2025RIC - Annual Scholarship Breakfast featuring A Start-up Panel Discussion

Paul Nolde has over two decades of experience in the banking, finance, and venture capital sectors, serving in multiple business development and management roles. As the Managing Director of 757 Collab and the Executive Director of 757 Angels powered by VentureSouth, Paul sets the strategic vision for both organizations and oversees day-to-day operations in accelerating and funding venture capital-appropriate startups from idea to seed stage. 757 Collab includes 757 Startup Studios (the “front door” incubator to Hampton Roads’ entrepreneurial ecosystem), 757 Accelerate (a nationally recognized venture accelerator), 757 Angels powered by VentureSouth (one of the nation’s most active angel investment groups), and 757 Innovation Partnerships (innovation programming for organizations and companies). Prior to this he served as the Executive Managing Director of Lighthouse Labs, another nationally recognized venture accelerator based in Richmond, VA, and before that he was the Fund Manager and Managing Director of Riverflow Growth Fund, a seed stage, healthcare-focused venture capital fund. Prior to Riverflow he served as a director at NRV, also an early-stage venture capital firm, having previously managed the angel investment portfolio of a family office. Earlier in his career he held various sales and strategy positions at multiple national and community banks.

He is an active participant in, and advocate for, Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving on the boards of several local and regional organizations, including CAV Angels (immediate past president), Innovate Hampton Roads, the Norfolk Innovation Corridor, Hampton Roads’ Regional Organization Presidents’ Council, and The Launch Place Seed Fund (former chair). Additionally, Paul sits on various advisory and governing boards at the University of Virginia, where he also serves as an adjunct professor of impact investing in its Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

Paul graduated from UVA with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs, complemented by post-grad business studies through the McIntire School of Commerce Business Institute.

Richard Wintsch was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to the United States to attend James Madison University. Richard began his professional journey in private banking at JP Morgan. After relocating to Richmond, he dedicated 14 years to ChamberRVA, contributing significantly to the region’s economic development.

Currently, Richard serves as the Executive Director of Startup Virginia, a nonprofit high-growth business incubator. Under his leadership, Startup Virginia supports startups, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs with an engaged community, comprehensive programs, targeted resources, and a dynamic workspace. His efforts are focused on helping these ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs reach their full potential and making a positive impact on Virginia’s economic landscape.