Startup Champions Network's Richmond Summit brings ecosystem builders from 18 states and 10 cities across Virginia to Richmond, September 29th–October 1st
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula will open the Startup Champions Network (SCN) Fall 2026 Ecosystem Builder Summit on Tuesday, September 29, with a proclamation declaring his support for the field of ecosystem building and officially joining Right to Start’s America the Entrepreneurial campaign as a Founding Mayor. The three-day summit brings people who build and support entrepreneurial communities across the country to Historic Jackson Ward and the Arts District.
"Entrepreneurs create jobs, build wealth, and give our neighborhoods their character, but no one builds a business alone. Behind every founder is a network of lenders, advisors, mentors, and organizations helping them get started and keep going. Richmond is committed to strengthening that network, and we're proud to welcome the people who do this work in communities across the country. We have a lot to learn from each other." - Dr. Danny Avula, Richmond City Mayor
Mayor Avula will deliver welcome remarks and present the proclamation at the summit's opening night at No. 303, beginning at 5:30pm. City leaders will also attend throughout the week.
On Wednesday, September 30, Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II will welcome attendees to the summit's second day at No 303 on Broad Street. Richmond City Councilmember Nicole Jones, who represents the 9th District, is part of the summit's organizing team and will lead a panel on the importance of supporting artists as entrepreneurs that day as well.
The summit draws ecosystem builders from 18 states + D.C. and 14 Virginia localities. Instead of keynotes and pitches, SCN summits are built around peer learning. Attendees trade what's working in their own communities, tour local innovation spaces, and meet Richmond practitioners doing the work on the ground.
"The people who build startup ecosystems spend most of their time holding others up, and they rarely get a room of their own. This summit gives them one. I’m proud to bring builders to Richmond to showcase the work being done here and the origin story of the ecosystem. We want every attendee to leave with real relationships and ideas they can use in their own ecosystem," says Debbie Irwin, Executive Director, Lighthouse Network, SCN Board Member and Co-Host of the summit.
Tickets and the full schedule are available at startupchampions.co/richmond-summit.