Startups

Sandbox, founded in 2018 by Liz Doerr and Jill Lemon, has outgrown its former office space in Shockoe Bottom and now operates out of 316 W. Broad St. in the Arts District.

Topping the ranks of Richmond-area companies on the coveted list is a Scott’s Addition-based IT consulting firm that grew 3,200% over the last three years and landed at 99 out of 5,000 nationally.

Mitchell Trak is used to dealing in moussaka and baked spaghetti. Now, with his new side venture, his tools of the trade are vintage Rolls-Royces, Mercedes and Porsches.

Debbie Irwin is Lighthouse Labs’ fourth managing director in as many years. The group has just begun its 17th accelerator session since its launch 12 years ago.

George Inge has been thinking about launching an online specialty grocery store for three decades. “I kept watching and monitoring. To get back in one day was my dream,” he said.

Weeks after its CEO’s resignation, the independent state authority has selected a new temporary chief with ties to Gov. Youngkin and a construction background.

A company involved in making the Richmond region a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing is in fundraising mode after it began operations at a Petersburg production facility last year.

Starting with a makeshift aquarium in a kiddie pool when he was a child, Kole Elkin now runs Kole Tang Aquatics providing commercial and residential aquarium services and fish care advice.

“With the aging of the population, our services are needed everywhere,” said founder Paige Wilson. “And our goal is to be nationwide.”

Activation Capital is launching the Frontier BioHealth program for up to 10 startups from August to November to groom life sciences companies in the area for the long term.