Startups

The concept is called Aces High, a reference both to old Las Vegas casinos and bars as well as to the Iron Maiden song of the same name.

“We are still very small and it’s exciting to hit that scaling stage,” said founder and CEO Meg Pryde. “What I love about this company is there really is no significant ceiling.”

Richmond BizSense and presenting sponsor Keiter are pleased to present the full rankings of this year’s list of the region’s fastest-growing companies. They were honored at an awards ceremony last night.

As it rolls out its first fundraising programs for local high schools as a proof-of-concept, the upstart company’s efforts just got a boost from a new, deep-pocketed source.

“If the commonwealth feels so strongly, they should be slamming shut every vape shop and every gas station (that’s selling kava and kratom),” Bryant said. “If it’s really a public health issue, that’s the response that should be happening.”

The local startup, which launched last year as Sudsy Shoes offering sneaker-cleaning services, is expanding into refurbishing dress shoes, boots and handbags.

Undeterred by a zoning snag it encountered at the former Innsbrook After Hours property, an upstart food truck park is now planning to open in a different spot a short distance away.

The entry into Whole Foods is the culmination of work that started last year for co-owners Grace Mittl and Eli Bank, who started the company in a University of Richmond entrepreneurship course.

See which 25 companies made the cut in BizSense’s annual list of the region’s fastest-growing companies. The full rankings will be unveiled at the Nov. 6 awards ceremony.

The company, which offers moving and related services with a focus on seniors, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week in federal court in Richmond.