RVA Innovation Ecosystem Happy Hour
Mix and mingle with Richmond’s entrepreneurial ecosystem at our RVA Innovation Ecosystem Happy Hour: an open, high-energy networking session co-hosted by Domininion Energy Innovation Center with community partners Startup Virginia, AI Ready RVA, and Lighthouse Network.
This broad tech meet-up is designed to connect founders, builders, investors, students, and innovation leaders across sectors—including AI, software, and advanced manufacturing—with a spotlight on the energy and climate challenges shaping the next wave of opportunity.
We are especially excited to host this event as the grand finale of our Energy Innovation Road Trip of the Richmond region, organized in conjunction with the UT Spark Innovation Center. More than just a conference, this Road Trip is a curated, immersive experience that moves ideas from conversation to collaboration through behind-the-scenes access to labs and utilities. This is your chance to engage directly with a visiting delegation of founders and ecosystem leaders from Tennessee. Whether you’re building in energy or simply interested in tech that moves the world forward, come for the conversations and stay for the collaborations as we bridge our two regions’ brightest minds!
Details:
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Location: Atlas 42, 4032 Cox Rd Suite A, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Hosted by:
Dominion Energy Innovation Center
Established in 2009, the Ashland-based Dominion Energy Innovation Center is a clean energy incubator and independent nonprofit public-private partnership founded by Dominion Energy, the Town of Ashland, Hanover County, and Activation Capital. The DEIC prioritizes community building and startup support at all stages of the journey. By fostering collaboration, providing resources, and offering guidance, the Center supports clean energy companies helping drive sustainable solutions while building a strong entrepreneurial community across Virginia, and beyond.
Lighthouse Network exists because healthy founders build healthy companies. When founders are supported as people, not just as operators, they make better decisions, build stronger teams, and create companies that endure. That’s why we Lighthouse Network doesn’t stop at acceleration. They partner with founders for the long haul, supporting them through the real, often messy journey of building something meaningful.
Startup Virginia® (SVA) is a nonprofit high-growth business incubator and entrepreneurial hub where innovators can learn, collaborate, and grow.
As a collective of passionate people, they work together to support and scale the forward-thinking businesses shaping Central Virginia and beyond. While the organization’s focus is on nurturing startup businesses, they are committed to being a community resource for all Virginians looking to positively impact innovation in our local ecosystem.
In 2016, with the support of founding partner, Capital One, Startup Virginia was launched by like-minded entrepreneurs deeply invested in advancing innovation in Central Virginia. They recognized an opportunity to create a dynamic organization to better serve the needs of entrepreneurs, investors, and the community at large.
Today, they continue to serve passionate entrepreneurs through a variety of offerings. At the forefront of these offerings is our incubator, which serves high-growth startups that are making real impact in our communities and beyond. By helping them reach their full potential, Startup Virginia drives innovation and strengthen our entire region’s economy.
AI Ready RVA is the AI readiness organization for the Greater Richmond Region. Their mission is too cultivate AI literacy across the Greater Richmond Region through awareness, community engagement, education, and advocacy.