The City of Virginia Beach Development Authority approved Optii Corporation as a new tenant for the Virginia Beach International Incubator, marking an important step in Optii's expansion into the U.S. market.
Optii Corporation, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, signed a two-year membership with the International Incubator. The company is advancing photonics technology for secure radio frequency communications, resilient sensing, and border-monitoring capabilities, and is actively pursuing partnerships with defence organizations as it grows its U.S. presence.
The Virginia Beach International Incubator supports international companies seeking low-risk expansion into the U.S. market. Located in Town Center and adjacent to the Department of Economic Development office, the incubator provides affordable office space, access to local experts and resources, and continued support from the city's economic development professionals.
Virginia Beach Deputy City Manager Amanda Jarratt welcomed Optii to the community and highlighted the city's commitment to international partnerships and business growth through the International Incubator.
Dr. Daisy Williams, Optii Founder and CEO, said the Optii team is excited to officially launch in Virginia Beach and expand its U.S. footprint in the Hampton Roads region, a globally recognized hub for defence innovation and military operations.
Hampton Roads offers a deep defence ecosystem, with military and federal assets, prime contractors, emerging technology companies, real-world testing environments across land, air, and sea, and a veteran talent pipeline. The region provides strong alignment for defence-focused companies developing dual-use innovation.
Doug Smith, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance, congratulated Optii and the City of Virginia Beach on the announcement, noting that Optii's decision reinforces the region's momentum across defence, energy, aerospace, and logistics and supports Hampton Roads as a hub for dual-use innovation.