What is the IHR200?
The IHR200 is a list of the most prominent startups in the 757 area—the disruptors, the innovators, the ones challenging the status quo for the betterment of the region. Innovate Hampton Roads (IHR) created and organizes the list to highlight the independent, high-potential companies driving growth, innovation, and impact across industries. Ultimately, the list isn’t about hype—it’s about clarity on who is driving development in the region.
- IHR curates the list, evaluating each startup on growth potential, innovation, and regional impact.
- It spans a wide range of industries and companies at different stages of development.
- It includes only independent, high-potential startups based in the 757 region.
- Together, these companies represent the future of the Hampton Roads region.
View the current list.
The First 20
On April 2, 2026, IHR recognized the first 20 of these impactful startups, listed below. As the name suggests, the first 20 is exactly that—the first 20. Since the list is living and evolving as the region grows, IHR will keep adding new companies over time. So when people ask, “What is being build here?”—this is the answer.
Learn more about the first 20.
Why Hampton Roads?
The Hampton Roads region—spanning cities like Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News—has become a growing hub for entrepreneurship, and the IHR200 exists to document that momentum in real time. Rather than a static ranking, the list works as an ongoing snapshot of the founders, teams, and ideas shaping the region’s economic future. For investors, partners, and talent looking to get involved locally, the IHR200 offers a starting point for discovering who’s building what.
Know a company that should be considered for the IHR200? Submit them here for consideration.
