Expert Knowledge for Richmond's Social Entrepreneurs
Real data from Richmond's growing business community
Richmond is thriving: Local businesses have nearly recovered from the pandemic and are growing faster than pre-pandemic rates. The city launched a new RVA Business Portal in 2025 to streamline business registration and support continued growth.
A comprehensive step-by-step primer to launch a mission-first venture on solid footing. Learn how to define your mission, validate demand, choose the right legal structure, and develop a sustainable business model that puts impact first. From values to bylaws to first revenue - everything you need to know.
We believe in building businesses that serve our neighbors, not just profit margins. This is a space for Richmond entrepreneurs who see business as a force for community good, where art and creativity drive innovation, and where we collectively reject the traditional rat race.
We're not protesting government—we're creating alternatives. Building communities where collaboration replaces competition, where creativity is currency, and where success is measured by the positive impact we have on our neighbors' lives. We follow the rules of the cosmos: organic growth, mutual support, and sustainable practices.
Free guides on starting a social enterprise, cooperative business models, and community funding.
Access Resources →Connect with other Richmond entrepreneurs building businesses with purpose and community focus.
Join Community →Grants, loans, and investment opportunities specifically for social enterprises and creative businesses.
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Latest Insights
Building Cooperative Business Models
Practical ways to structure, finance, and govern worker and community-owned businesses in Richmond. Learn about membership structures, democratic governance, capital stacks, and the four types of cooperatives.
Community Funding Strategies
Explore funding approaches including crowdfunding, community investment notes, grants, and aligned lenders. Real examples from Richmond social enterprises and practical steps to secure mission-aligned capital.
Social Impact Measurement
Learn how to define outcomes, collect data, and communicate your social enterprise's impact. Includes frameworks, metrics examples, and tools for tracking both financial and social returns.
B-Corp Certification Guide
Step-by-step guide for B-Corp certification including assessment requirements, documentation needs, and legal considerations. Learn how to join 4,000+ companies using business as a force for good.
Cooperative Legal Structures
Navigate Virginia's legal landscape for cooperatives. Understand non-stock corporations, LLCs, securities law exemptions, and step-by-step formation process for worker and consumer co-ops.
Community Tool Library Success
How a neighborhood-run tool library achieved 4,000+ loans, diverted 15 tons of waste, and built community resilience. A circular economy model that's replicable in any Richmond neighborhood.
Digital Equity Cooperative
Case study of a worker-owned tech cooperative that connected 1,200+ residents to affordable internet and graduated 300+ from digital literacy workshops. A model for addressing the digital divide.
Riverfront Urban Farm Collective
Success story of a cooperative urban farming project that serves 500+ families, created 25 jobs, and transformed vacant lots into productive community assets. Learn their replicable model.