Activation Capital
Activation Capital is an independent, state-created innovation ecosystem development organization based in Richmond, Virginia. It operates and manages the VA Bio+Tech Park and delivers accelerator and pre-accelerator programs, shared lab and office space, mentor networks, grant and fiduciary support, and regional cluster development focused on life sciences, advanced technology, and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Industries
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
Products
VA Bio+Tech
Modern facility in downtown Richmond equipped with nine wet laboratories, office suites, a shared lab, and 22 private furnished offices for life sciences and technology companies.
VA Bio+Tech Park Membership
Membership program offering updates on programs, activities, and support services for life sciences and advanced tech startups.
Frontier BioHealth
A selective, asynchronous accelerator designed to prepare healthcare and life science companies for credible investor engagement, commercialization readiness, and venture fundraising.
Pathfinder
Pathfinder is a rigorous pre-accelerator for early-stage life science and healthcare companies seeking to move forward with intention and velocity, helping founders develop actionable roadmaps and define critical milestones.
Virginia Bio+Tech Park Membership
Provides shared lab space, dedicated labs, private office space, events, resources, mentors, and virtual membership to accelerate innovation in life sciences and technology.
Lab Facilities and Office Space
Shared laboratory facilities and office spaces tailored for growing life sciences and advanced tech startups.
VA Bio+Tech
Modern facility in downtown Richmond equipped with nine wet laboratories, office suites, a shared lab, and 22 private furnished offices for life sciences and technology companies.
VA Bio+Tech Park Membership
Membership program offering updates on programs, activities, and support services for life sciences and advanced tech startups.
Frontier BioHealth
A selective, asynchronous accelerator designed to prepare healthcare and life science companies for credible investor engagement, commercialization readiness, and venture fundraising.
Pathfinder
Pathfinder is a rigorous pre-accelerator for early-stage life science and healthcare companies seeking to move forward with intention and velocity, helping founders develop actionable roadmaps and define critical milestones.
Virginia Bio+Tech Park Membership
Provides shared lab space, dedicated labs, private office space, events, resources, mentors, and virtual membership to accelerate innovation in life sciences and technology.
Lab Facilities and Office Space
Shared laboratory facilities and office spaces tailored for growing life sciences and advanced tech startups.
Services
Cohort-based programs that prepare life-science and advanced-technology startups for commercialization and investment (examples: pre-accelerator and a multi-week accelerator).
Program to match entrepreneurs with academic researchers and domain experts to accelerate translational research and company formation.
On-site wet labs, shared lab equipment access, private offices, mail and administrative services, and membership benefits including vendor discounts and access to VCU resources.
Daily or monthly access to common lab equipment (incubators, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, spectrometers, microscopes, autoclave) and a virtual membership option providing community benefits remotely.
Support for grant applications (including SBIR) and administration of grants and philanthropic/distribution funds for ecosystem organizations.
Curation and hosting of innovation events, workshops, and a regional events calendar for founders, investors, mentors, and corporate partners.
Cohort-based programs that prepare life-science and advanced-technology startups for commercialization and investment (examples: pre-accelerator and a multi-week accelerator).
Program to match entrepreneurs with academic researchers and domain experts to accelerate translational research and company formation.
On-site wet labs, shared lab equipment access, private offices, mail and administrative services, and membership benefits including vendor discounts and access to VCU resources.
Daily or monthly access to common lab equipment (incubators, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, spectrometers, microscopes, autoclave) and a virtual membership option providing community benefits remotely.
Support for grant applications (including SBIR) and administration of grants and philanthropic/distribution funds for ecosystem organizations.
Curation and hosting of innovation events, workshops, and a regional events calendar for founders, investors, mentors, and corporate partners.
Expertise Areas
- Life sciences commercialization
- Biotech incubator and shared-lab operations
- Advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster development
- Entrepreneurship acceleration and investor readiness
Key Technologies
- CO2 cell culture incubation
- Centrifugation
- UV-Vis spectroscopy
- Inverted light microscopy
News & Updates
Showcase event for accelerator cohort startups, investors, and regional leaders held in November 2024.
Announcement that the Richmond-Petersburg regional Alliance, convened by Activation Capital and partner organizations, received an NSF Regional Innovation Engines Development Award to support advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and regional R&D.
Federal omnibus spending bill included $1.5M for Activation Capital to support life sciences commercialization, training, and capacity building in Central Virginia.
Announcement that Activation Capital awarded a multi-year grant to a local accelerator to support entrepreneurship in Richmond.
Activation Capital led or supported regional efforts that secured grants including a $55.9M Build Back Better Regional Challenge award and participation in an NSF Engines Development Award.
Showcase event for accelerator cohort startups, investors, and regional leaders held in November 2024.
Announcement that the Richmond-Petersburg regional Alliance, convened by Activation Capital and partner organizations, received an NSF Regional Innovation Engines Development Award to support advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and regional R&D.
Federal omnibus spending bill included $1.5M for Activation Capital to support life sciences commercialization, training, and capacity building in Central Virginia.
Announcement that Activation Capital awarded a multi-year grant to a local accelerator to support entrepreneurship in Richmond.
Activation Capital led or supported regional efforts that secured grants including a $55.9M Build Back Better Regional Challenge award and participation in an NSF Engines Development Award.