The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
Today’s factories, farms, food processors, and logistics operations rely on connected technology. When those systems are disrupted by a cyberattack, the effects can reach far beyond IT, halting production, disrupting supply chains, and threatening food security. This session will explore cybersecurity as a core part of operational resilience, the role leaders play in managing cyber risk, and practical lessons organizations can use to protect their people, operations, and customers. 

*This session is designed for manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, and critical infrastructure companies.

Speaker: Taurean Russell, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
Explore the future of agriculture, technology, and manufacturing through the lens of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in this session featuring Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. From spinach to mushrooms to fish production, CEA is revolutionizing the way we grow, produce, and innovate. Whether you’re a grower, tech innovator, or equipment manufacturer, this session will uncover specific entrepreneurial opportunities within the CEA industry. Learn from real-world examples, emerging technologies, and collaborative opportunities to position yourself for success in this fast-growing field.

Speaker: Dr. Scott Lowman, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
AI can support nearly every part of a business, but knowing where it can provide practical value is often the hardest step. In this hands-on workshop, participants will identify one task, problem, or opportunity in their business that could benefit from AI and develop a simple plan to test it. Participants will leave with a specific AI use case and a clearly defined first experiment.

*No previous AI experience or technical background is required.

Speaker: Peter Raines, Get YOU Found

The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
Virginia’s SWaM Certification can help small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses compete for procurement opportunities. This session will explain who is eligible, the benefits of certification, and how to complete the application process. Attendees will leave with practical steps for using SWaM Certification to help grow their businesses.

*This session is designed for companies interested in selling goods or services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Speaker: Kathy Deacon, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity

The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
Learn how to use eVA, Virginia’s online procurement system, to connect with government buyers and find contracting opportunities. This session will guide participants through registering as a vendor, strengthening their profile, searching for opportunities, and accessing helpful resources and training. 

*This session is designed for companies interested in selling goods or services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Speaker: Kathy Deacon, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity

The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

Description:
Have a business idea but are not sure what comes next? This session will help aspiring entrepreneurs shape their ideas into practical business models, create a strong value proposition, assess whether their concepts are viable, and set clear goals for moving forward. 

*This session is designed for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies.

Speaker: Jocelyn Forest, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center