I just launched 757.vc. Here's why.

I've been part of Virginia's startup ecosystem for 7 years, including time in Startup Studios alongside the first three generations of 757 Collab's management and applying to VIPC | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation's grant program. That experience shaped everything I think about entrepreneurship in this state. The community here is amazing. Genuinely inspiring people building real things.

During that time, I got to see the decision-making process for selecting startups from the inside and outside. I watched pitch sessions, pitched myself, sat in on reviews, hung around the conversations that happened after.

What I kept seeing was the same pattern: talented founders building real solutions, getting passed over because the numbers didn't match some template. I've been on the receiving end too. Sometimes it felt more like a human factor than actual feedback.

So I decided to do something about it.

I built 757.vc, a local Product Hunt for Virginia. A place where startups can be seen by investors, partners, and the broader community without waiting for a single gatekeeper to say yes.

Here's what's live right now:

For Startups:

• Community-driven startup directory. Submit your company and get discovered by investors, partners, and the ecosystem
• Community voting. Real people upvote the startups they believe in
• AI-powered founder tips to sharpen your story and positioning
• Already listed? Claim your startup, add details, and make it yours
• Leaderboard rankings so the best startups rise to the top

For Investors:

• A deal flow board to track startups through your pipeline
• AI-powered due diligence briefs with instant analysis on market positioning, team strength, and investment potential
• Intake forms to collect startup submissions and funnel them into your deal flow
• Warm intros to founders through the platform
• Calendar integration so founders can book time directly from your profile

For the Community:

• Scout startups you discover in the Virginia ecosystem, even if you're not the founder. They can claim it later
• Curated collections to explore startups by theme
• Browse by Virginia region or industry topic
• Discussions space to exchange ideas, share feedback, and help each other
• Public profiles showcasing your startups, scouts, and activity
• Weekly newsletter digest with top Virginia startups

This is a community project. I don't want funding. I don't want equity. I just want Virginia's startups to prosper, not struggle.

I've been through the rejections. I know what it feels like when the door closes and the feedback doesn't match the effort. Let's make sure talent doesn't go unnoticed here.

Heads up: I just launched this and I'm still actively working on it. If you run into anything broken, please let me know through the feedback form on the site.

757.vc is live. Let's build this together.

P.S. Startups scouted this week: Nerdbeak, Mercurial AI, Nasoni, Coastal Resilience Solutions, FibrX, Joy of Wine Company™.