The Launch Place
Venture capitalDanville · Pre-Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Investment thesis
The Launch Place aims to rebuild the Dan River Region economy—spanning Danville City and Pittsylvania County in Virginia and Caswell County in North Carolina—following the decline of its tobacco, textile, and furniture industries. Funded by a $10 million grant from the Danville Regional Foundation in 2012 (including a $5 million seed fund) and later Pre-Seed Fund II and Seed Fund II totaling $11 million launched in 2018, it invests in innovative, high-growth technology companies. Beyond capital, it offers wrap-around services to help entrepreneurs plan, fund, launch, and grow businesses, fostering an idea-based entrepreneurship ecosystem focused on innovation and job creation.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 18 of 24 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×7IoT ×5AI & Machine Learning ×4Digital Health ×4SaaS ×4Consumer ×3Enterprise Software ×3Hardware ×3
HQs:United States×12Indonesia×1Malaysia×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 8 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×23 founders×1
Investments · 24 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2022 · 22015 · 13 dated
HealthtechAshburn, US
Crystal Icenhour(Executive Officer, Director)Keith A. Crandall(Director)Eduardo Castro-Nallar(Director)W. Evan Johnson(Director)
Co-investorsCentral Texas Angel Network
BioAesthetics develops NACgraft, a cell-free, collagen-rich nipple-areolar complex graft that a surgeon applies so the patient's own cells integrate it into living nipple and areola tissue.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesNew Materials
Juliana Blum(CEO & Director)Billy Heim(COO)
Co-investorsFemHealth VenturesHemi Ventures, LlcJoyance PartnersNew Orleans Startup FundIndieBio
Falls Church, US
David Giannini(Executive Officer, Director)Elizabeth Crawford(Executive Officer)Michael Lovett(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardBradley C. Harrison(Director)John J. McDonnell, Jr.(Director)Richard Sternitzke(Director)
Cyto Recovery develops technology for label-free cell sorting and gentle sample cleanup for cell populations, aimed at life-science and research users.
BiotechDeep TechHardwareBlacksburg, US
Stephen C. Turner(CEO, President, Secretary)
BoardJames Ramey(Director)
Durham, US
Jared Pelo(Executive Officer, Director)David Meisner(Executive Officer)Dale Pelo(Director)
BoardBrad Pelo(Director)Thomas A. Dimmig(Director)
REDANA88 is an online gaming platform offering live games and card games with alternative access links designed to bypass internet restrictions without requiring a VPN.
Gaming
KSI delivers live video and telemetry data streaming software and hardware from drones and IoT devices to multiple stakeholders for real-time analysis and decision-making.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareIoTDanville, US
jonathan gaster(Executive Officer)Jason Shawn Barton(Executive Officer)
Dealum is a software platform for managing angel investor networks, covering deal intake, evaluation, pipeline management, investor community, and portfolio tracking.
FintechSaaS
Co-investorsAggie Angel NetworkAngel ForumBusiness Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.Central Texas Angel NetworkDakar Network Angels (DNA)DanBAN+12 more
OrbitalRX provides a cloud-based platform for hospital pharmacy teams to manage drug shortages through centralized workflows and predictive intelligence.
Enterprise SoftwareHealthtechSaaS
Co-investorsAlerion VenturesExcelerate Health VenturesGood Life Sciences Generations
Co-investorsHatteras Venture Partners
Digital health platform that enables health systems and payers to deploy programs and access innovative healthcare solutions.
Durham, US
TOBIAS WALTER(Director)EDWARD G BARBER(Executive Officer, Director)ALLEN A. SPIZZO(Director)EDWARD M. HOLZWARTH(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsHigh Country Impact Fund
ProAxion provides a wireless predictive maintenance and condition-based monitoring system that uses sensors and analytics to track machine health and prevent unplanned downtime.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningIoTApex, US
Justin Rothwell(Founder)Allen West(Director)Elliot Poger(Executive Officer, Promoter)
Co-investorsAtlanta Technology AngelsTamiami Angel
Revibe offers a wearable platform that delivers personalized vibration and text reminders to help users improve focus, attention, and self-regulation.
AI & Machine LearningDigital Health
Co-investorsTamiami AngelWolfpack Investor NetworkBurda Principal Investments
Roobrik provides science-based online surveys, financial-readiness assessments, and chat tools that help prospective senior living residents and their families evaluate their options while converting more website visitors into qualified leads for senior living providers.
Digital HealthHealthtechMarketing TechSaaSSales TechGreensboro, US
Nathaniel O'Keefe(Executive Officer, Director)Nate O'Keefe(Founder)inJudith Conaway(Executive Officer)David Levin(Director)Maureen O'Connor(Director)William Clark(Director)
Co-investorsIDEA NCJurassic CapitalThird Act VenturesHatteras Venture Partners
ConsumerHardwareHealthtechRaleigh, US
GRAHAM SNYDER(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardCOURTNEY MANN(Director)DAVID FOX(Director)JAN DAVIS(Director)
TiO Home designs and installs custom smart home automation systems that integrate lighting, climate, security, entertainment, and motorized blinds into a single app- and voice-controlled ecosystem.
ConsumerIoTPropTechKuala Lumpur, MY
Vital Plan sells herbal supplements and nutrient formulas aimed at supporting cellular health and overall wellness, including its RESTORE180 program for people managing chronic health challenges.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & FitnessRaleigh, US
Braden Rawls(Executive Officer, Director)William Rawls(Director)Dr. Bill Rawls(Co-founder)
BoardWalter Clarke(Director)
Co-investorsHatteras Venture Partners
VitalFlo develops a respiratory care platform for health systems, ACOs, physician practices, and academic medical centers to diagnose, monitor, and care for respiratory patients.
Digital HealthHealthtechRaleigh, US
Luke Marshall(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)James Dieffenderfer(Director)Ravi Chilkuri(Director)
Co-investorsGeekdomTechstarsElevate Capital
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesRevibe · dabafinance.com · Dec 1, 2025
BioAesthetics · insights.tryspecter.com · Jun 24, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has The Launch Place made?
- The Launch Place has 24 tracked investments.
- What stage does The Launch Place invest at?
- The Launch Place invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is The Launch Place's typical check size?
- The Launch Place typically writes checks of $500K.
- What sectors does The Launch Place focus on?
- The Launch Place focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Deep Tech, Energy, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Medical Devices, New Materials, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is The Launch Place located?
- The Launch Place is headquartered in Danville, US.
- Who does The Launch Place co-invest with?
- The Launch Place most often shares deals with Tamiami Angel, Central Texas Angel Network, Geekdom, among 32 tracked co-investors.
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