Potomac Tech Wire - Nov. 14

NASA Launches On-Demand Streaming Service NASA+

o NASA Launches On-Demand Streaming Service NASA+
o Rockville-Based DealerOn Acquires Florida’s fusionZONE
o Georgetown-Born Orbit Technologies Raises $500,000
o EcoMap Technologies Receives $750,000 From TEDCO
o Falls Church-based Methylennium Receives Initial Funding
o Columbia-Based Synergy ECP Gets Investment from Falfurrias Capital
o DC-Based Consilio Promotes Meredith Kildow to President
o Briefly Noted: Intact Technology, IonQ, D-Fend Solutions, MAG Aerospace

NASA Launches On-Demand Streaming Service NASA+

Washington, DC – Space agency NASA said it has launched a new on-demand streaming service — called NASA+ — and upgraded app featuring original content focused on space. The platforms will feature original video series, live launch coverage, kids' content, Spanish-language programming and news from NASA. The no-cost, ad-free streaming service is available to download on most major platforms via the NASA app, as well as streaming media players Roku and Apple TV. The agency said the platforms are part of its effort to make content more accessible to the public. Earlier this year, NASA also launched its revamped nasa.gov and science.nasa.gov websites.

Rockville-Based DealerOn Acquires Florida’s fusionZONE Automotive

Rockville, Md. – DealerOn, a Rockville-based developer of websites and marketing technology for auto dealerships, said it has acquired Florida-based counterpart fusionZONE Automotive. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DealerOn said the move is designed to accelerate its growth and bolster its technology platform. fusionZONE helps auto dealers improve their online visibility, climb in search rankings and improve their engagement on social media. Under the deal, fusionZONE’s employees are expected to join DealerOn.

Georgetown-Born Orbit Technologies Raises $500,000 in Pre-Seed Round

Washington, DC – Orbit Technologies, a developer of virtual reality technologies born earlier this year out of a dorm room at Georgetown University, said it has raised $500,000 in a pre-seed round of funding from New York-based gaming venture capital firm Dune Ventures. The company will use the fund to build its immersive neurotechnology device, which is designed to make the virtual experience hyperrealistic, verging on indistinguishable from reality. A pre-sale launch is expected by mid-2024. Founders David Brillembourg and Colton El-Habr also have won over $50,000 at pitch competitions and participated in several of Georgetown’s flagship entrepreneurship programs.

EcoMap Technologies Receives $750,000 From TEDCO

Baltimore – EcoMap Technologies, a Baltimore-based developer of a platform for organizing and connecting communities, announced that it has received $750,000 from TEDCO, the Maryland state economic development entity. The funding came from state’s Small Business Credit Initiative. Using data aggregation, EcoMap categorizes and monitors various ecosystems, including those focused on higher education, entrepreneurial communities and industry sectors. The company’s founder, Pava LaPere, was murdered in September, a case that received national media attention. A suspect in the case has been arrested.

Falls Church-based Methylennium Receives Initial Funding For Clean Energy

Falls Church, Va. – Methylennium Energy, a Falls Church-based startup developing technology for net-zero energy, announced that it has received an initial investment in cash and design services from The Process Group (TPG). Methylennium is developing technology for the production of renewable carbon methanol by combining captured CO2 with renewable hydrogen. The company’s technology will focus on the aviation and ocean shipping industries. “When TPG learned about innovations for grid-independent production of green methanol with novel power integration and flexible reactor technology, I urged that TPG moves quickly to invest in the MLE green methanol platform,” said John Reardon, CEO of TPG.

Columbia-Based Synergy ECP Lands Investment from Falfurrias Capital

Columbia, Md. – Synergy ECP, a Columbia, Md.-based provider of cybersecurity, software and IT services to intelligence and defense clients, said it has landed a new investment from North Carolina-based Falfurrias Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Owners Bruce Howard, Dave Wisniewski and Chad Michael will continue to lead Synergy ECP with Falfurrias’ Marybeth Wootton, Joe Price and Grant Hundley all joining the company board. Wootton, who joined Falfurrias in 2022 as executive advisor, will become the company’s board chair. She previously held federal technology roles with companies such as Novetta, Berico Technologies, BAE Systems, and IBM.

DC-Based Consilio Promotes Meredith Kildow to President

Washington, DC – Consilio, a DC-based provider of e-discovery, document review and legal consulting services, said it has promoted Meredith Kildow to the role of president. The move comes two months after the company closed on its acquisition of Lawyers On Demand and SYKE. Kildow has served as the company’s chief revenue officer for the past four years, and previously led various functions within its revenue organization and operations teams. In her new role, she will oversee Consilio’s combined commercial business lines, including revenue, account management and operational delivery.

Briefly Noted:

(Reston, Va.) Reston-based Intact Technology, a developer of enterprise service management technology, has named Bahar Niakan as its managing director of HR modernization. Niakan most recently served as deputy associate director of the Office of Personnel Management’s Center for Leadership Development.

(College Park, Md.) College Park-based quantum computing company IonQ has named Margaret Arakawa as its CMO. Arakawa previously spent more than 20 years at Microsoft, and most recently was the CMO of Outreach and Fastly.

(McLean, Va.) D-Fend Solutions, an Israel- and McLean-based developer of radio frequency counter-drone takeover technology, has named Mike Laor as its CFO. Laor previously managed financial operations at NESS Technologies, Motorola Solutions, Exanet, F.I.S Software and Wiztec.

(Fairfax, Va.) Fairfax-based MAG Aerospace, a provider of command and control technology, has named Stephen Townsend to its advisory board. Townsend is a retired U.S. Army general, most recently serving as the fifth combatant commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).