September brings a season of fresh beginnings and growth, much like the start of fall. For Southern Virginia’s entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators, this month is filled with workshops, events, and networking opportunities designed to help you harvest new ideas, strengthen your business, and take the next step forward.
1-on-1 Consulting on Government Contracting
Wednesday, September 10, 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 >
Smartphone Video Advertisement
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 11am-1pm | P&HCC Dalton Idea Center
Lights, Camera, Action! Entrepreneurs or professional looking to grow their brand, join us in this dynamic class to learn how to “Unlock the Power of Smartphone Advertising”! We will explore strategies to craft a video using your cell phone to capture and create a short promotional video that will resonate with your audience. This course is perfect for entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone ready to elevate their brand!
PUMP: Pull Up Mentoring Program
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 1pm-4pm | 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, September 17, 2025| 12pm – 1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub or Zoom
The Commonwealth of Virginia spends billions each year on goods and services, and small businesses have the opportunity to tap into this marketplace. This free, in-person workshop, presented by Virginia APEX Accelerator, will walk you step-by-step through the process of becoming an eVA registered vendor and earning your SWaM (Small, Women-, and Minority-Owned Business) certification—two essential steps to accessing state contracts.
Participants will learn how to register their business to work with state agencies, identify buyers purchasing their products or services, analyze commodity spending, and use eVA tools to market more effectively. The session will also provide an overview of the SWaM program, which encourages state agencies to direct 42% of discretionary funding to certified vendors.
This hands-on, 90-minute workshop is ideal for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow through state contracting opportunities. Bring your laptop to get started on your registration during the session and leave with actionable steps to position your business for success.
RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup
Thursday, September 18, 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.
EVOLVE Training Series for Nonprofits
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – December 9, 2025 | 11:30am-2:30pm | SOVA Innovatin Hub and/or Virtual
The EVOLVE Nonprofit Training Series kicks off this fall with a six-part curriculum designed to help nonprofit leaders, founders, and board members strengthen their organizations and expand their impact. Participants will explore essential topics including organizational purpose, board governance, financial management, team leadership, marketing and outreach, and strategic planning.
Program Schedule:
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Session 1 – Tuesday, September 23 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | In-person at the SOVA Innovation Hub
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Session 2 – Tuesday, October 7 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Zoom
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Session 3 – Tuesday, October 21 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Zoom
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Session 4 – Tuesday, November 18 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Zoom
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Session 5 – Tuesday, December 2 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Zoom
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Session 6 + Celebration – Tuesday, December 9 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | In-person at the SOVA Innovation Hub
Participants who complete all six sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion. Registration is $75 per person, with limited scholarships available for Halifax County nonprofits thanks to support from Hitachi.
Register by September 16th!
Smartphone Video Advertisement
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 12pm-2pm | P&HCC Patrick County Site
Lights, Camera, Action! Entrepreneurs or professional looking to grow their brand, join us in this dynamic class to learn how to “Unlock the Power of Smartphone Advertising”! We will explore strategies to craft a video using your cell phone to capture and create a short promotional video that will resonate with your audience. This course is perfect for entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone ready to elevate their brand!
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
Generating Leads Using eVA – Workshop #2
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 and Wednesday, September 17, 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.
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 and Wednesday, September 24, 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.
Mapping the Entrepreneurial Road Ahead – The Anatomy of a Typical Entrepreneur’s Journey Forward
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 10am – 12pm | Online
Entrepreneurs often ask, “What does the full business journey look like?” From launching a startup to scaling, and eventually planning for exit or sale, understanding the steps along the way can make the path less daunting.
In this free webinar, George Siragusa (“Coach S”), Senior Business Adviser with the Mason Small Business Development Center, Adjunct Professor at GMU, and Mentor in Residence, will share his unique “entrepreneurial roadmap” grounded in Lean Startup principles. Drawing from over 250 one-on-one business counseling sessions with CEOs, founders, and small business owners, George offers a holistic view of the entrepreneurial journey—highlighting the key phases, timelines, and skills required to succeed.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or part of a leadership team, this session provides valuable insights to help you better understand the road ahead and make more informed decisions for your business growth
Upcoming Events Hosted by the Longwood Small Business Development Center & Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Hiring Your First Employee
Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 6pm – 7:30pm | Online
Hiring the right help at the right time can be one of the biggest challenges for new business owners. Questions like “When should I hire my first employee?” or “Should I bring on a contractor instead?” are common concerns for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business.
This free workshop, part of the Start-up Toolbox series and facilitated by the SBDC – Lynchburg Region, will walk you through the essentials of managing employees. Led by Tori Gilmartin, the session will cover hiring timelines, the differences between employees and contractors, and how to decide what structure is best for your business. Whether you’re preparing to expand your team or simply want to understand your options, this class will give you the tools and confidence you need to move forward.
Using AI to Develop an Email Outreach Sequence
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 10am – 11am | Online
Writing follow-up emails can be one of the most time-consuming tasks for entrepreneurs and business owners—but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive workshop will show you how to leverage AI to create email outreach sequences that feel authentic, save you time, and boost engagement. Whether you need to follow up with clients, nurture leads, or reconnect with past customers, you’ll walk away with practical skills you can use immediately.
Participants will learn how to build effective 3–5 email sequences with AI, personalize messages without hours of manual effort, and use tools to schedule, send, and track performance. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear framework for creating email campaigns that not only save time but also strengthen your customer relationships.
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 10:30am – 12pm | 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.