“EcoMap’s ongoing product development, leveraging AI and other technologies, will be hugely beneficial in helping entrepreneurs navigate from resource to resource more effectively.”
Debbie Irwin, Managing Director of Lighthouse Labs, a prominent startup accelerator in Richmond, Virginia, shares her insights on the challenges and strengths of the local startup ecosystem. Since taking on her role in February 2024, Debbie has been working to solidify the network and create more collaborative pathways for founders.
One of the biggest things I’m learning working with founders in Richmond and beyond is the importance of truly engaging with them rather than just talking at them. We’re focusing on seeing each founder as a person we can develop and support, addressing the real struggles entrepreneurs face, including the mental health challenges that often come with building a business.
Our high-touch, intensive process allows us to see founders grow not just in terms of their business metrics, but also as individuals. This founder-first approach leads to stronger outcomes. Even if a current venture doesn’t succeed, we find that the next ones often do, because we’ve equipped these entrepreneurs with valuable skills and resilience.
How has your perspective on founder support evolved in your first six months at Lighthouse Labs?
We’re moving from a cooperative model to a truly collaborative one. In the past, organizations would support each other’s events and share information, but deep collaboration requires more trust. We’re now fostering centers of trust and creating collaborative projects. For instance, three nonprofit accelerators in Virginia are now meeting quarterly to discuss founder placement, ensuring each entrepreneur finds the right program for their needs.
This deeper level of collaboration and clear understanding of each organization’s strengths allows founders to move more quickly through the ecosystem and feel more supported along the way. It’s about creating a seamless experience for entrepreneurs as they navigate between resources.
In March 2024, Richmond Inno asked what your biggest challenge would be in this role and you said, “This ecosystem, in particular, has a lot of resources. It is a very vast network. There’s been some good mapping already done about how they all connect, but really solidifying the ecosystem.” Tell us more about what solidifying looks like. How has that changed the pathways for founders?
My experience with EcoMap dates back to my time at the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund. We began working closely with Pava and her team in 2020, incorporating their platform into an EDA Build to Scale grant.
One of the biggest challenges we faced was the vast geographical area we needed to serve. That’s a lot of space to cover, and I can’t be in multiple places at once, no matter how hard I try. EcoMap’s platform allowed us to convene all those resources in one accessible place.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring how to create multiple “front doors” for founders – safe spaces where they can ask questions and figure out their next steps. EcoMap’s ongoing product development, leveraging AI and other technologies, will be hugely beneficial in helping entrepreneurs navigate from resource to resource more effectively.
How has your experience been working with EcoMap?
“EcoMap helped us rethink how we create access points for entrepreneurs, which was crucial in our rural region covering 17 counties.”