About Activation Capital

Our Story

Activation Capital is an independent authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as a leading innovation ecosystem development organization. providing social, knowledge, and financial capital to clusters, entrepreneur support organizations, and entrepreneurs – accelerating their progress through development and maturation.

Our mission is to grow life sciences and other advanced technology innovation by promoting scientific research, commercialization, business formation, and ecosystem development that attracts and creates 21st-century jobs and companies.

Operate the 34-acre Virginia Bio+Tech Park – the hub of life science and technology innovations in Central Virginia.

Oversee the Cluster Accelerator for Advanced Pharmaceutical R&D and Manufacturing.

Support the development and expansion of startup ecosystem assets such as Lighthouse Labs, Startup Virginia, Dominion Energy Innovation Center, Riverflow Growth Fund and 757 Collab.

483 +

Companies
Supported

3112

People Employed by Companies

$ 50.9 M

Funding Raised by Companies

43 %

Minority, Veteran, or
Female-Led Companies

Promoting Scientific Research

We strengthen life sciences in Central Virginia by addressing needs for space, content and leadership.

Initiatives

Commercialization

Our mission is to grow Virginia’s community of advanced tech entrepreneurs and empower them to solve the world’s toughest problems.

Initiatives

Business Formation

We activate spaces with programming that drives entrepreneur and venture development.

Initiatives

Ecosystem Development

We convene stakeholders and entrepreneurs to foster connectivity, while building and pivoting on tools and methodologies to grow inclusive entrepreneurship.

Initiatives

WHAT WE DO TO CATALYZE INNOVATION

Flexible Lab and Office Space

We provide office and lab space in the VA Bio+Tech Park, which targets life sciences and advanced-technology companies from early-stage to major innovative companies.

Affiliate Organization

We have helped to support the development and expansion of start-up ecosystem assets such as Lighthouse Labs, the Dominion Energy Innovation Center Startup Virginia, and more.

Diversity and Inclusion Iniatives

We design specific diversity and inclusion measures into all of the programs that Activation Capital provides to ensure a more diverse, representative startup community.

Innovation Ecosystem Convener

We are dedicated to developing a comprehensive innovation ecosystem from Main Street to our bio labs. Activation Capital convenes leaders in multiple formats to ensure economic development for all in Central Virginia.

Virginia Bio+Tech Research Park

Activation Capital manages the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, providing more than 1.2 millon square feet of life science lab space. Residents and virtual members of the Park have many benefits when they join.