DOMA and Livanta are harnessing AI to deliver a 50% efficiency leap in federal medical reviews and pioneering interoperability with Health Information Exchanges, as detailed in DOMA's federal healthcare initiative.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense's adoption of AI - from 3D-printed autonomous drones to cybersecurity automation via the SWIFT program - signals a vast shift toward mission readiness and cross-sector innovation, highlighted in Sea-Air-Space 2025.

The convergence of these efforts places Virginia Beach at the heart of America's AI-driven future.

The U.S. Navy, headquartered in Norfolk, is swiftly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across more than 60 operational programs, transforming both day-to-day readiness and high-stakes missions.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, emphasized AI's growing maturity, noting its role in personnel health monitoring, predictive maintenance, and rapid threat identification in complex environments.

“There's probably some 60 different programs that I can say artificial intelligence is actually working in today in some mature way for the Navy that most people wouldn't be thinking about,”

said Caudle, highlighting applications from medical record analysis to real-time battlefield decision support.

This wide-ranging implementation is part of the “One Atlantic” strategic blueprint, allowing dynamic resource sharing across commands, accelerating lessons-learned cycles from months to days, and reducing operational force requirements by an estimated 30%.

As detailed in a recent WAVY report on AI technology in the Navy, AI now informs everything from deployment health recommendations to complex threat discrimination during modern conflicts.

Institutional collaboration, such as with NAVWAR and the Dahlgren Center, supports the ongoing evolution of ship systems and engagement strategies, ensuring the Navy stays ahead in a rapidly changing global theater.

For a deeper look at strategy and operational impacts, see the Navy's blueprint for global agility, or read Admiral Caudle's extended remarks on current AI operational use at WTKR's coverage from Norfolk.

HopSkipDrive is transforming student transportation in Virginia Beach with the launch of its AI-powered RouteWise AI™ platform, designed to address critical school bus driver shortages and provide safe, flexible rides for students with complex needs.

The platform's AI analyzes thousands of scenarios to optimize routes, manage costs, and boost on-time arrivals, delivering actionable insights into student ride times, costs per rider, and bus utilization rates.

As part of their partnership with local districts, including Chesapeake Public Schools, HopSkipDrive supplements traditional school buses with a network of highly vetted CareDrivers® - caregivers with a minimum of five years' experience who undergo a 15-point certification.

This service targets students facing barriers such as homelessness, foster care, or disabilities, providing individualized transportation solutions that meet rigorous safety standards.

Recent legislative changes and growing adoption by over 600 districts nationwide underscore the platform's impact, as evidenced by unique improvements noted by Colorado Springs School District 11, including a 46% increase in efficiency and a 40% reduction in capital spending.

As Dr. David Benson of Chesapeake Public Schools affirms,

“We understand that reliable transportation is crucial for student attendance and academic focus. HopSkipDrive's expertise in providing safe and supplemental transportation makes them an ideal partner.”

For more on the Virginia Beach expansion and the impact of HopSkipDrive's RouteWise AI, see the official HopSkipDrive expansion announcement for Virginia Beach, discover how AI-driven rides are addressing school bus shortages in Virginia, and explore detailed outcomes in this deep dive on RouteWise AI's strategic routing performance.

HopSkipDrive, the innovative technology company transforming school transportation, announced that industry veteran Dave Lissy, former CEO of Bright Horizons, has joined its Board of Directors during a time of major expansion - including a recent move into Virginia Beach.

Lissy, who also chairs the boards of Bright Horizons and Redfin, brings three decades of experience scaling mission-driven organizations focused on children's services, a critical asset as HopSkipDrive launches its RouteWise AI™ platform and new safety initiatives in markets such as Atlanta, Kansas City, and Virginia Beach.

As Lissy noted,

“I'm thrilled to join HopSkipDrive's board and support their vital work in transforming student transportation. Their innovative platform helps school districts improve efficiency while facilitating safe, reliable rides for students with diverse needs... I look forward to helping the company scale this essential service to more communities across the country.”

HopSkipDrive, founded by three working mothers in 2014, now partners with over 600 school districts and has provided upwards of five million rides, using a marketplace of vetted caregivers and AI-driven tools to address transportation challenges.

For a comprehensive look at company growth and Lissy's appointment, see the official Business Wire press release on HopSkipDrive's board expansion.

Details of HopSkipDrive's expansion, leadership expertise, and technological innovation are further covered in the EdTech Innovation Hub news story detailing HopSkipDrive's AI-led school transport expansion and GuruFocus market report on Dave Lissy joining HopSkipDrive's board.

HopSkipDrive's advancements aim to set new standards in student transportation safety, reliability, and efficiency as demand grows nationwide.

In Hampton Roads, AI-powered mammogram technology is enhancing early breast cancer detection, offering real-life impact for patients with dense breast tissue and family cancer history.

At Riverside Health System, the Transpara Breast Care AI portal assists radiologists by flagging subtle abnormalities that could be missed by traditional readings, as seen in a recent case where AI prompted further ultrasound and ultimately a biopsy for a Newport News resident with a family history of breast cancer.

This innovation aligns with ground-breaking findings from extensive research: a retrospective study at Massachusetts General Hospital showed AI-assisted detection using Hologic's Genius AI® solution identified cancers initially missed by radiologists and improved cancer localization, while also reducing overall reading time by up to 24% (Hologic's AI-powered mammography breakthrough data).

National and international studies further support the clinical promise of AI, showing a 13.8% increase in cancer detection rates for radiologists using AI assistance, without increasing recall rates (AI-assisted mammography screening improvements).

Patient trust remains a vital consideration, with surveys revealing that 71% of women prefer AI as a second reader rather than a replacement for the radiologist - a crucial point for screening adherence and patient satisfaction (patient support for AI as backup in mammography).

As summed up by lead researcher Dr. Manisha Bahl,

“As AI continues to evolve, I believe it will become an increasingly vital tool for radiologists, helping to transform breast cancer detection and ultimately reduce the burden of this disease for patients.”

OpenMetal, headquartered in Virginia Beach, is shaking up the AI infrastructure landscape with the launch of its high-performance Private GPU Servers and GPU Clusters, delivering dedicated NVIDIA A100 and H100 GPUs for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads.

With a focus on complete hardware control, transparent monthly pricing, and no virtualization layer, these solutions appeal to startups and enterprises in sectors like healthcare, finance, and research seeking compliance, privacy, and data locality.

Rafael Ramos, OpenMetal's Director of Software Engineering, said,

“Public cloud GPU access is riddled with limitations - premium pricing, throttled performance, and infrastructure you don't truly control. We built our GPU Servers and Clusters to provide a different experience: complete control, transparent pricing, and no compromises on performance or privacy.”

Customizable for performance and cost, OpenMetal's infrastructure supports popular AI frameworks and can be deployed as standalone nodes or integrated clusters with OpenStack.

Their Private AI Labs program offers up to $50,000 in credits to accelerate AI projects on secure, private hardware. Currently available in U.S. East and West regions, OpenMetal plans a global expansion later in 2025.

The table below outlines core features of the new offering:

Feature	Description
GPU Models	NVIDIA A100, H100
Deployment	Standalone or clusters (with OpenStack)
Billing	Transparent monthly pricing, no hidden fees
Support	Full root access, expert deployment aid
Availability	U.S. East & West (Europe/Asia coming 2025)

Learn more about these game-changing private GPU servers for AI & ML workloads, see how OpenMetal supports dedicated, customizable GPU clusters, or explore options and credits via their Private AI Labs Program.

DX Engage, based in Virginia Beach, has achieved FedRAMP Ready status, marking a significant milestone in the region's secure cloud innovation ecosystem and accelerating federal agencies' ability to adopt modern, compliant cloud technologies.

This progress follows the broader momentum of FedRAMP's 20x initiative, which, as of April 2025, has granted Ready designation to seven new cloud services, streamlined standards, and launched pilot programs to cut certification times from months to weeks according to the official FedRAMP update.

The revamped process reduces documentation, leverages automation - automatically validating up to 80% of security requirements - and eliminates agency sponsorship for cloud service providers to attain the coveted listing on the FedRAMP Marketplace explains Wiley's Government Contracts and Cybersecurity analysis.

These improvements support the General Services Administration's AI priorities and are designed to foster secure, rapid technological adoption across federal government operations.

As John Allison from Optiv + ClearShark notes,

“FedRAMP is probably the world's toughest cybersecurity audit, and we've seen a lot of companies make costly mistakes over the years trying to pass it.”

To help new providers like DX Engage navigate these changes, veteran consultancies have introduced specialized advisory services, reflecting a growing ecosystem around federal cloud security requirements as covered by PRWeb.

This wave of modernized authorization and robust local expertise positions Virginia Beach as a key player in next-generation federal IT transformation.

As Virginia Beach schools continue to face challenges from ongoing bus driver shortages, new tech-driven solutions are stepping in to bridge critical transportation gaps for students.

HopSkipDrive, a company specializing in flexible and secure student transport, has partnered with Chesapeake Public Schools and other local districts to supplement traditional yellow bus services, particularly benefiting those with special needs, in foster care, or experiencing homelessness.

Unlike conventional rideshares, HopSkipDrive's “CareDrivers” undergo a rigorous 15-point certification - including fingerprinting and background checks - and use Safe Ride Technology™ with over 50 safety features.

Rides can be tracked in real-time via the app, providing transparency and peace of mind for families and school administrators. According to an in-depth Virginia Mercury analysis on transportation shortages in Virginia schools, 91% of schools reported transportation shortages in 2025, up from 88% in 2022, and new legislation now allows schools to partner with private providers for alternative student transit.

As Dr. David Benson, Director of Transportation for Chesapeake Public Schools, observed:

“Chesapeake Public Schools is excited to partner with HopSkipDrive, especially to supplement our yellow school buses and support our students needing more individualized transportation. We understand that reliable transportation is crucial for student attendance and academic focus.”

The addition of AI-powered routing, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and SOC 2 Type II compliance for robust data security further strengthens the offering.

The following table highlights key features and impacts:

Feature	Details
CareDriver Vetting	5+ years caregiving, 15-point certification
Safety & Compliance	50+ safety devices, SOC 2 Type II certification
Community Impact	Supports students with unique needs, reduces missed school days

For more details on this innovative student transportation solution, see the official HopSkipDrive expansion announcement for Virginia Beach and the full School Bus Fleet report on the Virginia Beach partnership.

Portsmouth's pioneering approach to waste management is taking a leap forward with the deployment of AI-powered sorting technology at the city's recycling facilities, piloted by Recycling and Disposal Solutions in partnership with AMP Robotics.

The AMP ONE system, processing up to 150 tons of municipal solid waste daily with greater than 90% uptime, leverages deep-learning algorithms to identify, sort, and recover plastics, paper, metals, and other materials with remarkable efficiency (Detailed report on AI-powered waste sortation at Portsmouth's recycling site).

As described by Waste Connections Vice President Mark Ceresa,

“AMP's innovative design, enabled by its technology, allows the company to offer us a competitive package for achieving our goals in the region. The system is flexible to our scale, sorting, and Extended Producer Responsibility compliance needs, and can adapt as our commodity needs and waste stream changes.”

This Portsmouth initiative builds on a national trend: AMP's AI-guided robots achieve up to 120 picks per minute - a 200% speed increase over manual sorting - and help facilities like Evergreen boost recycled PET output from 40 million to over 147 million pounds per year, while removing up to 90% contamination (Insight into AMP Robotics' speed and precision in recycling processes):

Metric	AMP Robotics
Daily Processing Capacity	150 tons (Portsmouth site)
Pick Rate (per minute)	120 items
Contamination Reduction	Up to 90%
Annual rPET Output (Evergreen)	147+ million lbs

With robust investment, operational milestones, and exploration of next-generation solutions like biochar production, Portsmouth is leading the way in transforming regional waste into valuable resources and dramatically improving recycling economics (Overview of AI-driven sortation and recycling milestones in Portsmouth).

Biochar is emerging as a promising solution to the mounting waste and carbon sequestration challenges across the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach.

As traditional landfill space becomes limited with the closure of key waste-to-energy plants, regional waste authorities and companies are turning to cutting-edge approaches.

In Portsmouth, facilities are piloting the use of AI algorithms to sort more than 100 tons of garbage daily, identifying recyclables and substantial organic waste for potential conversion to biochar - a process that not only creates a compact, carbon-rich material from biogenic waste but also serves as a versatile tool for soil enhancement, carbon-negative concrete, and landfill management.

Matanya Horowitz, CTO of AMP Robotics, explains,

“Biochar, on the other hand, is relatively compact and capital efficient,”

noting its integration advantages compared to traditional composting.

The global biochar market is projected to grow from $195.7 million in 2024 to $277 million by 2031, driven by demand in agriculture and environmental sustainability, with North America and Asia Pacific leading the sector.

Year	Market Size (US$ Million)	CAGR
2024	195.7	-
2031	277.0	5.4%

Notably, Virginia is home to a $10M biochar plant in Waverly aiming for around-the-clock operation and partnerships with major carbon credit buyers like Microsoft, illustrating the economic and environmental momentum of this sector.

For more on Portsmouth's pilot combining AI and biochar, visit Portsmouth's AI-powered biochar initiative.

Full details on regional waste innovations can be found in this in-depth report on biochar's role in Hampton Roads, while market trends and future projections are covered in the latest biochar market analysis.

Virginia Tech is accelerating its tech workforce development with a comprehensive, statewide approach, highlighted by the inauguration of its $1.1 billion Innovation Campus in Alexandria in spring 2025 - a cornerstone of Virginia's ambitious Tech Talent Investment Program backed by over $2 billion in public and private investment.

This initiative aims to generate more than 31,000 new computer science and engineering graduates over the next two decades, positioning Virginia as a leader in technology education and workforce readiness.

Partnerships with major industry players such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman, and coordinated academic programming across universities, reinforce this strategy.

The Tech Talent Pipeline Partnership program enables students at select Virginia institutions to streamline their path to a master's in engineering or computer science at Virginia Tech, often in just one additional year, enhancing both accessibility and career prospects.

An industry-aligned curriculum at the new Innovation Campus ensures hands-on experience and advanced research opportunities from day one. For a detailed breakdown of investments and projected outcomes, see the table below:

Initiative	Investment	Output/Goal
Tech Talent Investment Program	$2+ billion	31,000+ new graduates in 20 years
Boeing Partnership	$50 million	Scholarships, faculty, K-12 STEM outreach
Innovation Campus Facility	$302 million (building cost)	500+ initial grad students; 750 master's & 200 PhDs planned

For an in-depth look at the Innovation Campus and its real-world impact, read Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus launches in Alexandria; to learn more about statewide tech talent initiatives, visit Building The Top Tech Talent Pipeline In Virginia; and for specifics on student pathways and university partnerships, review Tech Talent Pipeline Partnership Programs.

Virginia Beach's trajectory in 2025 underscores the region's thriving tech ecosystem, where innovation, collaboration, and investment drive both economic and social transformation.

Strategic initiatives like the Virginia Beach Development Authority's over $136,000 in small business grants are fueling growth for local firms specializing in AI, cybersecurity, and digital health, as highlighted by Deputy City Manager Amanda Jarratt:

“These grants are fuel for innovation, job creation and economic vitality in our community.”

Regional universities, backed by a $1.61 million investment from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, are now leading cross-institutional research to secure AI against sophisticated threats, ensuring Virginia's position as a top cybersecurity innovator.

Meanwhile, new funding rounds such as SpecterOps' $75 million and Zephyr AI's $111 million Series A point to robust venture capital momentum statewide, as detailed in the StartVA fundraising roundup.

The local tech fabric is further reinforced by workforce initiatives like Nucamp's Cybersecurity Fundamentals Bootcamp and flexible financing, helping residents access high-demand skills.

As Virginia Beach and its partners continue to prioritize inclusive growth, research excellence, and community-driven entrepreneurship, the city remains at the vanguard of AI and technology innovation, charting a bold path for the region and the Commonwealth.