technology | ALXnow

Published March 31, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated April 1, 2026 at 1:58PM

A rover outfitted with Saltenna communications tech, at the startup's office on Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Nestled within an industrial area of Alexandria’s Eisenhower West, a seemingly nondescript startup with a small sign near its front door is revolutionizing wireless communication in challenging environments around the world.

Saltenna moved to Alexandria from its previous headquarters in McLean last August, and its 20 employees have been using its proprietary plasmonic wave technology to help various U.S. government agencies communicate in dense jungles, underwater and through metal. The technology essentially shrinks light waves down to a nanoscale and guides them on various surfaces via an antenna.

Around Town

Alexandria resident launches new app to help job hunters tailor resumes

By Katie Taranto

Published March 12, 2026 at 10:40AM

Craig Certo and dog, Frank (courtesy of Craig Certo)

A software developer in Alexandria is piloting a new digital tool to help job seekers improve their resumes.

Craig Certo created Career Catalyst last year. It’s an application designed to cross-analyze a user’s resume and offer fine-tuned editing suggestions based on job postings they’re applying for.

News

Wegmans declines to confirm use of facial recognition technology at Alexandria store

By Emily Leayman

Published January 9, 2026 at 1:45PM

Wegmans in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Wegmans has declined to say whether its Alexandria store uses facial recognition technology, after the supermarket chain shared that some of its locations employ the security measure.

Cameras with facial recognition technology have been set up “in a small fraction of our stores located in communities that exhibit an elevated risk,” Wegmans said in a statement. Spokesperson Marcie Rivera declined to comment on the chain’s Carlyle location at 150 Stovall Street and other Northern Virginia locations.

News

California-based autonomous food delivery robots launch service in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 12, 2025 at 12:15PM

Serve Robotics has expanded its on-demand robotic delivery service to Alexandria (via Serve Robotics/Instagram.

The food delivery robots have come to Alexandria, and they’ve got your order.

California-based Serve Robotics Inc., in partnership with Uber Eats, recently launched its autonomous sidewalk delivery company across the city. That means that folks ordering food in Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac West and nearby neighborhoods now have the option to get their orders delivered by a driverless robot.

News

Q&A: Old Town tech firm founder wary of labor paradox posed by AI

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2025 at 4:30PM

Abel Meri, CEO of Notice Enterprises in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Abel Meri wants to make life easier for his business clients, but at what cost?

Meri is CEO of the Old Town-based Notice Enterprises, an automation company he founded in 2019. Notice has seen exponential growth over the last few years by using artificial intelligence to revolutionize how small businesses manage nearly every aspect of their workflows, from AI receptionists to the composition of lengthy legal documents.

News

Code Rising gives Alexandria students laptops after summer program

By James Cullum

Published August 15, 2025 at 6:00PM | Updated August 16, 2025 at 10:32PM

Participants of Code Rising's 2025 summer camp (courtesy image)

Code Rising gave dozens of Alexandria students a nice surprise with the end of their second annual summer camp this month — new laptops.

The Alexandria nonprofit was founded two years ago to help underprivileged kids learn about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The summer program provided elementary, middle and high school students with an introduction to STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) through the summer months, with students learning coding, making short movies and video games. They also went on weekly field trips, including to Continues Arcade in Old Town and more.

News

Agenda Alexandria co-chair launches kickstarter for local podcast studio

By Vernon Miles

Published September 13, 2024 at 2:30PM

Ricardo Alfaro testing equipment prior to starting a livestream (courtesy photo)

The goal of ALX Live Studios (no relation to ALXnow) is making high-quality live streams and podcasts more accessible and affordable to produce.

Ricardo Alfaro, co-chair of Agenda Alexandria and co-founder of one of Puerto Rico’s first podcasts, has launched a Kickstarter for a new production studio for podcasting, livestreaming and content creation.

News

Notes: Rep. Don Beyer enrolls at George Mason University to learn about artificial intelligence

By ALXnow.com

Published April 12, 2024 at 9:17AM

Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia's 8th District, speaks to supporters on election night at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 8, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, partly sunny skies, and a high around 68. Breezy conditions will prevail, featuring a west wind at 14-24 mph and gusts up to 43 mph; there’s a 40% chance of precipitation. Friday night will see scattered showers, mainly before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low near 52. The breeze will continue with a west wind at 21 mph and gusts reaching 39 mph, accompanied by a 30% chance of precipitation.

News

Notes: JBG Smith says tech and ‘other’ opportunities abound for failed Potomac Yard arena space

By ALXnow.com

Published April 4, 2024 at 9:00AM | Updated April 4, 2024 at 9:45AM

Rendering of concert venue at Monumental Arena development (image courtesy of JBG SMITH)

Happy Thursday, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect isolated showers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms that could produce small hail. The day should be partly sunny with a high temperature near 57. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of isolated showers between 8 and 11 p.m., with a low temperature of 39.

News

Alexandria husband and wife real estate team launch website to find lucrative assumable mortgages

By Vernon Miles

Published February 21, 2024 at 11:10AM

AssumeList founders Michael Lorino (left) and Bethany Stalder (right) (image courtesy AssumeList)

A husband-and-wife real estate team in Alexandria have launched a new site to help homebuyers find often lucrative assumable mortgages.

An assumable mortgage allows a buyer to assume the rate, repayment period, balance and other terms of the seller’s mortgage. For homebuyers, it can be a way around high-interest rates, but the trick is finding them.

News

ACHS’ Titan Robotics celebrate ten years of innovation and creation

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2024 at 10:55AM | Updated January 18, 2024 at 11:32AM

Titan Robotics team receiving instructions for the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition (photo via Titan Robotics/Facebook)

True to the legacy of the titan Prometheus, Alexandria City High School’s Titan Robotics team is celebrating ten years on the cutting edge of discovery and innovation.

Titan Robotics kicked off its tenth season earlier this month.