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Lighthouse Labs leader has ‘deep heart for entrepreneurship’
Explaining how she became involved in supporting entrepreneurism, the new managing director of Richmond-based accelerator Lighthouse Labs jokes that “it was all accidental.” As a James Madison University senior putting herself through school, Debbie Irwin couldn’t find a class that lined up with her work schedule, so her dean suggested writing a senior thesis instead. […]
StartVirginia: HEARD AROUND VIRGINIA
Comcast said April 9 it is opening grant applications for a program benefiting small businesses across Greater Richmond. The global cable broadcasting company said the grant packages include business coaching, education sources, media schedules, creative production, technology makeovers and $5,000 in cash. Comcast’s RISE program is aimed at supporting the growth of small businesses while [&h[...]
SCCF to host national entrepreneurship conference
Shenandoah Community Capital Fund is hosting a national entrepreneurship organization’s summit in Harrisonburg, marking the first time the bi-annual event has convened in a rural area like the Shenandoah Valley, says Anika Horn, who directs SCCF’s entrepreneurial ecosystem-building efforts. The Startup Champions Network (SCN) Spring Summit runs April 30 through May 2. Staunton-based SC[...]
VIPC taps Benevento as permanent president and CEO
Joe Benevento will remain as the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp.‘s president and CEO permanently after serving in the role on an interim basis since September 2023, VIPC announced Wednesday. Benevento took over as interim CEO when Bob Stolle announced he was stepping down. A not-for-profit corporation created in 1985 by the General Assembly as an […]
Israeli defense giant launches Herndon aerospace accelerator
Herndon will soon have something in common with Tel Aviv — an aerospace accelerator and innovation center run by Israeli state-owned aerospace and defense company Israel Aerospace Industries, which helped design Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. IAI and IAI North America, its Herndon-based U.S. government contracting subsidiary, in cooperation with California- and Washington, D.C.[...]
McLean AI health care startup raises $111M in Series A funding
McLean-based Zephyr AI has raised $111 million in a Series A funding round, the health care technology startup announced March 13. The round included participation from about 30 investors, including Revolution Growth, Eli Lilly & Co., Jeff Skoll, and Epiq Capital Group, according to a news release and a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from […]
Lighthouse Labs names new managing director
Debbie Irwin, the former director of the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, will be the next managing director of Lighthouse Labs, the Richmond accelerator announced Friday. She begins her new role Feb. 26. Irwin is leaving her role at SCCF, another entrepreneurial support organization based in Staunton, where she served for six years, first as director […]
SCCF exec director to depart
Debbie Irwin, executive director of the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, an entrepreneurial support organization based in Staunton, is leaving her role in March, the organization announced Tuesday. SCCF’s board of directors will begin a national search for her replacement. When Irwin leaves, Ryan Hall, director of growth and revenue, will take over the responsibilities of […]
Lighthouse Labs announces spring cohort
Richmond-based Lighthouse Labs’ next accelerator cohort of eight startups will include companies creating products for the real estate and health care industries. The 16th cohort since Lighthouse Labs opened in 2012 will be part of the program from March 4 to May 17. The selected companies are: 3D Orthobiologic Solutions, a Herndon-based company making 3D […]
‘Shark Tank’ casting call is coming to Va.
Virginia entrepreneurs, “the sharks” are coming for you. The casting team of ABC’s “Shark Tank” will hold its first-ever casting call in Virginia at Rivers Casino Portsmouth on April 12. The show is getting ready to film its 16th season with venture capitalists Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin […]
CAV Angels hits $20 million+ milestone
When Greg and Marion Werkheiser connected with CAV Angels during their search for seed investors for their augmented reality software startup in 2018, the couple reaped benefits beyond an initial $300,000 infusion. “The investment itself gave us credibility to other investors,” says ARtGlass CEO Greg Werkheiser, a 2000 graduate of the University of Virginia School […]
RAMP hires new executive director
The new executive director of RAMP, the Roanoke-based Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program, once worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. Now he’ll help startups get off the ground in Roanoke, after doing work in the startup ecosystem in North Carolina. John Hagy started as executive director of RAMP on Jan. 8. He takes the place […]
