Achieving CVA’s Vision for Business Success
Venture Central takes a high-level view of CVA’s business ecosystem.
We collaborate to:
- identify gaps
- support what works
- seek solutions to unmet needs
We support the ecosystem:
- as a partner to our region’s economic development offices and entrepreneur support organizations (“ESOs”)
- as a home for ecosystem advancing programs supporting entrepreneurs (ex.: 434 & NextCrave)
- convening leaders for building an ecosystem that is “right-sized” for Central Virginia
- in advancing capitalization solutions for startups to grow
Our Driving Principles
- Be Inclusive & Efficient. VCVA shares project proposals widely to engage participation, feedback, and optimization of existing resources in service of regional business success.
- Convene, Connect, Support. VCVA convenes and connects leaders to solve the needs of the ecosystem, and offers support for those activities via a home for programs, grant assistance, facilitation, or project management.
hosted programs
434 Accelerator
A Charlottesville-based business accelerator that provides mentorship, programming, grants and more
hosted programs
NextCrave
A Central Virginia value-added food and beverage manufacturer acceleration project
Our Team
- Rebecca Haydock – Chief Executive Officer
- Hope Lawrence – Project Manager
- David Touve – 434 Managing Director
Board of Directors
- Sarah Rumbaugh, VP of Business Development – 12twenty Board Chair, Governance Committee
- Charlie Rogers, CEO – RE Innovative Software Solutions Vice Chair / Governance Committee
- Chris Engel, Director Economic Development- City of Charlottesville
Treasurer / Governance Committee / Finance Committee - Don Long, Business Attorney – Flora Pettit
Director / Governance Committee - Payam Pourtaheri, Founder CEO – Agrospheres
Director - Emily Kilroy, Economic Development Director – Albemarle County
Director - Timothy Harvey, CEO co-founder – Owl Peak Technologies
Director - James Atkinson, Retired co-founder and VP – Mikro Systems, Inc.
Director / Finance Committee
Venture Central is supported by Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, GO Virginia, and anonymous donors.
