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Three Greater Richmond incubators and accelerators named among the nation’s best
September 15, 2026
Three organizations based in the Greater Richmond region have been named to TIME’s list of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators of 2026. Startup Virginia ranked No. 8 nationally, the Dominion Energy Innovation Center ranked No. 35 and Lighthouse Network ranked No. 38 among the 80 programs recognized.
For a region of over 1.3 million residents, placing three organizations on a list of 80 reflects the depth of support available to founders here long before a company reaches the point of leasing space or hiring at-scale.
How the ranking was determined
TIME produced the list with the research firm Statista and the methodology weighted the experience of program participants above all other factors. More than 2,000 founders who completed programs between 2020 and 2025 were surveyed and their feedback accounted for 85% of each organization’s final score.
Participants rated their programs on mentoring and training, infrastructure, legal assistance, funding opportunities, networking and business development advice. The result is closer to a peer review than a judged award with placement earned from the founders who used the space, took the meetings and raised the capital.
Startup Virginia
Founded in 2016 and based at the Michael Wassmer Innovation Center, Startup Virginia is a nonprofit incubator serving founders at any stage and across sectors. It has assisted more than 300 startups and supported more than 18,000 entrepreneurs.
This recognition validates what we’ve believed from the beginning: founders can build nationally competitive companies right here in Virginia when they have the right resources, connections and community around them. And behind every founder we support is a network of mentors, investors, donors and partners who help make that possible.
Richard Wintsch
Executive Director, Startup Virginia
The organization is expanding. In November 2025, it announced the Henrico Innovation Hub supported by a $1.47 million GO Virginia grant and a $3.75 million renovation investment from the Henrico Economic Development Authority. The site will host three stage-specific tracks named Ideate, Launch and Grow, along with expanded capital readiness programming to launch by late 2026.
Dominion Energy Innovation Center
Established in 2009, the DEIC incubator in Ashland, Va., focuses on clean energy and net-zero startups. It operates as an independent nonprofit formed by Dominion Energy, the town of Ashland, Hanover County and Activation Capital. The facility includes approximately 6,000 square feet of workshop and research and development space, allowing hardware companies to prototype and test physical products on site. It supports entrepreneurs developing technologies that advance a net-zero carbon economy.
Programs include:
- DEIC Accelerate – connects startups with utility deployment opportunities
- Hyperscaled – addresses energy and infrastructure solutions for data centers
- SPARK Virginia – develops ventures with climate and carbon reduction focuses
- AG-X – extends its reach into growing agricultural technology entrepreneurs
Lighthouse Network
Launched in 2012 as Lighthouse Labs, the Richmond-based accelerator has supported 149 companies that have collectively raised more than $350 million and created more than 1,500 jobs. Under Managing Director Debbie Irwin, the organization now runs one cohort per year and devotes the balance of its calendar to alumni support, including investor roadshows, mentor connections and curricula built for more mature companies.
What the recognition signals
Taken together, the three rankings describe a regional ecosystem with more than one entry point. Founders across the region draw on the same network of mentors, capital and talent, whether they are shipping software in Shockoe Bottom, building energy hardware in Ashland or getting in front of investors for the first time.
Greater Richmond is frequently recognized for its cost of doing business, talent pipeline and quality of life. This ranking speaks to a related strength: the region not only attracts companies, it builds them.
About The Author
Christopher Hollomon is director of marketing at the Greater Richmond Partnership, leading marketing and communications initiatives focused on business recruitment to the Greater Richmond Region. He brings a diverse background in graphic design, marketing, public relations and digital media, including award-winning campaigns. He holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Radford University and lives in Henrico County, VA.
