Lighthouse Labs is kicking off the latest cohort for its accelerator program this week with nine companies spanning a variety of industries, from biotechnology to cosmetics.
The 12-week program will be conducted virtually for the first nine weeks, with the final weeks held in-person in Richmond. It is the 10th year of the program and Lighthouse said it has worked with 89 companies and more than 160 founders in that span.
“Over the course of the last decade, we’ve attracted some of the most talented founders and mentors to the Richmond startup community,” Lighthouse Executive Director Erin Powell said in a statement. “The support for growing our startup ecosystem here in Richmond has been growing steadily for the last few years. Founders are starting to take notice of the startup talent, the welcoming community and the focus on scalable tech solutions.” comments Erin Powell, Executive Director of Lighthouse Labs.
The accelerator said it received more than 160 applications for the spring program, which it whittled down to nine participants. The cohort includes:
- On Time Trials — A software-as-a-service company that uses machine learning to streamline the clinical trial monitoring process. Founders Trevor Coughlan and Eric Hamborg are based in Round Rock, Texas.
- Viora Health — A Philadelphia company that uses technology to improve patient access to care and reduce health risks due to social and behavioral determinants. Its founder is Deboleena Dutta.
- Hoth Intelligence — Another Philadelphia company that provides augmented reality solutions for medical problems. Its technology provides caregivers with procedural navigation it says can be used in any clinical setting. Hoth is led by co-founders Jonathan Cohen and Tyler Alexander.
- Nessle — A Richmond company that offers an online platform that connects new and expectant parents with perinatal experts for on-demand virtual care. It is led by founder Carly Buxton.
- caseCTRL — This Houston company offers surgical management workflow that it says provides more surgeries, greater revenue and happier patients. It is led by co-founders Ashvin Dewan, Pamela Singh and Saachi Roye.
- Kinometrix — This Fort Belvoir, Virginia, company offers an AI platform to enhance patient safety in hospitals. It is led by co-founders Devina Desai and Alex Trombetta. (Last year, it opened a $3 million funding round)
- Llamawood — A Richmond company that offers an on-demand firewood delivery platform. It was founded by Hunter Guerin.
- LipLoveLine — This Richmond company bills itself as an ingredient-conscious lip care brand aimed at enhancing natural beauty, simplifying personal care routines and inspiring self-acceptance. Briana Williams is the founder.
- Transfoam — This Charlottesville company uses engineered microorganisms to turn waste into a fully bio-based and biodegradable plastic alternative. It is led by co-founders Kobe Rogers, Alec Brewer and Ethan Purnell.
As part of the accelerator program, these nine companies receive $20,000 in equity-free funding, programing and mentorship. Lighthouse said the companies have access to $1 million in advisory services from the likes of the Global Accelerator Network, Kaleo Legal, Sandbox and Startup Virginia. The companies will also participate in demo-day programs to showcase their offerings to investors, alumni groups and potential customers.
Lighthouse is hosting a virtual open house at 5 p.m. Thursday to meet the founders of the companies in its latest cohort. You can join the open house on Zoom with this link.
The accelerator is also holding an information session for founders contemplating joining its upcoming fall cohort on March 29. You can find information on that event here.
