Richmond accelerator Lighthouse Labs is kicking off its spring program with what it is calling “one of its most diverse” cohorts to date.
Seventy percent of the founders from the eight participating companies come from groups traditionally underrepresented as entrepreneurs, according to Lighthouse Labs.
“This cohort’s companies offer bold solutions to address current-day problems in industries ranging from logistics to cybersecurity, health/wellness to retail, and real estate to software,” Paul Nolde, managing executive director at Lighthouse Labs, said in a statement. “This group of startups represents the best of innovation and entrepreneurship across the commonwealth and beyond.”
The cohort, its 14th to date, will go through Lighthouse’s program that offers weekly educational programming and support services, such as access to the accelerator’s mentor network and local investors. Participating companies also receive $20,000 in equity-free investment.
The program runs through May 23, when it will conclude with a Demo Day competition.
The spring cohort includes:
- E-Sentience — This Durham, North Carolina, startup is developing a tech platform that uses noninvasive wearable devices to help people understand and moderate their mental and physical health.
- Healp — This Fairfax Station, Virginia, company uses AI, crowdsourcing and big data to help patients with chronic and incurable health conditions.
- Heroshe — This Houston company offers shipping solutions that make it easy for marketplace sellers to find and sell products anywhere online.
- Karambit.AI — An Annandale cybersecurity company that’s focused on supply chain software.
- Kilsar — This maker of AI and augmented reality software is focused on work for the Department of Defense and other commercial clients. It is based in Virginia Beach.
- Luminoah — A Charlottesville company that drives value-based health care in the home through a wearable device and digital platform for patients requiring enteral nutrition.
- Modi — This Miami company aims to bring the fitting room to online shoppers with AI-driven tools.
- Project Mongoose — A smart-home-as-a-service platform designed for the management of multifamily properties. It is the lone company in his cohort from Richmond.
Lighthouse Labs said nearly 200 companies applied to be part of the cohort and 49 companies were granted interviews. Seventeen participated before the final eight were selected.
Lighthouse Labs recently launched a $5 million fundraising campaign to improve services to the organization’s alumni network and increase access to underserved founders.
