March is a time to turn momentum into action for Southern Virginia’s entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators. As plans take shape, this month’s programs and events are designed to help you sharpen your skills, strengthen connections, and continue moving forward with focus and confidence.
Advertising on a Budget
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 11am-1pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
This hands-on advertising course helps small business owners strengthen their brand using simple, affordable design tools. Participants will learn how to create a basic logo and digital flyers for social media using Canva. Please bring your laptop for hands-on practice.
Excel Deep Dive
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 9am-11:am | SOVA Innovation Hub
Advanced Excel Training is designed for participants who are already comfortable with Excel and want to take their skills to the next level. The session covers advanced formulas, data cleaning, PivotTables, and time-saving tools to help you work smarter and more efficiently. Bring your laptop and leave with practical techniques you can apply immediately to manage data, build reports, and streamline tasks.
RISE Grapevine Virtual Meetup for Entrepreneurs
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 12pm-1pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia for connection and resource sharing. The March session will focus on childcare, highlighting resources, challenges, and solutions that impact entrepreneurs and working families. Entrepreneurs at all stages are welcome to attend.
EVOLVE Nonprofit Networking Event
Tuesday, March 24, 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.
RISE Summit
Friday, October, 2026 | 8am-5:30pm | The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
The third annual RISE Summit brings together entrepreneurs for a full day of inspiration, skill-building workshops, and high-impact networking. This year’s focus is Innovation in Business, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, making it a must-attend event for entrepreneurs across industries. Super Early Bird tickets are available now for $45 through July 16, with Early Bird and Regular rates available as the event approaches.
Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, March 11 and March 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, March 4 and March 18, 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)
AI Tools for Virginia Farmers: What Works, What it Costs, and Where to Start
Wedneday, March 4, 2026 | 12pm – 1pm | Online
Virginia farmers now have access to practical, affordable tools that support crop health, irrigation, and equipment guidance, even in areas with limited internet access. This session will explore what tools are available, what they cost, and how to decide where to start. Presented by Chris Funkhouser of 8-Bit Consulting, who brings hands-on operations experience and helps small businesses apply AI and automation in practical, realistic ways.
Mobile Apps: How to Plan, Execute & Launch
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 12pm – 1:30pm | Online
This webinar helps entrepreneurs evaluate whether a mobile app could support their business goals and outlines the steps to successfully plan, launch, and market an app. Participants will learn about market research, app scoping, budgeting, development, and promotion. The session is presented by Cameron Nelson, CEO of Tenzing Startup Consultants, a technology leader with more than 20 years of experience bringing digital products to market.
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Wednesday, March 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
Startup Strategies
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 10:30am – 12pm | Online
This session explores key motivations for entrepreneurship while helping participants assess their readiness to start or grow a business. Topics include evaluating entrepreneurial strengths, marketing strategies, financial resources, legal structures, business planning tips, and basic cybersecurity considerations. Participants will leave with a clearer strategy for building a strong foundation for long-term entrepreneurial success.
Hosted by the Longwood SBDC
From Phishing to AI Scams: Cyber Risks Small Businesses Face in 2026
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 12pm – 1pm | Online
Cyber threats are evolving quickly, and this webinar breaks down how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape for small businesses. Participants will learn about modern phishing and impersonation attacks, business email compromise, AI-driven scams, and practical, cost-effective ways to improve cyber hygiene. The session is led by Quiana Gainey, CEO of SecureTech360 and Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert, and Lori Zeoli, CEO and Founder of xpLORIZE AI.
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.