Startups

Startup uses tax day for its ‘Painless’ launch

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A nascent company that recently expatriated from the Richmond startup scene for a dip in a larger capital pool has hit yet another milestone: the launch of its product to the general public. Today, one day after the filing deadline for IRS tax returns, Painless1099 is launching an initial free version of its service that… Read more »

Local startup books a reservation in Silicon Valley

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An Uber-inspired local startup is headed west thanks to its victory last week at Richmond’s newest startup competition. Uzurv, a Richmond-based ride reservation app that’s designed to complement services like Uber and Lyft, was named the winner of a pitch contest hosted by the local chapter of Aging2.0. Uzurv beat out eight other companies that… Read more »

Startup’s crowdfunding success hits a sour note

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When Richmonder Zachary Jester raised nearly twice the amount of money he hoped for from a crowdfunding campaign two years ago, it was cause for celebration. But after ordering the material for the high-end speakers his donors were clamoring for, Jester had a problem: he had to build them. “We got the stuff ordered and… Read more »

CarLotz sees green in Tar Heel country

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A local car consignment chain took an out-of-state road trip for its newest location. CarLotz opened a storefront this month in Charlotte, North Carolina. The expansion to the Tar Heel State is the 5-year-old company’s first outside of Virginia and its fourth car lot overall. Since launching in 2011, the used car consigner has opened… Read more »

Richmond’s escape artists popping up in new places

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Having unlocked the Richmond market, one local live-action puzzle venture hopes to put Northern Virginia under its spell, while another has expanded to a new location near Willow Lawn.

Henrico startup taps investors for $3M

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A local healthcare startup is feeling flush. Iggbo, which got its start in Richmond last year, recently completed a $3 million capital raise, according to SEC filings. Founded by Mark Van Roekel, Nino Valentine and Shaiv Kapadia, Iggbo is a tech-based logistics company that uses an Uber-like system of connecting independent phlebotomists with doctors and… Read more »

Accounting/tech duo launching ‘mobile CFO’

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Dan Steiner was watching “The Today Show” last year when inspiration struck. At the time, Steiner, who runs West End accounting firm Steiner Business Solutions, was frustrated with the difficulty he had getting meetings with clients and potential clients, and was looking for a different way of getting in touch. “What’s the best way to… Read more »

Contest dangles trip to startup mecca

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One of Richmond’s latest startup competitions is upping the ante this year with a trip to Silicon Valley. The local chapter of Aging2.0 is hosting a pitch event April 7 for the San Francisco-based organization’s Global Startup Search, a competition for companies developing goods and services catered to senior citizens. The local event will be… Read more »

Manchester distillery is thirsty for capital

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A local booze maker has ordered a round of fresh cash. Belle Isle Craft Spirits, which makes its own brand of moonshine out of distillery in Manchester, is looking to raise $1.5 million in capital, according to an SEC filing. Founded in 2013, the company is based out of 7,000-square-foot space at 615 Maury St…. Read more »

Restaurant web builder wins new startup contest

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A first-year startup contest dished out its top prizes Thursday night, and a local web developer that caters to restaurants went home the winner. Smart Web Restaurant won first prize at the inaugural Scorecard competition, put on by business mentorship group Score Richmond. The winners were chosen at an event held at Virginia Biotechnology Park… Read more »