2026 Fall ECOSYSTEM BUILDER SUMMIT
Richmond, Virginia
AGENDA | host | TICKETS | TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS
In community
How a community shows up for itself is the most important thing an ecosystem can teach.
Come get a masterclass in love of place.
Richmond is fiercely local — more local restaurants than chains, more independent stores than franchises, an arts district that grew from the ground up. That's not an accident. It's a value system. And it's the same spirit that built a startup ecosystem rooted in connection and a deep love of place. This is where Lighthouse Network — a nationally recognized accelerator — was founded by an SCN founding member. Where Capital One chose to put down roots and show up. Where CarMax, Dominion Energy, and Genworth were born and scaled. Richmond earns this theme.
This city also has a complicated history. It was the capital of the Confederacy, it built confederate statues along Monument Avenue to intimidate Black residents, and it gerrymandered a neighborhood to contain the Black vote. That neighborhood, Jackson Ward, rose into one of America's great Black Wall Streets, most notably named “The Harlem of the South.” Maggie Walker — the first woman to charter a bank in the United States — built her legacy here. The Hippodrome hosted James Brown and Cab Calloway.
That's the Richmond pattern: pressure met with creativity, resilience, and an unshakeable love of place. You see it in the arts district that is fighting blight on Broad St. You see it in a startup ecosystem that is connected and community-rooted and you see it in homegrown companies like CarMax, Dominion Energy, and Genworth that scaled right here.
“In Community’ is what Richmonders are every day and what summit attendees experience firsthand.
Startup Champions Network Summits
Twice annually, Startup Champion Network members meet in person to connect, share knowledge/experiences, and take a deep, behind-the-scenes dive into the local host ecosystem. This personal interaction is a critical part of the member value proposition as well as an important commitment all members make -- to celebrate each other.
These 2-3 day intimate gatherings bring together the nation's top ecosystem builders and national ecosystem support organizations to convene conversations, gain insight from real-world case studies, and explore and experience new communities against the backdrops of some of the nation's top emerging ecosystems. Summits address topics most relevant to and of interest to members, such as inclusive entrepreneurship, fostering collaboration, engaging and empowering under-represented populations, and more.
What You’ll Experience
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Kickoff the Summit with a Lighthouse Tradition. We’ll convene in a local distillery and mingle with the founders who are shaping Richmond.
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We’ll start the morning at Gallery 5, where Richmond's artists and musicians get their start.
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Walk the Harlem of the South for the history. Meet the movers and shakers who are here now.
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The scrappiest ecosystem-building story you'll hear this year. A community that changed a street just by showing up for each other.
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SCN traditions are still here. Dine with locals and come share what keeps you up at night.
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Have you ever heard of Punk Rock Banking? You’re going to meet the financial institution in every community who does the work but is often overlooked.
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Peer-to-peer. No keynotes. Built for the conversations conferences don't have.
We need 34 founding members to make this real.
No corporate seed money. Just 34 people who believe in what this community has to teach us. If we hit 34 tickets by May 31, we go. If we don't, you get a full refund.
Founding tickets · May 31 deadline · Full refund if we don't reach 34
SCN Host Members
Ashley Ray, SCN Communications / Community Builder
About me.
Summit Host Organization
Lighthouse Network…
*Please note that you must purchase each ticket individually, so we can properly collect all attendee data per ticket. Group tickets are for groups of 6.
Regular Tickets
Member: $399
Non-Member: $499
Day Pass: $149
GROUP ticket (For up to 6 people)
$2,000
Travel & Accomodations
Lodging
We have a room block reserved at Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Vegas I-215 Curve for Monday, May 5 - Thursday, May 8, 2025. Booking your room is simple; just select "Book a Room" to receive your group rate. Rate will be available to guests 2 days pre and post of contracted dates based on availability. Book by: April 11, 2025.
The hotel is located at 8470 W. Sunset Road, Las Vegas, NV 89113. Situated off West 215 and South Durango Drive, the hotel is diagonally across from the IKEA Super Store. It's approximately 9 miles from Harry Reid International Airport, making it a convenient choice for summit attendees.
Getting to Las Vegas
Fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), located just 9 miles from the preferred hotel. From the airport, you can take a rideshare, taxi, or rental car. The quickest route is via I-215 W; exit at Durango Drive, then turn onto W. Sunset Road—the hotel will be on your right.
Rides & Rooms Spreadsheet
Every Summit, we create a spreadsheet for attendees to coordinate rides and room sharing. If you're looking to share a hotel room or airbnb with a large group, this is a great place to start. If you want to carpool from the airport or hope some kind soul will give you a ride, this is the place to do it! While we don't link this spreadsheet to the public website, it is sent via email upon summit registration.
