Debbie Irwin

Executive Director @Lighthouse Network

Venture PartnerInvestor RelationsFounderAdvisorCEOPortfolio ManagerInvestment AnalystManaging PartnerGeneral PartnerAngelFinanceC-level ExecutiveBusiness OwnerMarketingStartup FounderInvestor & VC

Debbie is a founder development strategist and nonprofit executive who builds ecosystems where entrepreneurs survive, scale, and exit. As Executive Director of Lighthouse Network and Managing Director of Lighthouse Network Ventures, she leads one of Virginia's most active startup support organizations, a 13-year-old institution that has backed 153 companies, facilitated 17 exits, and helped founders raise more than $500 million in capital. In her two years at the helm, she has expanded the organization's programming, launched its ventures arm, and deepened its capital access infrastructure across the state. Debbie is equally at home designing accelerator programming as she is structuring investment vehicles, writing for funders, or making the case for a community's innovation potential to the people who hold the checkbooks. She has led competitive government contract proposals, built SPV infrastructure from scratch, managed complex funder relationships, and developed programming that meets founders where they are from idea stage to exit. Her work lives at the intersection of capital strategy, program design, and the very human work of helping organizations grow beyond what they thought was possible. She takes on select consulting, fractional leadership, and grant strategy engagements for organizations that are ready to stop playing small. Whether you need someone to step in and run the ship, build a fundraising strategy with teeth, or help your team think bigger about what founder support can look like, Debbie brings the drive, the relationships, and the operational experience to get it done.

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Work Background

Executive Director

Lighthouse NetworkExecutive Director

Feb. 2024Richmond, Virginia, United States

Co-Founder

Manufactory CollectiveCo-Founder

Oct. 2022 - Oct. 2024Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States

Executive Director

Shenandoah Community Capital FundExecutive Director

Dec. 2018 - Feb. 2024Staunton, VirginiaAs Executive Director of SCCF, formerly known as the Staunton Creative Community Fund, I have been able to accomplish the following things: 1. Grow the organizational operating budget from $112,000 to over$1.2 million since January 2019. 2. Develop, write, and submit 3 major state and federal grant proposals which were all awarded. $1.2 million GO Virginia Region 8 ecosystem award (June 2020) US EDA Build to Scale $1.5 million award (October 2021) and a US SBA Community Navigator $1 million award (November 2021) 3. Streamline our processes and grow the staff from 1 employee to 14 employees 4. Manage microloan and small business loan portfolio - $456,000 in lending since January of 2020 - 30% of overall lending in 13 years 5. Manage small business development and recruitment efforts, which integrates microloan financing, business consulting, training and education, nonprofit incubation, direct incentives, and other programs as developed. 6. Serve as the public face of SCCF 7. Manage the staffing structure of the organization to be sustainable and nimble across a diversity of funding sources

Director of Education and Marketing

Shenandoah Community Capital FundDirector of Education and Marketing

Oct. 2017 - Dec. 2018Staunton, VirginiaI have the priviledge of working with entrepreneurs all across the Shenandoah Valley.

Director of Programs and Special Events

Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of CommerceDirector of Programs and Special Events

Jun. 2016 - Oct. 2017Fishersville, VA

Marketing Associate

ExploreLearningMarketing Associate

Nov. 2015 - Apr. 2016Charlottesville, Virginia Area

Jr. Accounts Manager

Marketing Mojo, A Digital Marketing AgencyJr. Accounts Manager

Jun. 2015 - Oct. 2015Charlottesville, Virginia Area

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