Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens in ecosystems. And this year’s 757 TechNite Awards, held at the Chrysler Museum of Art, offered clear evidence that Hampton’s REaKTOR Technology Innovation Center is helping fuel one of Virginia’s most dynamic ecosystems.
Two REaKTOR-based companies, Psionic and Tidal Flight took home top honors, with Psionic named “Emerging Company” and Tidal Flight recognized as “Startup to Watch.” Both awards highlight the ingenuity and growth coming out of Hampton’s innovation corridor, where entrepreneurs, engineers, and researchers are developing technologies that are reshaping industries from aerospace to autonomy.
Psionic, a leader in coherent LiDAR and precision navigation systems, has become one of the region’s fastest-rising deep-tech companies, pioneering sensing technologies that originated in NASA research and are now being deployed across defense and commercial sectors.
Tidal Flight is charting the future of coastal mobility. The young company, founded in 2023, is developing a hybrid-electric amphibious aircraft called Polaris, designed to operate seamlessly between land and sea. Their recent $1.25M Direct-to-Phase II SBIR award from the U.S. Air Force underscores their growing national impact, and their recognition as a regional startup to watch solidifies their place among Hampton Roads’ most promising innovators.
REaKTOR companies Clear Aspect Solutions and VroomBrick were also honored as finalists in the categories of “Advancement in Defense Contracting” and “Startup to Watch,” respectively, further evidence of the deep talent pool and technical diversity taking root within the center’s walls.
Hosted by Innovate Hampton Roads, 757 TechNite marked its return after more than a decade, celebrating the organizations and individuals shaping the region’s entrepreneurial future. The event recognized achievements across nine categories, from education and government technology to defense innovation and leadership, demonstrating that the innovation engine driving Hampton Roads is firing on all cylinders.
For REaKTOR, the evening’s outcomes reflect a collective momentum. Each company, in its own way, embodies what REaKTOR was built to do: provide the space, network, and technical resources that help early-stage innovators transform ideas into scalable impact.
As Hampton continues to emerge as a hub for dual-use technology, advanced manufacturing, and autonomous systems, REaKTOR’s growing community of founders stands at the forefront, proving that world-class innovation is taking flight from right here in the heart of Virginia’s coastal corridor.
