Dinner-for-founders concept looks to earn place at the table in local startup scene

Vernon Foster is building a specialized community for Richmond entrepreneurs through his new venture, Growth Dinners. The business hosts monthly, invite-only sessions that bring local startup founders together to discuss business strategy, pain points, and growth tactics in a private setting.

To ensure high-level discussions, the events maintain strict eligibility criteria. Founders typically qualify if their business has generated over $1 million in annual revenue, secured at least $2 million in capital, or experienced a significant exit from a previous venture. Foster, who previously moved to Richmond from New York City and runs the webinar marketing firm WebinarRev, launched the concept to address a gap in local peer support for experienced operators.

Each dinner accommodates 12 participants for a two-hour session. Attendees pay $55 for a prix fixe meal and a structured group conversation. While Foster started the project by cold-calling potential members, the events have moved to an application-based model, with Foster personally vetting participants to maintain the quality of the group.

Since the first event last December at Studio One Twenty, the series has held six dinners across various Richmond venues. These gatherings have attracted leaders from diverse sectors, including technology, agriculture, and digital marketing. Recent events have also included partnerships with local entities like the Lighthouse Network to broaden the reach of the concept.

Foster is currently focused on covering operational costs while exploring future expansion, which may include an annual conference or long-term mastermind programs. His goal is to act as a bridge between established startup networks in Central Virginia, creating a space where leaders at similar stages of development can share expertise and solve common challenges.