August is full of engaging events and learning opportunities for Southern Virginia’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business leaders. Whether you’re launching a new venture or scaling up, there’s something this month to help you take the next step.
1-on-1 Consulting on Government Contracting
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | SOVA Innovation Hub
Southern Virginia businesses interested in government contracting have a new opportunity close to home. Virginia APEX Accelerator is offering free, 1-on-1 consulting sessions at the SOVA Innovation Hub, located at 715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA. The goal of this service is to make it easier than ever for Southern Virginia businesses to access expert guidance on navigating the government contracting process. Learn More >
PUMP: Pull Up Mentoring Program
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 9am-1pm | P&HCC Patrick County Fab Lab (Stuart, VA)
Hosted by the RISE Navigators, PUMP (Pull Up Mentor Program) is a free, drop-in event designed to connect entrepreneurs with valuable resources to support your business journey.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to grow, an aspiring entrepreneur with a new idea, or an innovator with a fresh product or service, PUMP (Pull Up Mentor Program) offers a chance to discuss your ideas with a member of the RISE Navigator team. The RISE Navigators are knowledgeable about local, regional, and national resources to support your business journey.
Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your entrepreneurial journey with personalized support.
EVOLVE Launch Party
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 5:30pm-7pm | SOVA Innovatin Hub
Celebrate the launch of the new EVOLVE Nonprofit Program with us! This free community event is open to nonprofit professionals, board members, and anyone passionate about making a difference. Enjoy refreshments, network with local changemakers, and learn more about the EVOLVE Training Series kicking off this fall. Registration includes a complimentary t-shirt (while supplies last). EVOLVE is designed to support nonprofit leaders across Southern Virginia with practical training and peer connection.
Creating a Capability Statement that Makes Yout Business STAND OUT!
Wednesday, August 20, 2025| 12pm – 1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Learn how to create a Capability Statement that sets your business apart in the competitive federal marketplace. This free workshop, led by Margaret Edmond of Virginia APEX and sponsored by RISE Collaborative and the SOVA Innovation Hub, will guide entrepreneurs and small business owners through both the strategic and practical components of crafting a strong capability statement. Attendees will explore value-mapping techniques, key content elements, and how to present their strengths effectively to government buyers and teaming partners. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your government contracting game.
RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 12pm – 1pm | Zoom
The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup is a virtual gathering of diverse, creative, and inclusive entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia. During each monthly meeting, we share updates from local and regional entrepreneurs support organizations.
2nd Annual RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs
Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 8am – 3pm | Institute for Advanced Learning & Research
Get ready to take your business to the next level at the 2025 RISE Summit—a one-day event filled with inspiration, practical workshops, and meaningful networking opportunities. Whether you’re launching a new venture or scaling an existing one, the Summit offers the tools, connections, and motivation you need to grow. Your registration includes access to all keynote sessions and breakouts, a buffet lunch, snacks and beverages, exclusive event swag, and free Wi-Fi throughout the venue. Don’t miss this energizing day designed to support your journey as an entrepreneur—save the date and get ready to connect, learn, and grow.
Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 and Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 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, August 20, 2025 | 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)
Stressed, Wired, and Tired: Brain-Based Strategies to Beat Burnout in Business
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 11am – 12pm | Online
Running a small business can be incredibly fulfilling—but it also comes with high levels of stress, long hours, and constant pressure. In this practical, research-based session, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Dr. Catherine Franssen will explain how stress impacts the brain and body—and what you can do to manage it.
You’ll learn strategies for improving decision-making, maintaining focus, and creating habits that support mental clarity and long-term well-being. Expect simple, actionable techniques you can use right away to stay grounded and energized, even during your busiest moments.
Grow Your Business With Digital Marketing
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 12pm – 1:30pm | Online
Now more than ever, small businesses need to understand the fundamentals of digital marketing to stay competitive and fuel growth. This session will introduce key strategies including social media, email marketing, paid advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), and affiliate marketing. You’ll also learn how to use analytics to track performance and make informed marketing decisions. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your approach, this workshop offers practical insights to help your business thrive online.
Manufacturing: How Onshoring Led One Virginia Company to Realize New Growth Opportunities
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 11am – 12pm | Online
Onshoring is top of mind for many manufacturers, but the process of bringing manufacturing and supply chains back to the U.S. is anything but simple and straightforward. However daunting it may seem, it’s not impossible.
In this webinar, Aaron Miller, Director of the Virginia SBDC International Business Development Program sits down with Ben Barani, COO of Oransi, to learn how they successfully on-shored their air purifier manufacturing while maintaining a leading position in the marketplace.
Ben will share how Oransi’s proprietary electric motor technology has not only enabled this transition but also positioned the company to lead in other high-impact sectors. By gaining greater control over production and fostering a culture of innovation, Oransi has launched new product lines that are transforming the robotics, unmanned systems, and data center cooling industries—delivering unmatched energy efficiency, reliability, and performance in mission-critical applications.
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 9am – 10pm | 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
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.