February is a time to build on the momentum of the new year for Southern Virginia’s entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators. As goals begin to take shape, this month’s programs and events are designed to help you strengthen your skills, deepen connections, and keep moving forward with clarity and confidence.
EVOLVE Nonprofit Networking Event
Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 12pm-1pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
EVOLVE focuses on connection and community impact. Enjoy a light lunch while connecting with nonprofit leaders, board members, and others who are passionate about making a difference. This free event is open to all and highlights EVOLVE’s ongoing support for nonprofit leaders and founders across Halifax, Mecklenburg, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Brunswick, and surrounding counties.
Creating a Capability Statement that Makes Your Business Stand Out
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | 12pm-1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Join us for a free workshop led by Margaret Edmond of Virginia APEX, open to all entrepreneurs and businesses. This session will walk participants through how to create an effective Capability Statement, a one-page document that clearly highlights your business strengths and positions you to win new customers and contracts. You’ll learn the key elements every strong Capability Statement should include, from core competencies and past performance to differentiators and government contracting details. Presented by Virginia APEX and sponsored by RISE Collaborative and the SOVA Innovation Hub.
Excel Basics
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 9am-11:30am | SOVA Innovation Hub
Whether you’re new to Microsoft Excel or looking for a refresher, this interactive workshop is a great place to start. Led by Wendy Toone, participants will learn Excel basics such as navigating the interface, entering and formatting data, and creating simple charts and formulas. Please bring your laptop for hands-on practice in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment.
RISE Grapevine Virtual Meetup for Entrepreneurs
Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 12pm-1pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia for learning, connection, and resource sharing. This month’s session, The Customer Journey, presented by Marilynn Cabiness, will explore how understanding and serving the right customer helps businesses create intentional touchpoints that drive meaningful and profitable growth.
Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, February 11 and February 25, 2026 | 10am – 11:30am | Online
This session will provide a high level overview of the Commonwealth’s purchasing process, including purchasing policies that affect how buyers use the eVA system to “shop” and the eVA tools used by our buying community. You’ll also get a guided tour of the eVA website as we discuss the publicly accessible tools & resources every business should know about if they’re interested in selling to Virginia. And if you’re not already an eVA registered Vendor, you’ll learn how to get signed-up, as well as where to go for help at any time!
Hosted by the eVA outreach team with the Virginia Division Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
Generating Leads Using eVA – Workshop #2
Wednesday, February 4 and February 17, 2026 | 10am – 12pm | Online
This advanced workshop is the 2nd in the eVA series & focuses on lead generation. This hands-on session explores the public transparency tools available on the eVA website, including the Report & Resource Center and the new “power” search. You’ll learn how to identify buyers who are buying what you sell, determine prices being paid for goods/services, identify who’s getting business (is it you or your competition). We’ll also walk through the Virginia Business Opportunities public posting page – featuring collaboration tools like B2B Connect & VIBE – as we discuss how & when eVA builds a lead list for you and why rating your leads is important.
Hosted by the eVA outreach team with the Virginia Division Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
Upcoming Events Hosted by the Longwood Small Business Development Center & Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Using AI for Social Media
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | 10am – 11am | Online
Social media does not have to be overwhelming. In this live, virtual workshop, business owners will learn how practical AI tools can simplify content creation, caption writing, and planning while still keeping their brand voice authentic. Led by Jeff Robertson, Business Advisor with the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC, the session features real-world examples and hands-on guidance to help participants save time and leave with clear, actionable next steps they can use right away.
Essential Bookkeeping Tasks
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | 12pm – 1:30pm | Online
This hands-on workshop covers the essential bookkeeping tasks small business owners need to stay organized and in control. Participants will learn what to track daily, weekly, and monthly, including sales, expenses, invoices, receipts, payroll basics, and simple recordkeeping habits to avoid overwhelm. Led by Chelsea Torres of the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center and co-sponsored by LISC Hampton Roads, the session provides a practical checklist you can start using immediately.
How to Manage your WordPress Website
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 12pm – 1:30pm | Online
Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on creating and managing a WordPress website for your business. Participants will learn the basics of user management, page creation and editing, media uploads, plugin management, and linking to social media. The session also includes an introduction to Elementor, WordPress’s popular drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to design and update your site visually and confidently.
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 10:30am – 12pm | Online
Starting a new business can be daunting, but with the right foundation, you can set yourself up for success. This seminar covers essential steps to establish a strong business foundation, including business planning, financial management, and legal considerations. Ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners.
Hosted by the Longwood SBDC
How Your Business Makes Money: The Income Statement
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 12pm – 1:30pm | Online
In this session, small business owners will learn how to read and understand their income statement (profit and loss) in clear, plain language. Participants will break down revenue, costs, expenses, and profit to identify trends, spot issues early, and make more informed business decisions. The workshop is led by Chelsea Torres of the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center and co-sponsored by LISC Hampton Roads.
Live and On-Demand Webinars
Multiple Dates | Online
No matter where you are in the state of Virginia, you can access virtual training programs and seminars on a variety of topics including business planning, marketing, management, legal considerations, accounting and bookkeeping, financial analysis, technology, access to capital, and business basics.
Hosted by the Virginia SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers)
Upcoming Chamber of Commerce Events
Chamber of Commerce Events
Multiple Dates | Various Locations
Many of Chamber of Commerce organizations host monthly networking events and ongoing training opportunities for businesses of all sizes and types.
Stay up to date on RISE Events
Find out what’s happening in the RISE Southern Virginia ecosystem on the RISE Meetups page.