August 12, 2026
How COgro Member ThermaSENSE Turned a Newsletter Alert into a Coworking Microgrant
When local entrepreneurs plug into the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) ecosystem, they get far more than a desk or lab—they get direct access to regional growth opportunities.
A prime example of this ecosystem in action is Ali Roghani, Blacksburg native, four-time Virginia Tech alum (B.S., M.S., Ph.D. in engineering, plus an MBA), and founder of thermal sensing startup ThermaSENSE.
Ali’s founder journey is a quintessential Blacksburg success story. After spending over a decade at Virginia Tech mastering advanced engineering and business strategy, he launched ThermaSENSE in 2017 to solve complex challenges in thermal monitoring. As both an inventor and local entrepreneur, Ali has remained deeply committed to scaling his venture right here in the New River Valley.
Securing a RAMP Coworking Microgrant
Ali was recently awarded a coworking microgrant through the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) and the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance providing up to $1,000 toward qualifying workspace expenses, thanks to a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Grant awarded. The funding directly supports his membership at COgro Coworking, where he is advancing next-generation sensor technology.
Under Ali’s leadership, ThermaSENSE develops non-invasive AccuTemp sensors capable of measuring the internal temperature of objects directly from the surface in real time. From precision agriculture and biomedical healthcare to wearable technology, the commercial applications for Ali’s innovation are massive. Keeping core operations rooted at COgro gives the ThermaSENSE team a central launchpad and access to a collaborative innovation network.
The Power of Staying Connected
How did Ali catch wind of the grant? He spotted it in the inaugural edition of our Innovations Monthly Digest, which regularly curates funding alerts, mentorship programs, and ecosystem news for COgro members and the Entrepreneur Resource Center (ERC) community.
Roghani’s grant is a prime example of what happens when homegrown technical talent, regional partners like RAMP, and resources like COgro Coworking + Labs and the ERC align to support Blacksburg founders.
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