The Launch Place
Venture capitalDanville · Pre-Seed–Series A · 5 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 · 5 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 14 of 24 portfolio companiesIoT ×5Healthtech ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Consumer ×3Enterprise Software ×3Hardware ×3SaaS ×3Digital Health ×2
HQs:United States×9Indonesia×1Malaysia×1
Investments · 24 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2022 · 12015 · 12 dated
Falls Church, US
John J. McDonnell, Jr.(Director)Richard Sternitzke(Director)David Giannini(Executive Officer, Director)Elizabeth Crawford(Executive Officer)Gareth H. Moore(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)James Ramey(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
Jason Shawn Barton(Executive Officer)jonathan gaster(Executive Officer)
ProAxion provides a predictive maintenance platform that uses sensors and analytics to monitor machine health and improve industrial uptime and plant reliability.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningIoTApex, US
Allen West(Director)Elliot Poger(Executive Officer, Promoter)Justin Rothwell(Founder)
Roobrik provides sales and marketing software for senior living providers, offering decision-support surveys and chat tools that engage website visitors, assess prospects' readiness and financial situation, and pass data points to sales teams.
Marketing TechSaaSSales TechGreensboro, US
Judith Conaway(Executive Officer)David Levin(Director)Nathaniel O'Keefe(Executive Officer, Director)Maureen O'Connor(Director)William Clark(Director)
ConsumerHardwareHealthtechRaleigh, US
COURTNEY MANN(Director)DAVID FOX(Director)GRAHAM SNYDER(Executive Officer, 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)Walter Clarke(Director)Dr. Bill Rawls(Co-founder)
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)Ravi Chilkuri(Director)James Dieffenderfer(Director)
Frequently asked questions
- 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.
Similar investors
UntroD Capital is a deep-tech-focused investment firm that backs research-and-development-driven startups whose innovative technologies address challenges facing the planet and humanity, an approach it terms 'Real Tech'.
Grow Venture Partners is an early-stage deep-tech investor that backs companies built on intellectual property developed at research centers and universities, helping scientists and researchers become entrepreneurs.
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that backs founders globally, supported by a community of founders and operators as LPs.
IBB Ventures is a Berlin-based venture capital investor that backs startups across healthcare, industrial tech, software & IT, consumer tech, D2C and brands, as well as impact ventures addressing social and environmental challenges.
Clave is a private equity/venture capital manager with 20 years of experience and more than 90 investments made, actively participating in the strategy and management of its portfolio companies.