VIA and Stellar Development Foundation Collaborate with Hope for Haiti to Deliver Safe, Cashless Aid

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The program with Hope for Haiti will deliver over $200,000 in nutritional support to mothers through VIA’s ultra-secure, ultra-simple technology

Boston, MA – December 17, 2025 – VIA Science, Inc. (VIA) today announced a collaboration with the Stellar Development Foundation to support the disbursement of aid through Hope for Haiti. Hope for Haiti is a nonprofit working to alleviate poverty in southern Haiti for mothers facing financial hardship, and caring for children in need of nutritional assistance. Through this collaboration, mothers will receive funds, as stablecoins on the Stellar network, directly to a VIA app on their smartphones, eliminating the need for, and reducing the risks, that often come with carrying cash.

This six-month program will distribute more than $200,000 to 325 mothers connected with Hope for Haiti through their nutritional programs. Each participant will receive a monthly stipend of $100, which can be cashed out, transferred to other individuals, or used at multiple merchants in Haiti through VIA’s technology.

“Cash has traditionally been a common way to deliver aid in Haiti, but it can create safety risks and limit transparency,” said Skyler Badenoch, CEO of Hope for Haiti. “With VIA’s technology, we’re able to deliver support more securely, efficiently, and transparently, getting resources directly to the families who need them most.”

VIA’s technology will distribute the funds as a cryptocurrency called USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars and regulated under U.S. financial laws, offering reliability and protection from the volatility typically associated with other cryptocurrencies. To receive or use funds, both recipients and merchants only need a smartphone less than 10 years old.

“Limited access to traditional financial systems creates significant obstacles for humanitarian aid delivery,” said Candace Kelly, Chief Legal and Policy Officer for the Stellar Development Foundation. “By leveraging the Stellar network, organizations gain end-to-end transparency and can transfer funds directly to recipients, minimizing the risks inherent in cash-based operations. Combined with VIA’s ultra-secure technology, we ensure reliable and efficient delivery of assistance to communities in need.”

In addition to providing greater transparency, VIA’s technology has been designed for disrupted environments like active war zones where internet and electricity are unreliable, making it well-suited for the challenges of delivering aid in Haiti. This enables offline payments, meaning participants can use it to pay for goods or services, regardless of connectivity. 

“When someone is trusting our technology instead of carrying cash or a credit card, it has to work every time. That’s why our technology is built on military-grade capabilities that are designed to perform in the harshest, often deliberately disrupted environments,” said Colin Gounden, co-founder and CEO of VIA. “Our goal is to make tools that work reliably wherever people need them, because their safety and well-being depend on it. Supporting families in Haiti is a natural extension of what drives us at VIA. We build secure, human-centric technology that’s accessible to those who need it, when they need it.”

Over the past decade and beyond, Haiti has received significant aid from the international community due to natural disasters and social and political unrest, underscoring the importance of ensuring assistance reaches those who need it the most and making this collaboration a strong model for how secure, cashless technology can deliver support more safely, reliably, and transparently, to everyone, especially the unbanked. The success of this program has the potential to shape how future aid programs scale to better protect and empower the most vulnerable populations.

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About VIA
VIA is the trusted Web3 technology partner to the Pentagon and Fortune 100 companies around the globe, driven to make mission-critical digital assets accessible anywhere, anytime, through ultra-secure, ultra-simple technology. Backed by 19 issued patents, VIA’s quantum-resistant, passwordless, military-grade technologies safeguard customers’ most valuable digital assets from human and AI agent threats. Learn more at www.solvewithvia.com.

About Stellar Development Foundation
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization focused on working with and supporting changemakers to create equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. SDF provides grants, investments, funding, and other awards to builders and organizations. SDF also develops resources and tooling on the Stellar network to help unlock real world utility. As a nonprofit foundation, SDF puts the health of the Stellar network and the Stellar ecosystem and its mission above all else. For more information, visit https://stellar.org/foundation.

About Hope for Haiti
With experience running poverty alleviation programs in Haiti since 1989, Hope for Haiti has emerged as one of the most trusted non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly women and children. The organization’s team and network of partners in southern Haiti provide people with better access to education, healthcare, water, and economic development opportunities. Hope for Haiti is a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator and a participant at the Platinum Level through the GuideStar Exchange, two leading independent evaluators recognizing the organization’s transparency and careful stewardship of donor resources. To learn more: www.hopeforhaiti.com.

For media inquiries, contact:

Invariantviacomms@invariantgr.com(847) 308-0545

 

VIA co-hosts the Official FSBC Forum Side Event: Digital Assets & Innovation Night

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VIA has been selected to co-host the Official FSBC Forum Side Event: Digital Assets & Innovation Night alongside 21X and the FSBC. Our CEO, Colin Gounden, will join the discussion and focus on the strategic deployment of DLT and digital assets within regulated markets, specifically addressing the critical need for definitive, military-grade identity, and Zero Trust solutions to ensure mission integrity.

VIA Knowledge Hub: A new resource to help developers build secure, compliant software

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We’re excited to launch VIA Knowledge Hub, a new resource built for teams developing cloud and edge software for highly-regulated sectors like finance, healthcare, and national security.

Why we launched VIA Knowledge Hub

Building software in highly-regulated industries is hard. Security standards are strict. Compliance documents are challenging to interpret. Often, there is a lack of practitioner focus. Many resources stay high-level, instead of offering concrete help for developers and security engineers.

In addition, technology shifts fast and software teams are under immense pressure to build quickly. Security can often feel like a roadblock when deadlines are imminent.

We created VIA Knowledge Hub to make it as easy as possible for developers to build secure, compliant software, without compromising speed or efficiency. Instead of chasing answers across disconnected channels, teams can find timely, practical, and trusted resources all in one place.

What you’ll find inside

VIA Knowledge Hub is more than a library. It’s a living resource designed to help teams act. Inside, you’ll find:

  • Curated content: Tutorials, technical posts, vetted resources, and security concepts explained in plain language.
  • Actionable insights from practitioners: Code snippets and examples you can directly apply to your work.
  • Candid discussions: Cybersecurity, engineering, and DevSecOps leaders offer unique perspectives and share what’s worked for their teams.
  • Frequent updates: New content added at least weekly so you always have the latest guidance.

Who it’s for

VIA Knowledge Hub is built for:

  • Engineers and architects building cloud and edge software
  • DevSecOps and compliance specialists
  • Technical leaders supporting teams without slowing innovation

If you work where cloud software and compliance meet, VIA Knowledge Hub is for you.

Explore VIA Knowledge Hub

Explore VIA Knowledge Hub today, subscribe for updates, and tell us what would make it most valuable for you. Find VIA Knowledge Hub on:

Substack

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube 

LinkedIn 

X

The importance of quantum-secure data and file sharing in the era of HNDL attacks and Q-Day

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In today’s digital economy, ultra-secure data and file sharing is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity. But as cyber threats evolve, so too must our security approaches. Quantum-secure file sharing is emerging as the next frontier in protecting sensitive data against advanced cyberattacks, including HNDL (Harvest Now, Decrypt Later) attacks, and preparing for the looming reality of Q-Day.

Understanding the quantum threat

Modern encryption systems like RSA and ECC, form the backbone of secure communications today. These systems rely on mathematical problems that classical computers cannot solve efficiently. But quantum computers change that calculus.

Quantum computing threatens to break traditional encryption in seconds. That means that any data transmitted today, if intercepted and stored, could be decrypted once quantum computing becomes widely available. Furthermore, even if your current system uses data that is mostly encrypted with PQ resistant AES keys, an attacker will target the encrypted data and the non PQ resistant Key Exchange Mechanism (RSA or ECC KEM) and then using the key simply decrypt the PQ resistant encrypted data. This looming shift in cybersecurity is often called Q-Day, the point when quantum computers can break current cryptography.

What is Q-Day?

Q-Day refers to the moment when quantum computers achieve enough power to decrypt most of today’s encrypted data. Experts believe this is approaching within the next decade. Once it arrives, any sensitive information transmitted with current encryption will be at risk, from medical records to financial transactions.

The stakes are especially high for industries handling regulated and sensitive data, such as healthcare, finance, defense, and government, where compliance and trust are paramount and exposed secrets can literally be life or death.

HNDL attacks: The quantum-driven threat

One of the most insidious threats emerging alongside Q-Day is HNDL (Harvest Now, Decrypt Later) attacks. This is a cyberattack where malicious actors intercept encrypted communications today and store them until quantum computing is capable of decrypting them.

This means that even if your data is secure today, it won’t be secure tomorrow. HNDL attacks turn the passage of time into a ticking time bomb against conventional encryption. It’s essentially future ransomware, especially to those carrying sensitive non-temporal data, such as your PII, DNA sequences, grid equipment and refinery information and locations, biometrics, highly sensitive communications, top secret data like the identities of field agents, and highly valued trade secrets. 

Why quantum-secure file sharing is critical

Quantum-secure file sharing uses post-quantum hybrid cryptography or quantum key distribution (QKD) to make file transfers immune to quantum decryption. This is the digital equivalent of moving to a secret vault with a lock no one, not even a quantum computer, can break.

Benefits include:

  1. Future-proof security: Protects data against current and future quantum attacks.
  2. Compliance assurance: Meets evolving regulatory requirements for data security and prepares organizations for NIST’s evolving PQC standards.
  3. Business trust: Demonstrates commitment to safeguarding sensitive data to your customers and partners.
  4. Peace of mind: Mitigates the risk of future HNDL attacks and Q-Day vulnerabilities.

Example use cases by industry:

  1. Healthcare: Transmitting protected patient health information (PHI) between employees and external parties that is subject to HIPAA compliance and significant liability.
  2. Finance: Safeguarding sensitive transactional data against fraud and cyber espionage, including private keys to cryptocurrency holdings.
  3. Government: Securing confidential communications and highly classified data, such as nuclear site locations and mission history.
  4. Energy: Protecting critical infrastructure data from industrial espionage, such as grid layouts and energy production reports.
  5. Biotech: Protecting critical IP and trade secrets from industrial espionage and ransomware, such as custom genetic sequences and formulations.

Preparing for Q-Day: Practical steps

  1. Assess your current encryption and architecture: Identify where traditional encryption is used and where it may be vulnerable to quantum attacks. Avoid centralized single-point-of-failure architectures. Even if you have quantum-encrypted private keys, your data is hackable if the private keys are accessed by nefarious actors.
  2. Implement solutions now, not later: Explore post-quantum solutions now. A great solution to get started is VIA’s QT platform, an easy-to-use, end-to-end quantum-resistant, decentralized data sharing platform built from the ground up to handle mission critical data.
  3. Train your team: Ensure your infrastructure teams are aware of quantum risks and upcoming compliance requirements.
  4. Monitor regulatory developments: Track data security regulations as the quantum threat intensifies. These bodies include: NIST, NSA/CNSS, CISA, ISO/IEC, ETSI, IETF, ENISA, and others.
  5. Partner with quantum-security providers: Engage with experts like VIA to stay in the loop on state of the art quantum resistant technologies and emerging standards.

Conclusion

The era of quantum computing is approaching fast, and with it comes both incredible opportunity and unprecedented risk. Q-Day is not a distant theory, it’s a real cybersecurity challenge on the horizon. And HNDL attacks mean the clock is ticking even faster and the danger is now. Deploying decentralized, end-to-end, quantum-resistant data solutions like VIA QT are an excellent way to take action now. The future of data protection depends on it. 

VIA opens Washington, D.C. office to enhance Pentagon partnerships

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – VIA, a leading provider of data-centric AI security solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and Fortune 100 companies, today announced the opening of its new office in Washington, D.C. This strategic expansion strengthens VIA’s commitment to its U.S. defense and intelligence community partners and positions the company to further enhance its support for critical national security and infrastructure initiatives.

Establishing a D.C. presence enables VIA to expand its secure data solutions across the U.S. government. VIAneers will now have a dedicated space to enhance productivity and collaboration with one another, VIA’s partners, and the region’s deep pool of experienced talent.

“Opening our Washington, D.C. office, located in The Wharf, reinforces our commitment to supporting the Department of Defense and other federal agencies in their vital missions,” said Joe Babiec, Chief Commercial Officer of VIA. “This new hub will enable us to even more effectively break down digital barriers to secure data sharing, helping to make our communities cleaner and safer.”

This expansion into the nation’s capital is a testament to VIA’s rapid growth and demonstrates a strong commitment to building on its trusted partnership with the U.S. defense and intelligence industry.

VIAneers take a Quantum Leap during largest ever in-person Power Up! meeting

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At VIA, we believe that taking a step back from day-to-day work helps us find better ways to solve problems. That’s why we gather all of our VIAneers together twice a year for “Power Up!” to connect, share ideas, and plan for what’s next. 

We recently held our largest ever in-person Power Up! in New Hampshire (between our Boston and Montreal offices), with the theme, “Quantum Leap: 2025 and Beyond.” This theme felt especially fitting as the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and we have launched our quantum-resistant digital signature and data encryption solution.

We embraced the “Quantum Leap” idea during this three-day event by showcasing hands-on demonstrations of our solutions and strategizing the ways to scale quickly in the fast-changing world of AI and quantum.

Watch the video: VIAneers take a Quantum Leap!

Here are some standout moments from our “Quantum Leap” Power Up!:

  • 0:36: Our COO, Kate Ravanis, shares the history of Power Up! and why these meetings are important to VIA’s success.
  • 1:51: Joe Babiec, Chief Commercial Officer, highlights that this was a fantastic opportunity for our team to celebrate accomplishments and focus on future challenges. (Spoiler: see if you can spot Joe as Max Planck, the father of quantum theory!)
  • 3:05: Haden Snyder, Director, Client Delivery, speaks to the value of Power Up! from a customer’s perspective.
  • 3:43: John Muddle, VP, Software Engineering shares how Power Up! gives the unique opportunity to demo each product end-to-end for all VIAneers. 
  • 4:31: Our CEO, Colin Gounden, emphasizes that VIA’s core values remain constant and will guide us into the future of rapid change.
  • 4:51: Get a sneak peek of VP, People and Operations, Emma Fechney hosting a candid, podcast-style interview with Colin and Kate.
  • 5:16: True to our Power Up! values of “Stay safe, work hard, have fun,” you’ll see the VIA team fully embracing the “fun” part!

Power Up!: The gift that keeps on giving

We believe that a strong, connected team is critical to our success and our ability to deliver innovative solutions to customers. Follow along with VIA on LinkedIn and X to hear more about Power Up! and catch a glimpse of Emma, Colin, and Kate’s podcast interview.

VIA at SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, FL

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VIA is thrilled to participate in this year’s SOF Week 2025, taking place this week from May 6-9, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. VIA’s VP, Business Development and Transformation, Stan Byers, and Senior Market Strategy Specialist, Carol Wang, will be attending the 3-day event where they are eager to share the latest from VIA. 

SOF Week brings together the Special Operations Forces community and industry partners to collaborate and showcase the latest innovations and strategies for modern special operations. For more information about the event, please visit the official SOF Week website.

VIA exhibiting at AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2025 in Baltimore, MD

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VIA has been invited to exhibit at AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2025, taking place from May 6-8, 2025 at the Baltimore Convention Center. VIA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joe Babiec and Director, Client Delivery, Haden Snyder will be exhibiting at Booth #2225. Be sure to stop by to chat about VIA’s VIA’s solutions, SLAM AI and Zero Trust Fabric (decentralized authentication and authorization). 

The event, attended by military leaders, government officials, and industry experts, is focused on, “exploring the evolving landscape of cyber threats and the innovative technologies needed to stay ahead.” For more information about the event, please visit the official AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2025 website and follow along with us on LinkedIn and X.

Why a leading investor is backing VIA’s secure data vision

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MassMutual Ventures (MMV) recently shared insights into their investment in VIA, highlighting the key reasons behind their decision to support our mission of securing critical data infrastructure to ensure communities are cleaner, safer, and more equitable. 

In their article, “Unlocking Secure Data for Energy and Mobility – Why We Invested in VIA,” MMV pointed to VIA’s proven traction within the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically noting deployments with the U.S. Air Force and Navy. This real-world use, in highly demanding environments, underscores our platform’s security and reliability, a critical factor for protecting sensitive data in government and regulated industries.

MMV sees our secure, decentralized data-sharing platform as a “critical piece of modern infrastructure” and a “foundational layer in the future of secure, data-driven systems.” This view aligns with the growing need for organizations to collaborate with partners, suppliers, and agencies while maintaining stringent control over sensitive information.

Interested in learning more about MMV’s perspective on VIA? Read the full article on Medium. 

VIA Secures $28M from Global Enterprises to Scale Its Decentralized Data and Identity Protection Platform Amid Surging Demand

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VIA to expand proven quantum-resistant, passwordless technologies in defense and enterprise sectors

SOMERVILLE, Mass., March 18, 2025 – Via Science, Inc. (VIA), has raised a $28 million Series B investment to accelerate its high-security, easy-to-implement data and identity protection platform for governments and enterprises. Organizations concerned about data moving across network boundaries, insider threats, and quantum-resistance, benefit from VIA’s decentralized, zero trust architecture, rigorously tested by the U.S. Department of Defense.   

VIA restricted this highly oversubscribed round to the most experienced and commercially relevant new investors, including Bosch Ventures (lead), BMW i Ventures, MassMutual Ventures, and Sentinel Global. The new investors joined Westly Group and select existing investors to make up the minority investment.

“Cyber experts at the U.S. Department of Defense and global enterprises have recognized that decentralized, passwordless, quantum-resistant solutions have become the only viable option to secure data transfers between systems of record, internal teams, external partners, IoT devices, and AI agents. This funding will accelerate adoption of the world’s first military-grade Web3 data protection platform by large enterprise customers,” said Colin Gounden, co-founder and CEO of VIA. 

As widely reported by the NSA and others, enterprise security remains highly vulnerable to massive breaches as cloud applications and perimeter-based defenses expose thousands of systems at once. VIA’s decentralized identity management, combined with end-to-end quantum-resistant encryption, ensures access and privacy for authorized parties, with enterprise-scale, auditability, and control. 

“As the number one supplier across automotive and many industrial sectors, we’re deeply familiar with the digital transformation taking place across supply chains. Our team was extraordinarily impressed with the phenomenal traction VIA is gaining across multiple sectors, and we see huge applications for their technology in the enterprise,” said Adam Jackson, Bosch Ventures partner, who led the funding.

Today’s cybersecurity incumbents focus primarily on network boundaries and passwords, leaving major vulnerabilities such as social engineering and administrator attacks unaddressed. VIA’s approach is fundamentally different. VIA’s natively decentralized, zero trust architecture empowers enterprises to safeguard their most critical assets in an easy-to-deploy, easy-to-maintain, and easy-to use platform.

“Unlike any other Web3 technologies, our quantum-secure, passwordless solutions can be deployed quickly in a variety of the most demanding environments and our entire software stack is checked 24/7 for vulnerabilities,” added chief operating officer and co-founder Kate Ravanis. “The level of data and identity protection required from our work in demanding environments at the DoD will help set a new standard in the civilian agency and enterprise market” continued Ravanis.

Kasper Sage, managing partner of BMW i Ventures added, “As software-defined vehicles, robots, and edge devices become the norm, securing data flows between sensors, onboard systems, agents, and external networks is more critical than ever. VIA is paving the way for real-time communication across trusted systems and safer, more resilient mobility solutions.”

Charles Svirk, Partner at MassMutual Ventures stated, “We have extensive knowledge of sensitive, regulated data and have been long-time investors in enterprise infrastructure, fintech, and security software. VIA’s solutions stand out with their decentralized Web3, quantum-resistant architecture by powering seamless interoperability across software connections and hardware endpoints. We look forward to supporting VIA’s enterprise growth through MassMutual’s connections in the energy, real estate and infrastructure sectors.”

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About VIA

VIA is the leader in decentralized, enterprise-scale data and identity protection. The U.S. Department of Defense and Fortune 100 companies worldwide trust VIA to provide the highest security technologies to safeguard their most critical assets. Backed by 18 issued patents, VIA’s data-centric platform is quantum-resistant, passwordless, and easy to implement, maintain, and use. Learn more at www.solvewithvia.com.

About Bosch Ventures

Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (Bosch Ventures) is the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services. Bosch Ventures invests worldwide in innovative start-up companies at all stages of their development. Its investment activities focus on technology companies working in areas of business of current and future relevance for Bosch, above all, automation and electrification, climate technologies, enabling technologies, and healthcare systems. Bosch Ventures also invests in services and business models that are relevant to the above-mentioned areas of business. Furthermore, Bosch Ventures enables co-innovation between Bosch and startups through the Open Bosch Program. Additional information is available online at: www.bosch.ventures. 

About BMW i Ventures

BMW i Ventures is the independent venture capital firm of BMW Group. From offices in Silicon Valley and Munich, BMW i Ventures invests in early to growth-stage companies defining the future of automotive, sustainability, manufacturing, and supply chain. Since starting in 2011, the firm has $800M under management and has invested in over 75 startups, including Bcomp, Boston Metal, CelLink, ChargePoint, GaN Systems, Motorway, Tekion, and Xometry. For more information: https://www.bmwiventures.com. 

About MassMutual Ventures

MassMutual Ventures (MMV) is a multistage global venture capital firm investing in financial technology, enterprise SaaS, healthtech, climate technology and cybersecurity companies. With teams based in London, Singapore, and Boston, MMV manages over $1 billion in investment capital across the globe. We help accelerate the growth of the companies we partner with by providing capital, connections and advice. With our deep expertise and extensive network, MMV helps entrepreneurs build compelling and scalable companies of value. For more information, visit www.massmutualventures.com.

Contact for Media Inquiries

Jackie Finn, VIA

jfinn@solvewithvia.com

Alpine Tech Forum – Davos 25 selects VIA’s CEO Colin Gounden for keynote presentation

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Alpine Tech Forum has selected VIA’s CEO, Colin Gounden, to give the keynote presentation during the action-packed event on January 21, 2025 in Davos, Switzerland. The presentation is happening alongside the acclaimed World Economic Forum event which brings together leaders from around the globe to “improve the state of the world.”

The keynote presentation, “Defense First: Digital Security, Resiliency, Usability,” will cover the critical needs of the defense sector and how companies like VIA can address them using a Web3, decentralized approach.

Following the keynote presentation, Colin will moderate a panel featuring the U.S. Navy CTO, Justin Fanelli, on innovation in the Armed Forces sector. That evening, VIA is hosting an exclusive, invite-only dinner with leadership from defense, Web3, and AI organizations across Switzerland and Europe. Visit the event page to register today!

Make sure to follow VIA on LinkedIn and X for a special announcement live from Davos! 

Alpine Tech Forum – Davos 25 invites VIA’s CEO Colin Gounden to moderate panel in Davos, “Rapid Innovation in Defense, The Armed Forces View” featuring U.S. Navy CTO

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Davos is THE place to be in January 🇨🇭

VIA’s CEO, Colin Gounden, has been invited by HomeofBlockchain.swiss to moderate the panel, “Rapid Innovation in Defense, The Armed Forces View,” at the Alpine Tech Forum – Davos 25 on January 21, 2025. The panel, featuring U.S. Navy CTO, Justin Fanelli, Arun Gupta of NobleReach, and Lars Minth from Swiss Armed Forces, will cover innovation and procurement in defense, collaboration between startups and government, and scaling defense technologies across borders. If you plan to be in Davos, make sure to register for the panel on the event page. This is a must-attend event!

Following the panel, VIA is hosting an exclusive, invite-only dinner with leadership from defense, Web3, and AI organizations across Switzerland and Europe. Make sure to follow VIA on LinkedIn and X for a special announcement live from Davos! 

 

Level Up, Scale Up, Power Up!: A tale of continuous improvement and exponential growth

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“Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

As a dedicated VIA follower, you know that this quote from Winnie-the-Pooh has been the inspiration and driving force behind our semi-annual company-wide Power Up! meetings. If you are new to our blog, here is a little background. 

When you are in the thick of day-to-day work, it can be hard to stop for a moment to consider that there might be a better way to accomplish a goal, project, or task. So, like Winnie-the-Pooh, we aim to stop bumping our heads. Twice a year we gather up the whole team to brainstorm ways to improve and innovate together.

In October, we hosted our largest-ever Power Up! featuring packed offices in Somerville and Montreal and one friendly competition for the most feasible and highest impact project. The theme, “Level Up, Scale Up, Power Up!” sure brought us to the next-level, and we’re here to break it all down for you.

Level Up: Continuous improvement

A month ahead of Power Up!, we asked our VIAneers to submit their ideas for projects that could accelerate and improve every day work. We saw tremendous potential with topics ranging from UX design roadmaps to GitHub Slack Integration to bridging quarterly ambitions and sprint tasks.

The official project selection committee combed through each idea and had the tough job of selecting just eight projects that would present the most feasible and highest impact concept at VIA. Next, the teams self-organized and the games began!

Each team had the opportunity to work closely with expert VIAneer coaches to fine-tune their projects and get ready for the ultimate demo. In front of an impressive line up of external judges, recruited specifically for Power Up! (check them out below!), teams delivered facts, research, and live demos. The judges, each with tremendous experience in startups, supercharged growth, and innovation, reviewed each project and rated them based on the value for VIA, technical readiness, risks and tradeoffs, and presentation skills.

Katie Wildman of PEO Digital

Shaun Chaudhuri, Partner at Westly Group

Kate Ravanis, COO of VIA

The winning team, GitHub Slack Integration, took home the prize of $2,000 USD in cold, hard cash. Their quick-win project aims to integrate GitHub notifications into Slack to streamline the code review process and cut down noise in the process for technical team members.

What did it take to achieve first prize? Let’s hear it directly from the judges: 

“The metrics you had were so digestible and attainable. It was great seeing specifically what the developer team could save and how you converted those metrics into saving the equivalent of four people’s time over the course of the year, it was such a tangible way to understand that the automation you are doing actually has an impact. It’s awesome!” – Katie Wildman

“In addition to the metrics, I really liked the roll-out plan, it was quite simple. The fact that you can test within a four hour period, which is such an easy deployment, really stood out to me.” – Shaun Chaudhuri

Potential time savings with the GitHub Slack Integration.

And finally, Kate Ravanis rounding out the feedback with true VIA values vibes:

“What set your project apart was how clearly you stated the problem you are trying to solve. Not everyone at VIA is living in the day-to-day with GitHub, but you demonstrated the problem in a way that was very easy for everyone to relate to. Huge shout-out to the GitHub Slack Integration team!”

First place wasn’t the only prize – the second place team, SQL and Data Explainer, received $500 in gift certificates, and the third place team, VIA Style earned a party for their fellow VIAneers.

The dedication we saw to improving processes at VIA was overwhelming. We are proud of each VIAneers contributions and how they live our values each day.

Scale Up: Exponential growth

As we mentioned, this was our largest-ever Power Up!, and when we say VIA has had exponential growth over the last year, we mean it. Our revenues grew 5x in 2023, 2x in 2024, and are on track to double again next year, in 2025. Now, that’s a lot of brain power in our corner and it’s not stopping any time soon! 

We attribute this growth to our people and special programs like Power Up! By taking the time to solve things more efficiently, smarter, collaborative, and innovative, each individual propels VIA in the direction of massive growth. 

Power Up!: Join our team and follow along 

If you are an individual who leads discussions with curiosity, values diverse perspectives, is eager to explore new ideas, and constantly seeks opportunities to grow and develop your skills, contact us! We are always looking for individuals who have what it takes to be a successful VIAneer to join our team. 

Follow along on LinkedIn and X for the latest at VIA.

 

Forbes dives deep into trailblazing relationship between U.S. Navy and VIA

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Tom Davenport, best-selling author and expert in AI and analytics, wrote a recently published article in Forbes titled, “Speeding Up Digital Acquisition Dramatically At The US Navy” that covered the evolution of procurement cycles at the U.S. Department of Defense. He opens up by explaining that historically this process has taken anywhere from five to fifteen years to complete, which is drastically different from the pace of AI capabilities today (an area the Navy has identified as critical).

The gamechanger? 

The Department of the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Digital simplified how they identify the best internal and external innovations and getting them to the field faster through an Innovation Adoption Kit that includes 15 different “plays,” including structured piloting for speed.

What started as a public RFP with over 100 companies applying in October 2022 turned into VIA being under contract with the Navy in May 2023. As VIA’s CEO, Colin Gounden, referenced in the article, he has been impressed by the major improvements in the speed of the procurement process. Echoing the same sentiment was Justin Fanelli, the Navy’s Chief Technology Officer and Technical Director for PEO Digital:

“We are simplifying and expediting how we identify the best internal and external innovations and getting them to the field faster and at better value.”

For the full article, covering more detail on how the Navy is working hard to make the process more efficient and how VIA is making the feedback and implementation loop shorter, visit Forbes’ website.

Defense TechConnect selects VIA for poster presentation at upcoming conference in Austin, TX

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Another trip to Austin, Texas, to discuss cutting-edge solutions for the DoD’s most pressing challenges!

VIA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joe Babiec, is heading to the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo on December 3-5, 2024. VIA was selected for a December 3 poster presentation about SLAM AI, our ultra-secure GenAI architecture for natural language analysis and visualization of sensitive data.

To learn more about the event, attended by top military, industry, and investment leadership dedicated to national security-related innovation and societal advancement, visit the event website and follow us on LinkedIn and X for photos and insights.