What it is

The Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) is a nonprofit, member-driven association that connects technology companies, professionals and organizations in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region of Southwest Virginia. Its members range from emerging tech firms to the region's largest employers, and the council reports 200+ member companies and 15K+ member employees. RBTC is affiliated with the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance, which also includes the RAMP accelerator. It has offices in Roanoke and at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg.

What it offers founders

RBTC organizes its work around talent development and recruitment, entrepreneurial development, marketing and communications, and member engagement. It lists 50+ events a year. Highlights include:

  • TechNite: the annual celebration of the regional tech community, with a keynote and awards such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Rising Star. The 2026 edition was held May 7 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
  • Emerging Technology Conference: a two-day conference with tracks on AI and data systems, Industry 4.0, health and bio innovation, energy and infrastructure, venture and ecosystem, and career pathways. The 2026 edition is November 19 to 20 at the Hotel Roanoke; listed pricing is $275 for members and $325 for non-members.
  • WoTech: a program connecting women in technology through Morning Jolt coffee chats on the third Wednesday of each month, quarterly Lunch and Learns and Power Hour networking.
  • Hart of the Entrepreneur Impact Award: a $10,000 annual award, chosen by committee and presented at TechNite, recognizing a high-impact regional entrepreneur.

RBTC also runs a job board, internship and work-based learning programs, student programs, an IT Security Forum, and recurring series such as Beer and Biotech and AI Decoded.

Membership and pricing

Membership is open to organizations and individuals and runs annually from the join date. Benefits include member pricing on events, a directory listing, job board access, internship and leadership program access, peer advisory groups and the Tech Leaders newsletter. Dues are shown when you select a level on the Become a Member page. Companies seeking more visibility can become Annual Partners at Gold ($5,000), Platinum ($7,500) or Titanium ($10,000+) levels. Startups that complete RAMP In Residence receive two years of RBTC membership.

How to engage

Start with the events calendar, since many events are open to the community. For questions, use the contact page or call (540) 443-9232. The Roanoke office is at 709 S Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA 24016, and the Blacksburg office is at 2200 Kraft Dr, Suite 1350, Blacksburg, VA 24060.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

RBTC is the main tech industry network for the Roanoke-Blacksburg corridor, linking founders to Virginia Tech, regional employers, talent pipelines and the RAMP accelerator. For founders based in or expanding to Southwest Virginia, it is a practical way to meet customers, hires and peers outside the Northern Virginia and DC core.