Joe Benevento Recognized as 2026 Virginia C-Suite Award Recipient
Virginia Business has named Joe Benevento, President and CEO of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC), a recipient of its 2026 Virginia C-Suite Awards for his leadership in driving innovation and economic growth across the state. Benevento was one of only three executives to receive an additional Leadership Distinction award, recognizing sustained performance that sets him apart within his industry. Under his guidance, VIPC has fostered a collaborative culture known as '1VIPC,' expanded access to programs for startups, and launched initiatives like Lab-to-Launch—a university research commercialization partnership. In 2025, Virginia achieved significant milestones including over 5,000 new high-growth startups, $2.9 billion in venture capital investment into local companies, and a national ranking of #8 for technology innovation by CNBC's 'America's Top States for Business.' VIPC also secured more than $150 million in funding from private-sector and federal partners during the same period.
Topics: innovation leadership venture capital