January is packed with exciting events for entrepreneurs, small business owners and innovators in Southern Virginia.
1-on-1 Consulting on Government Contracting
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | SOVA Innovation Hub
Southern Virginia businesses interested in government contracting have a new opportunity close to home. The Crater 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
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Monday, January 13 | 12pm – 4:00pm | SOVA Innovation Hub (South Boston, VA)
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Wednesday, January 15 | 3pm – 7pm | P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center (Martinsville, 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.
Contracting 101 with The Commonwealth of Virginia
Wednesday, January 15 | 12pm – 1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Southern Virginia businesses have an exciting opportunity to tap into billions of dollars in state spending through a FREE workshop hosted by the Greater Crater APEX Accelerator at the SOVA Innovation Hub, located at 715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA. This hands-on, 90-minute session will guide participants step-by-step through the process of becoming an eVA registered vendor and earning their SWaM certification. Attendees will learn how to register their business to work with Virginia state agencies, identify buyers for their products or services, analyze commodity spend to target opportunities effectively, and use eVA tools to market their business. The Commonwealth of Virginia encourages state agencies to work with SWaM-certified vendors, with a goal of spending 42% of discretionary funding with these businesses. Don’t miss this chance to grow your business through state contracting opportunities. Bring your laptop to start the registration process during the session.
RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup
Wednesday, January 16, 2025 | 12:00-1:00pm | 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.
Upcoming Events Hosted by the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Longwood SBDC
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Thursday, January 23 | 9:00am-10:00am | 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.