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Venture Central

Get to know Central Virginia's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether you're planning on starting a business, running a startup, or looking to grow an established venture, Venture Central can help.

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What is Venture Central?

We help founders with connections, programs, funding, and spaces. The organization was founded in 2021 as a joint initiative of the economic development offices of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Venture Central News & Media

Community News

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WillowTree sold for $1.225 billion

WillowTree, a software company with roots in mobile app design and development, has been headquartered in Albemarle County since 2008.

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One Step Closer to ‘IUD For Men’

Medical device company Contraline became the first to implant a hydrogel-based male contraceptive into humans in a clinical trial. The Charlottesville, Virginia company was founded in 2015.

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UVA Institute of Biotechnology To Transform Health Care

The University of Virginia announced plans to launch a biotechnology institute that positions UVA at the very forefront of cutting-edge medicine.

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Venture Central is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Nationally, women founders received less than 3 percent of startup funding in 2020. As of 2021, Black founders received 1.2 percent of startup funding.

 

We recognize the systemic and structural issues affecting women and people of color in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We take a proactive approach to engage women and historically underrepresented founders and entrepreneurial ecosystem supporters.

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