WHAT ISTHE NISA PROGRAM?
TheNorthernVirginiaInternational Soft LandingAccelerator (NISA)Programisa cohort-basedaccelerator designedtohelp innovativeglobal startupssuccessfully enter theU.S.market,secureinvestment,andgrow at scale.Basedinaninnovationdistrict and poweredby GeorgeMasonUniversity's ScienceandTechnologycampusandkey regional partners,NISA providesasoft landingwithreal results,offeringpitch opportunities,expert mentoring,andaccess toworld-classlabandofficespace.
Ledby Naugen,aglobal innovation accelerator,theNISA Programservesasa gateway for biotech,medtech,anddeep-tech startups,includingAI,robotics,andquantum, seekingentry intotheU.S.market.Naugen bringsinternational experienceandstrategic insight toevery cohort,helpingfounders fast-track their growthinaregionknownfor itspro-businessenvironment and cutting-edgeresearch.
Phase 1: Coaching and Strategy
Wehelprefineyour businessmodel, sharpenyour pitch, andbuild investor-readyplans.
Phase 2: Landing and Growth
Youset upoperations, meet investors,and scalewithinour innovationecosystem.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
A frictionlesspath into the U.S. market ?From legal setuptolabspaceandtrustedlocal connections,NISA helpsyoubuildasolid foundationfor confident US entry,eliminatingthe typical barriersglobal startupsface.
A fast-track to clarity and confidence ?Refine your go-to-market strategy,validateyour story, andtakekey stepstowardsustainablegrowthwith expert support.
A cohort experience with global perspective ? Joinadiversegroupof foundersandgrow withina peer network rootedininnovation,collaboration, andsharedambition.
PROXIMITY THAT POWERS PROGRESS
NorthernVirginiaoffersunmatchedregionalaccess,with threemajorairportsandseamlessconnectionstothenation's capital.
BY THENUMBERS
30 milesfrom the FDA, NIH, DOD, and NSF
Virginia: #1 State for Business (CNBC)
Among the top 10 most diverse U.S. counties
Home prices3 times lower than in Silicon Valley and Boston
Top 25 High-Tech Hotspot (Progressive Policy Institute)
Located in Data Center Alley - #1 data center market in the world
George Mason University: Tier 1 research university
Four surrounding healthcare systems: UVA Health, Sentara, Inova, and Children'sNational
BUILT FORREAL GLOBAL SCALE
NISA isdesignedtodomorethanhelpinternational startupsland intheU.S.- it?sbuilt tohelpyouscale. Backedby Virginia?stopinnovationleaders,including GeorgeMasonUniversity,regional economic development groups,andprivatesector partners, NISA offerstheconnections,infrastructure,and expertisethat growingglobal venturesneedto succeedintheU.S.market.
Fromstrategiccapital introductionstoR&D collaborationwithworld-classresearchers,the programisstructuredaroundthekey pillarsof sustainableexpansion.Our goal issimple:toreduce barriersandaccelerateyour U.S.growthwhile connectingyoutothepeopleandresourcesthat matter most.
Capital Connection
NISA facilitateswarmintroductionstoventurecapitalists,angel investors,andcorporatepartners.Participantsalsogainaccessto DemoDaysandreceiveguidanceonsecuringU.S.grant fundingfor early-stagegrowth.
Market Access
Frombuyer accessandbusinessdevelopment support totailored go-to-market strategies,NISA helpsstartupsgaintractionand confidently enter theUS market
Innovation and Collaboration
NISA connectscompaniestoGeorgeMasonUniversity researchers andanetwork of CROs,enablingR&D partnerships,clinical collaborations,andproduct validationsupport.
Workspace and Launchpad
Selectedcompaniesfor Phase2 canstart strongwithuptosix months of freelabor officespace,on-sitestartupresources,andawelcoming founder community.NISA alsosupportsrelocationtoVirginia,offering connectionstotrustedlegal,banking,real estate,andaccounting providerstomakethetransitionseamless.
STRATEGIC LANDING
INFRASTRUCTURE
Thisisn? t just office space: It?syour front door to Virginia?smost connected innovation ecosystem. You?ve already built something impressive - now you need the right place to take it further. NISA surroundsyou with the labs, people, and backing to make that happen.
BUILD A PIPELINEfromresearchto recruitment by collaboratingwithGeorge MasonUniversity onsponsoredprojectsand tappingintostudent talent for internshipsand early-career hires.
ENGAGEWITH REGIONAL PARTNERS, LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, AND MUNICIPAL INNOVATION TEAMStoexplorenew marketsandbuildearly traction
WORK FLEXIBLY throughcoworkingspace at amodernstartupfacility
NAVIGATETHEPROCESSSMOOTHLY with onboarding,operations,andsupport provided by Naugen,NISA?sexperiencedprogram operator
Accessto Advanced Research and Testing Facilities
Throughcoordinatedschedulingandguidedaccess,NISA participantscanacceleratedevelopment acrossarangeof disciplines.
Availablefacilitiesinclude:
CAP-ACCREDITED CLIA DIAGNOSTICSLAB
For clinical assay development andvalidation
3T MRI FACILITY
Enablinghumanbrainand wholebody imaging
REGIONAL BIOCONTAINMENT
LAB (BSL-3 / ABSL-3)
For infectiousdiseaseand high-containment studies
NANOFABRICATION FACILITY
Ideal for biosensors, microdevices,andprecision engineering
COMMERCIAL VIVARIUM
Afully equippedenvironment for invivopharmacology anddisease modeling
A THRIVING HUB OF INNOVATION
Joinavibrant community whereideas convergeandbreakthroughshappen.
Asasoft landingcompany,you'll become part of adynamicecosystemwithinthe InnovationDistrict - hometo entrepreneurs,researchers,andglobal changemakersacrosshigh-techsectors. Here,innovationthrives,andsodothe peoplebehindit.
SECTORSPOTLIGHT
BUILT FORBOLD IDEAS LIKEYOURS
The Innovation District prioritizes:
- Bridgingindustry andacademiato strengthentalent pipelinesanddrive businessgrowth
- Deliveringeducationandworkforce trainingthat alignswithreal-world industry needs
- Creatingdynamicspacesand programmingthat attract andretain youngprofessionals
- Supportingbusinessesat every stageof their journey,fromearly ideatorapid scale
- Buildinganecosystemthat spans academia,industry,government,and healthcare
