Daylong event to feature panel discussions, startup showcases, and hands-on workshops aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students and founders.
Seasoned venture capitalists, industry leaders, and CEOs will headline the next edition of Startup Bazaar, hosted by The American Bazaar at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond on Friday, March 28.
The daylong event is being co-hosted by the VCU’s Graduate School, da Vinci Center for Innovation, School of Business, and Career Services.
Designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, Startup Bazaar will offer early-stage entrepreneurs, aspiring founders, and students an immersive experience in the startup ecosystem.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders, learn from seasoned entrepreneurs, and explore actionable strategies to launch and grow successful businesses.
“It feels amazing to join hands with Virginia Commonwealth University and further spur the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that the University actively promotes,” said event curator Venkatesh Raghavendra, a long-time Richmond, Virginia resident and an expert in the social innovation and social venture capital universe. “The exchange of ideas and connections in the start-up ecosystem is bound to initiate new ventures and also put the spotlight on business ideas waiting to take off.”
Panel discussions at Startup Bazaar will include:
- From angels to VCs: Strategies for raising startup capital
Featuring:- Dustin Dunbar, Senior Investment Associate, Virginia Venture Partners
- Debbie Irwin, Managing Director, Lighthouse Labs RVA
- Bootstrapping success: Launching and scaling a startup with low capital
Featuring:- Chiranth Nataraj, Founder, Visitor Guard
- Jyot Singh, Founder & CEO, RTS Labs
- Krystle Kaul, Founder, Krystle Klear Communications
- Startup success: Strategies that work
Featuring:- Sanjay Mittal, Founder & CEO, eHealthObjects
- Kuntal Warwick, Founder, KSW Consulting
- Startup showcase: Innovations shaping the future
Featuring: -
- Srinivas Alladi (moderator), Yotta Tech Ports Inc
- Dev Roy, IntraIntel.AI
- Rohan Hundia, Unada Labs
- Aliyah Desautels, Otterwise.io
The event will also feature a fireside chat with Tonya Alston, Senior Growth Executive and Senior Vice President at Agile Defense, where she will share insights on leadership, growth strategy, and navigating high-stakes environments.
Poorva Dharkar, CEO of Ziva, will lead a hands-on workshop on marketing for startups, guiding participants through the essentials of building a brand and crafting a go-to-market strategy from day one.
Venky Raghavendra, a senior development and social innovation professional, will be the event curator and moderator of the day.
For registration details, visit Startup Bazaar: VCU.