October is full of opportunities to connect, learn, and move your business forward. Whether you’re exploring a new business idea, looking for ways to grow, or ready to build new skills, this month is a great time to take your next step.
RISE and our partners are offering workshops, networking opportunities, and business resources throughout October to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across Southern Virginia.
AI for Business: What AI Is, What It Can Do, How to Use It
Thursday, October 1 , 2026 | 12pm-1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Learn what AI is, how it can support your business, and practical ways to start using it for marketing, communication, research, content creation, and everyday tasks. No AI experience is needed.
Overview of Federal Programs and Small Business Certifications
Wednesday, October 14 , 2026 | 12pm-1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Learn about federal small business certification programs and how they can help eligible businesses compete for government contracting opportunities. This free workshop with Virginia APEX will cover qualifications, requirements, and application processes for programs including HUBZone, 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, and VOSB/SDVOSB.
RISE Grapevine Virtual Meetup for Entrepreneurs
Thursday, October 15 , 2026 | 12pm-1pm | Zoom
The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia for connection and resource sharing.
Startup Playbook: Idea to Income
Thursday, October 15 , 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | SPC4Life
Have a business idea but aren’t sure what comes next? This beginner-friendly workshop will help you refine your idea, understand your customer, explore costs and revenue, and identify practical next steps.
Participants can also schedule a free one-on-one follow-up with a RISE Business Navigator for personalized guidance, resource connections, and support turning their idea into action.
AI for Business: What AI Is, What It Can Do, How to Use It
Tuesday, October 20 , 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Learn what AI is, how it can support your business, and practical ways to start using it for marketing, communication, research, content creation, and everyday tasks. No AI experience is needed.
Startup Playbook: Idea to Income
Thursday, October 22 , 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | South Hill Regional Library
Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, business owners, farmers, and aspiring entrepreneurs at the Mecklenburg Entrepreneur Meetup. Hosted by RISE and Marilynn Cabiness, these informal gatherings provide an opportunity to build relationships, share ideas, and learn about local and regional resources that support business growth. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for years, you’re invited to join the conversation. No registration is required.
Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 and October 21, 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
Tuesday, October 13, 2026and Wednesday, October 28 | 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)
Startup Strategies
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 9am – 10am | Online
Learn the essentials of starting and building a successful business with Lin Hite, Longwood SBDC Western Region Director. This session will cover evaluating your entrepreneurial readiness, marketing, financial resources, business structure, business planning, and cybersecurity to help you build a strong foundation for your new venture.
Your Social Media Game Plan: Platfoms, Content & Insights
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Online
Learn how to choose the right social media platforms for your business, make the most of the content you already create, and use your data to understand what’s working. This beginner-friendly webinar offers practical tips to strengthen your social media presence and generate leads.
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.