News & Stories for Entrepreneurs
Registration Opens for CO.STARTERS Business Bootcamp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brandon HennesseyLongwood Small Business Development Center (SBDC)434-395-2752hello@sovarise.com Lauren Mathena SOVA Innovation Hub434-570-1305hello@sovarise.com Registration opens for CO.STARTERS Business Bootcamp RISE...
Global Entrepreneurship Week in Southern Virginia
Contact: Jessica Edwards, Dan River Region Entrepreneur EcosystemEmail: jess@danriverecosystem.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA Southern Virginia to showcase our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dan River Region, Va....
Lake Country Development Loan Funds and How to Apply
Deborah Gosney, Executive Director of the Southside Planning District Commission, joined RISE to tell the RISE community about the Lake Country Development Corporation's loan funds and what organizations need to apply. Watch the video or read below for more...
River District Association hosts second “Start-Up Slam”
- News from the River District Association -News Release Contact: Diana Schwartz, Executive Director352-895-8898 For Immediate Release: August 22, 2022 River District Association hosts second “Start-Up Slam”, giving locals the opportunity to crowdfund money for...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ally Barfield (RV Mom in Pink)
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ally Barfield From Artist to Entrepreneur “It only takes one percent of action to start turning a dream into a reality,” Ally Barfield, the owner of RV Mom in Pink, explains as she reflects on her own growth over the last year. The...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Jan Daniel (Taa Daa the Bakery)
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Jan Daniel Turning a Lifelong Passion into a Full-Fledged BusinessIf experience is the best teacher, Jan Daniel is well-schooled. The self-made entrepreneur and owner of Taa Daa the Bakery in Blackstone, Va., spent decades treating her passion...
Hometown Hustle returns
This article by Monique Holland was originally published on the Martinsville Bulletin here. MARTINSVILLE, VA – Natalie Hodge’s second season of “Hometown Hustle” is double what last year’s first season was, both in length of episodes and numbers of participants. The...
Kim King shares tips on building your business credit
On May 18, 2022, guest speaker Kim King of Benchmark Community Bank shared information about how your personal credit score impacts getting a small business loan. She shares tips on building, repairing, and monitoring your credit.It just takes time and effort,...
New Innovation Hub to cultivate entrepreneurship, bolster business development in Farmvillle region
Original article published August 24, 2022 by Longwood University at https://www.longwood.edu/news/2022/new-innovation-hub/ In the coming years, these scenes will become typical in Farmville: college students from Longwood, Hampden-Sydney and Southside Virginia...
Chandra Hurst shares how the Economic Equity Fund provides small business loans
On August 17, 2022, RISE Collaborative hosted a Rise& Shine Virtual Meetup with guest speaker Chandra Hurst of Virginia Community Capital. Hurst shared information about the Economic Equity Fund. Watch the video replay to learn more. Apply for Loan Funding...
Warren Reid on Present, Community-Centered Leadership
Interview with Warren Reid, Owner of The Reid Executive Group Not everyone has the privilege to travel the world so it is even more important for the ones that can to bring some of that knowledge and perspective back to their small towns for the greater benefit....
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Carl Bassfield Jr.
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Carl Bassfield Jr. From Freelance Photography to Full-Fledged Production CompanyCarl Bassfield Jr. established In-Depth Productions in 2019 with an iPhone and a wedding gig. “This isn’t the first business I’ve attempted to start,” said...
Natalie Hodge on Representation of Small Town Stories
Ecosystem Builder Interview with Entrepreneur Natalie K. Hodge, Founder of Rudy's Girl Media and HometownHustle.tvWhen you think of television and film, your brain automatically connects to the big stories coming out of LA, but it’s the small town stories that are the...
Amelia High Students Propose Entrepreneurial Solutions
Motivation, bonding, and satisfaction were all words used by students in Mrs. Dana Knott’s classroom this semester. This spring students participated in the CO.STARTERS Generator program offered through RISE Collaborative. Winning Team: Jacob...
Four entrepreneurs win $50,000 in the 2022 Rev Up Danville Pittsylvania Program
Four businesses in Danville and Pittsylvania County received funding for expansion(Danville, VA) The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) awarded four existing businesses with a total of $50,000 to assist in the expansion of their services. The...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Michelle Walters on Scaling Small Business and Adapting to Opportunity
Michelle Walters, CEO of Island Glow, LLC, epitomizes the dynamic nature of entrepreneurship and innovation. Hers is the story of an entrepreneur who says yes, persisting and pivoting to scale her business incrementally. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs,...
Dan River Region Black Chamber of Commerce Hosts Inaugural Event as Stand Alone Organization SWaM Strong Spring Procurement Fair
Dan River Region Black Chamber of Commerce Hosts Inaugural Event as Stand Alone Organization SWaM Strong Spring Procurement Fair Danville, VA - The Dan River Region Black Chamber of Commerce (dba Black Business Collaborative-Dan River Region) launched with SWaM Strong...
RISE Collaborative Hosts Inaugural Collegiate Business Plan Competition Pitch Event
RISE Collaborative Hosts Inaugural Collegiate Business Plan Competition Pitch Event College students throughout Southern Virginia presented their business ideas for a chance at funding for their startupsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 29, 2022 SOUTH BOSTON, Va. – RISE...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Morgan Clark’s Entrepreneurial Venture into Nonprofit Consulting
Morgan Epstein Clark is the founder and lead consultant of Epstein Clark Consulting, a professional services firm headquartered in Danville, Va., with customers in the Southern Virginia region. Epstein Clark Consulting offers customized consulting services to fit...
From Seed to Startup: Mikita Smith’s RISE to Business Owner
Our latest Rise & Shine virtual meetup featured entrepreneur and CO.STARTERS completer Mikita Smith, who learned later in her professional career the value of hitting “pause.” She now runs a business helping fellow professionals do just that. The founder of...
The big talent need for small business: How to attract and retain top talent
By Anne Jones, Co-Founder of District CI have a front row seat to meet, work with, and learn from some of the most talented young people I have ever met. This diverse group is ready to go and wants to be part of something, now. I also get to meet so many amazing small...
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.
