Connecting founders to their first investors since 2016
A 501(c)(3) that has been the first public stage for underrepresented founders in the South — companies that had raised less than $250K and had never pitched before. Across 33 showcases we rehearsed and sharpened their pitch, put them in a room with mentors to solve their toughest, most immediate business challenge, and then put them in front of their first investors. The mission remains. How we achieve it is evolving — and every founder is welcome to share their startup with Valor.
Startup Runway exists to meet founders earlier — before the market, before the capital, and before opportunity is evenly distributed.
Celebrating 287 Finalists
Selected From Thousands of Applications
2016–2026, a ten-year journey. Every company below had raised less than $250K and had no public pitch behind it, rehearsed with us, worked through its toughest business challenge with mentors in person, and then pitched first on a Startup Runway stage. Listed alphabetically.
Thank you to the sponsors who funded a decade of first chances.
Startup Runway underwriters fueled $700,000 in non-dilutive grants. Founders they supported went on to raise close to $100 million — and counting.
Presenting sponsor
Grant funders and founding partners
Sponsors, 2016–2026
TiE Atlanta Angels·Goldman Sachs·Slalom·Wells Fargo·Savannah Economic Development Authority·Innovators Legal·Unqork·LeaseQuery·Hypepotamus·Write2Market·Connetic Ventures·OnPay·MHR International·Atlanta Hawks·Spencer Stuart·Metro Atlanta Chamber·Myra McElhaney
Community, venue and program partners
The Gathering Spot·SHE HUSTLES·The Creative Coast·Savannah SCORE·StartUP Columbus·Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs·Woodruff Arts Center·Tech Square ATL·Science Square·mHUB Chicago·NCR Voyix·Cox Enterprises
Meet a Few of the Founders Who First Pitched at Startup Runway
Gently Soap
Kristen Dunning
Shark Tank deal · Oprah's Favorite Things 2024 · $1M+ ARR · Walmart launch 2026
Read her story
Plural
Damola Ogundipe · fka Civic Eagle
$10M Series A led by S3 Ventures · Menlo Ventures · $14M+ raised · customers include Comcast and Google
Read his story
theCut
Obi Omile Jr. & Kush Patel
$4.5M round led by NextGen Venture Partners · $500M+ earned by barbers on the platform
Read their story
Ecoatex
Dr. Raha Saremi · University of Georgia
Synthetic leather from pecan and peanut shells · $1.5M non-dilutive (USDA, EPA SBIR, NSF) · patented
Read her story
Inclusivv
Jenn Graham · fka Civic Dinners
Techstars · ~$2M seed · clients include Coca-Cola and Facebook
Read her storyAnd so many more, like…
Zyrobotics·Microsoft's first AI for Accessibility grantee
The Labz·Edition 5 winner, $2.9M+ raised
Patientory·$7.2M one month after Edition 2
Start Your Fundraising Journey: Share Your Startup With Valor VC
Valor Steps Up for Startups
After 33 showcases, Startup Runway is not planning future events. The mission — meeting founders earlier — has not changed; how we achieve it has. Valor Ventures, a key underwriter of Startup Runway since the first showcase, continues to welcome all top-performing founders in the South. Three ways to engage:
Ready to pitch?
Share your deck with Valor
Upload your deck and get specific written feedback from Valor's analyst Vic.
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Valor's Ecosystem Calendar
Valor's curated demo days, pitch competitions, summits and founder gatherings across the South.
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Signal South
Valor's podcast on the fastest-growing venture region in the country — ours. Hear from founders, first-check investors and ecosystem builders on what is working in the South today.
Listen to Signal SouthLisa Calhoun, Startup Runway Founder,
Reflects on 10 Years of Purpose and Partnership
For a decade, Startup Runway has been devoted to elevating first movers with high-potential opportunities. Launched as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it reflects my ongoing commitment to supporting all founders — especially those our culture has historically underrepresented and structurally sidelined. I believe the biggest wins for us as a civilization come from the edges. I am proud of the role Startup Runway has played in catalyzing innovation in our region.
Current reality is, the corporate funding that sustained us has moved elsewhere and is pursuing other opportunities.
To the sponsors who carried Startup Runway for ten years: my gratitude is enormous, and I know the ripple effect of the work we did together is alive and well. I am at peace, and in purpose, about what comes next for this proven platform.
I am taking this ten-year milestone as an opportunity to pause, reflect and rethink how Startup Runway moves forward. We are looking for sustaining sponsors fully committed to a future of inclusive innovation. If that is you, please reach out to me on LinkedIn. Meanwhile, Valor has stepped into an even larger role in our ecosystem with our second institutional fund, and I am fully engaged making sure we invest in, and support, the next generation of founders building a better tomorrow, today, from here in the South — the most dynamic, diverse and fastest-growing region in the country.