4

Lighthouse Labs RVA

The most founder-friendly startup accelerator on the US East Coast
Lighthouse Labs RVA
Leadership team

Todd Nuckols (co-founder)

Mike McGurl (co-founder)

Chris Good (co-founder)

Tyler Darden (co-founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Established
2012
Social Media
Summary

Lighthouse Labs RVA is a startup accelerator that provides funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage technology companies. The company was founded in 2012 by a group of entrepreneurs who saw a need for a more hands-on approach to startup incubation. Since then, Lighthouse Labs has become one of the leading accelerators in Virginia, USA, helping to launch and grow dozens of successful startups.

The main goal of Lighthouse Labs RVA is to help early-stage companies build viable businesses by providing them with the resources they need to succeed. This includes seed funding, office space, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to a wide range of other resources. Lighthouse Labs takes a hands-on approach to mentorship, with a team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors working closely with each startup to help them navigate the challenges of building a successful business.

Over the years, Lighthouse Labs RVA has built a diverse portfolio of companies across a range of industries, including software, fintech, health tech, and more. Some of the companies that have gone through the Lighthouse Labs accelerator program include Breather, Top Hat, and BenchSci.

Lighthouse Labs RVA has a strong focus on building a supportive and inclusive startup community and is committed to working with founders from diverse backgrounds. The company's values include transparency, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks in order to drive innovation. Lighthouse Labs believes that the key to building a successful startup ecosystem is to create an environment where founders feel supported and empowered to take risks and pursue their visions.

History

Lighthouse Labs is a startup accelerator based in Richmond, Virginia, that has been Investing In The Lives of Founders™ since 2012. The accelerator was founded by four entrepreneurs, Todd Nuckols, Mike McGurl, Chris Good, and Tyler Darden, who were passionate about supporting early-stage startups in the region.

Lighthouse Labs launched its pilot program in 2012 with a few teams and big dreams. Since then, the accelerator has worked with hundreds of founders across thirteen cohorts and counting. Lighthouse Labs has invested over $2,000,000 in more than 196 fearless founders with over 100 game-changing ideas, without taking equity in the companies they serve and the founders they support.

Over the years, Lighthouse Labs has gained national recognition for its innovative approach to supporting early-stage startups. The accelerator is known for its founder-friendly approach, which prioritizes the well-being of founders and their teams over the bottom line. Lighthouse Labs invests in the whole founder, providing tailored support and mentorship, legal and accounting services, and lifetime alumni support.

Lighthouse Labs has also been committed to empowering diverse founders with revolutionary ideas, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, income, or gender identity. As the accelerator continues to grow, it has proactively uplifted entrepreneurs who have been traditionally underserved and underinvested, including Black, female, disabled, queer, and otherwise underrepresented founders.

Today, Lighthouse Labs continues to innovate and support early-stage startups on the East Coast. Twice a year, the accelerator selects a cohort of startups to receive three months of tailored support and mentorship, $20,000 of equity-free investment, access to expert-led sessions, and other program perks. The accelerator has a team of founders, mentors, project managers, and community advocates with extensive experience in everything from B2B to B2C, small businesses to Fortune 100, and the seed stage to scale. Lighthouse Labs is proud to work with a Board of Virginia’s most engaged entrepreneurial ecosystem supporters.

Investment criteria

Lighthouse Labs is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups. The firm has a set of investment criteria that it uses to evaluate potential investments. Here are some of the key criteria:

  • Strong founding team: Lighthouse Labs looks for startups with a strong founding team that has a track record of success in building and scaling businesses.
  • Large and growing market: The firm prefers to invest in companies that are addressing large and growing markets. This ensures that the startup has a significant addressable market and a clear path to growth.
  • Disruptive technology: Lighthouse Labs seeks out startups with disruptive technology that has the potential to fundamentally change an industry or market.
  • Business model: The firm looks for startups with a clear and scalable business model that can generate revenue and profits over the long term.
  • Traction: Lighthouse Labs prefers to invest in startups that have demonstrated traction, such as customer adoption, revenue growth, or user engagement.
  • Product-market fit: The firm seeks out startups that have achieved product-market fit, meaning that the product or service they offer solves a real problem for customers and has a clear value proposition.
  • Competitive advantage: Lighthouse Labs looks for startups with a competitive advantage, such as proprietary technology, unique intellectual property, or a strong brand.
  • Potential for high returns: The firm invests in startups with the potential for high returns, typically aiming for at least a 10x return on its investment.

Overall, Lighthouse Labs focuses on investing in startups that have the potential to disrupt markets, create new industries, and deliver significant returns for its investors.

Values
  • Growth: Lighthouse Labs believes that everyone has the potential to grow and develop their skills, and they are committed to creating an environment that fosters continuous learning and improvement.
  • Community: Lighthouse Labs values the power of community and collaboration. They encourage students and staff to work together, share knowledge, and support each other in achieving their goals.
  • Innovation: Lighthouse Labs recognizes the importance of innovation and creativity in the tech industry. They are dedicated to empowering individuals to think outside the box, experiment with new ideas, and push the boundaries of what's possible.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Lighthouse Labs is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. They believe that diversity is essential to building strong teams and driving innovation.
  • Integrity: Lighthouse Labs operates with integrity and transparency. They believe in being honest, ethical, and accountable in all their interactions with students, staff, and partners.
Mission

Lighthouse Labs' mission statement is to empower individuals and organizations to achieve their goals by providing innovative and immersive education and talent development solutions. The company aims to bridge the skills gap in the technology industry by offering rigorous and practical training programs that prepare individuals for in-demand careers in web development, data science, and other areas of tech.

Lighthouse Labs believes that everyone should have access to high-quality education, regardless of their background or previous experience. Their mission is to democratize education and make it more accessible and affordable for all. They also believe in the power of community and collaboration and strive to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages learners to help one another and work together to achieve their goals.

In addition to providing education and training programs, Lighthouse Labs is also committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the technology industry. The company offers a range of services to help startups and other organizations develop and implement new technologies, and works closely with entrepreneurs and industry leaders to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the tech sector. By empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their goals, Lighthouse Labs aims to make a positive impact on the technology industry and society as a whole.

Portfolio

Lighthouse Labs is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups across various industries. Its portfolio includes companies in areas such as artificial intelligence, health tech, fintech, e-commerce, and more. Here are some of the companies in Lighthouse Labs' portfolio:

  • Plutus - Plutus is a blockchain-based payment platform that enables users to buy, sell, and spend cryptocurrencies easily.
  • Dot Health - Dot Health is a health tech startup that aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by providing individuals with easy access to their health information.
  • Humi - Humi is an HR platform that helps businesses manage their employee data and automate HR tasks.
  • SnapTravel - SnapTravel is an online hotel booking platform that uses AI and messaging to help users find and book hotel rooms quickly and easily.
  • Ada - Ada is a health tech startup that has developed an AI-powered symptom checker to help people identify their health issues and find appropriate medical care.
  • Kira Talent - Kira Talent is a platform that helps universities and employers evaluate job applicants through video interviews and assessments.
  • Naborly - Naborly is a prop-tech startup that provides landlords and property managers with tenant screening services and rental insights.
  • Sensibill - Sensibill is a fintech startup that helps banks and credit unions offer digital receipt management and other financial management tools to their customers.

Overall, Lighthouse Labs' portfolio reflects its investment criteria and values, with a focus on innovative technologies that have the potential to disrupt their respective industries and make a positive impact on society.

References
Lighthouse Labs RVA
Leadership team

Todd Nuckols (co-founder)

Mike McGurl (co-founder)

Chris Good (co-founder)

Tyler Darden (co-founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Established
2012
Social Media