Our Philosophy
We exist to help founders build big companies without burning themselves out.
Building a company is hard. Founders often carry the weight alone, without the support they need to stay grounded and make clear decisions.
Lighthouse Network exists because healthy founders build healthy companies.
When founders are supported as people, not just as operators, they make better decisions, build stronger teams, and create companies that endure. That’s why we don’t stop at acceleration. We partner with founders for the long haul, supporting them through the real, often messy journey of building something meaningful.
Our Values
Human-Centered
We invest in the person behind the company.
Long-Term
We build relationships meant to last well beyond a single cohort.
Founder First
Our success is tied to a founder’s sustained growth, resilience, and ability to lead.
Our Board of Directors
Liz Doerr
Board Chair
Joe Whitchurch
Past Chair
James Barrett
Vice Chair
Joe Belsterling
Board Member
Allison Bridges
Board Member
Jason Ferrell
Board Member
Arnold Kim
Board Member
Ajay Kori
Board Member
Joe Kunkel
Board Member
Ankit Mathur
Board Member
Satya Rangarajan
Board Member
Todd Nuckols
Ex-Officio
Our Team
Lighthouse Network is powered by a small but experienced team committed to founder-first support. We combine strategic expertise with human-centered care, backed by a trusted board and a national network of mentors and partners who support founders at every stage.
Debbie Irwin
Executive Director
Connector and ecosystem builder with a decade supporting founders. Debbie leads Lighthouse with a human-centered vision and strong belief in founder-first innovation
Glenna Croy
Program Director
Program architect with a heart for service. Glenna brings nonprofit savvy and operational excellence to design founder experiences that truly meet people where they are.