News & Stories
RISE Collaborative serves entrepreneurs in the following 15 localities in Virginia:
Patrick, Henry, Martinsville, Danville, Pittsylvania, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Prince Edward, Buckingham, Amelia, Nottoway, and Cumberland. Questions? Contact our team at hello@sovarise.com.
Entrepreneurs seek funding at regional Business Plan Competition
Entrepreneurs gather from around Southern Virginia to accelerate their businessesA group of 16 entrepreneurs took the stage at the first annual RISE Business Pitch Competition. Each competitor presented their business startup or business expansion concept in front of...
RISE Business Pitch Competition set for March 28 in South Boston
On Tuesday, March 28, from 4-8 p.m. at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Innovation Center, RISE Collaborative will host the RISE Business Pitch Competition (BPC), Southern Virginia’s first region-wide business pitch competition. The event is open to the...
Patrick & Henry Community College team takes top prize at RISE Collegiate Business Plan Competition
Patrick & Henry Community College student Sara Wall wins $1,000 to launch an eco-friendly products store in Martinsville, Va.Sara Wall of Martinsville, Va. earned 1st place and a $1,000 prize at the second annual RISE Collegiate Business Plan Competition hosted on...
Todd Waldo on Human-Centered Solutions and Technology to Help Entrepreneurs Scale
Todd Waldo on Human-Centered Solutions and Technology to Help Entrepreneurs ScaleThroughout the pandemic and subsequent years, we saw a shift in the way businesses approached diversity and equity but it is clear that if we want to continue improving our ecosystems, we...
RISE Collegiate Business Plan Competition set for March 23 at Hampden-Sydney College
On Thursday, March 23, from 3-6 p.m. in Crawley Forum, Hampden-Sydney College will host the RISE Collegiate Business Plan Competition (CBPC). The event is open to the media and will provide opportunities for photos, video and interviews with participants and event...
Anand Macherla on How to Build a Resilient Startup Ecosystem
Anand Macherla on How to Build a Resilient Startup Ecosystem To create an ecosystem that is thriving, it’s important that ecosystem builders work together with the local community. Everyone impacted should have a voice and be made aware of the shifts happening in...
Beth Zimmer on Reducing the Barriers to Entry for Rural Startups
Beth Zimmer on Reducing the Barriers to Entry for Rural StartupsSerendipity in ecosystem building is a huge underlying and immeasurable resource. It’s important to have communities the support of amazing things coming together in a harmonious way. This episode of the...
RISE Collaborative Announces Sponsors and Prize Categories for March 28 Business Pitch Competition
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brandon HennesseyLongwood Small Business Development Center (SBDC)434-395-2752hello@sovarise.com Lauren Mathena SOVA Innovation Hub434-570-1305hello@sovarise.comRISE Collaborative Announces Sponsors and Prize Categories for March 28 Business...
Meet the RISE Winter 2023 Business Bootcamp Cohort
These entrepreneurs are digging in, learning, and hustling to start or grow their businesses in Southern Virginia! We're excited to introduce you to them!Introducing the RISE Collaborative Winter 2023 CO.STARTERS Business Bootcamp cohort! We are SO proud of these...
Eric Weissmann on The Value of Variety in Ecosystem Building
Eric Weissmann on the Value of Variety in Ecosystem BuildingWhen you look at ecosystems in nature, like the rainforest, for example, it’s not all tall trees but a variety of different species that come together to create a bigger landscape. The same goes for our...
Learn Canva design to grow your business
RISE Collaborative is offering two Canva workshops on Saturday, March 11, 2023 with award-winning YouTuber and tech educator LaShonda Brown. This Canva training is FREE for entrepreneurs in Southern and Southern Central Virginia.Canva for Business Workshops on...
Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski on The Impact of Internet Access in Rural America
Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski on the Impact of Internet Access in Rural AmericaThose of us who have easy access to the internet often take for granted the benefits we reap from it. By providing equitable access to the internet across our rural communities, we are opening...