Fervent Four: Growing the Virginia Startup Scene

Growing the Virginia Startup Scene

Aug 24, 2023

This week hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller sit down with Paul Nolde, Managing Director of 757 Collab. 757 Collab is collaborative vehicle focused on growing an interconnected, inclusive, and impactful entrepreneurial ecosystem. Harnessing the power of 757 Angels, 757 Accelerate and 757 Startup Studios, 757 Collab provides capital, acceleration, and an incubation arm—a unique, complete model for achieving success for the region’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem. Watch this week’s episode to hear about Paul’s journey, who is 757 Collab, "leaning in" to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and much more!

Show notes:

(0:00) Remembering Dan Bell

(4:03) Introducing Paul Nolde

(15:03) Learning from successful cities

(22:59) Views on “failure”

(34:41) 757 Angels + Venture South

(41:30) Improving chances for funding

(49:00) Collaborating together

(54:33) Incubator vs Accelerator

(58:22) What’s the food of Richmond

(1:02:28) The mega-region merger + Conclusion

About Paul Nolde & 757 Collab:

In May of 2023, Paul Nolde was named the new managing director of 757 Collab. Before taking this position, Nolde was the executive managing director of Lighthouse Labs in Richmond, a top 20 venture accelerator in the Global Accelerator Network, and the model for 757 Accelerate. Prior to joining Lighthouse, he served as the fund manager and managing director of Riverflow Growth Fund, a seed-stage, healthcare-focused venture capital fund based in Richmond.

757 Collab harnesses the power of 757 Angels powered by Venture South, 757 Accelerate, and 757 Startup Studios, providing capital, programs, and place to entrepreneurs in all stages of development. 757 Collab is located at the 757 Startup Studios within Assembly, an iconic campus for makers and creators in the heart of downtown Norfolk, VA. It is a vertically integrated community that provides capital, acceleration, and an incubation arm—a unique, complete model for achieving success for the region’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem.

Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-nolde-8143546/ & https://peninsulachronicle.com/2023/04/14/757-angels-and-757-collab-boards-appoint-new-managing-director/

About the hosts:

Tim Ryan is an angel investor and the Executive Director of Innovate Hampton Roads, an organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with resources in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Tim also serves as the Director of REaKTOR, a space for technology-based startups to start and grow.

Zack Miller is a serial entrepreneur and author of Anomaly, a guide on differentiating yourself and your business from the crowd.

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Social Media:

Paul Nolde

https://757collab.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/757-collab/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-nolde-8143546/

Tim Ryan

https://www.startwheel.org

X (personal): @ryantnt (https://twitter.com/ryantnt)

X: @Innovate757 (https://twitter.com/Innovate757)

Instagram: @InnovateHamptonRoads: https://www.instagram.com/innovatehamptonroads/

LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantnt/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovate757/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovate757