
Grow your network and build your business
RISE Collaborative meetups are open to all entrepreneurs, business owners, and business resource providers in Southern and South Central Virginia. Please pre-register so we know you plan to attend.
Thursday, February 16, 2023 – 12:00pm-1:00pm on Zoom
The Grapevine Monthly Workgroup
The Grapevine Monthly Workgroup is a team 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. For February, the discussion theme is Black History Month: Support Black Businesses.

Wednesday, March 1, 2022 – 8:30-10:00am
Brunswick Rise & Shine Entrepreneurship Breakfast
Entrepreneurs of all ages are invited to join this monthly RISE Collaborative Rise & Shine entrepreneurship breakfast hosted by the Brunswick County IDA and Brunswick County Economic Development. It takes place at the Brunswick County Conference Center, on the first Wednesday of the month. This monthly gathering includes discussion about entrepreneurship. It is free to the community, thanks to sponsors like Benchmark Community Bank.

Thursday, March 2, 2023 – 9am-10am on Zoom
Regional Entrepreneurship & Innovation (REI) Stakeholder Call
Bring your updates, ideas, challenges, and needs. Let’s work together to grow our regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem!

Thursday, March 16, 2023 – 12:00pm-1:00pm on Zoom
The Grapevine Monthly Workgroup
The Grapevine Monthly Workgroup is a team 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.

Thursday, March 23, 2023 – 3:00-6:00pm
RISE Collegiate Business Pitch Competition (CBPC)
Come cheer on the college students who are competing in the 2nd Annual RISE Collegiate Business Plan Competition. This is an in-person event hosted at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia. Audience attendance is open to the public.

Tuesday, March 28, 2022 – 4:00-8:00pm
RISE Southern Virginia Business Pitch Competition (BPC)
The RISE Business Pitch Competition is a free-to-enter competition that will take place on March 28, 2023 from 4-8pm at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) Innovation Center in South Boston, Va. It is the first-ever region-wide business pitch competition hosted in Southern Virginia. The competition will feature 10 businesses and entrepreneurs selected from the pool of applicants.
Businesses will pitch for a chance to win $1,000 to start or $5,000 to grow.
Registration is open to individuals who live or run a business in one of the fifteen GO Virginia Region 3 localities, have completed an approved entrepreneurship course, and whose businesses are early in the start-up phase, already in operation, or anywhere in between.

Wednesday, April 12, 2022 – 8:30-10:00am
Brunswick Rise & Shine Entrepreneurship Breakfast
Entrepreneurs of all ages are invited to join this monthly RISE Collaborative Rise & Shine entrepreneurship breakfast hosted by the Brunswick County IDA and Brunswick County Economic Development. It takes place at the Brunswick County Conference Center, on the first Wednesday of the month. This monthly gathering includes discussion about entrepreneurship. It is free to the community, thanks to sponsors like Benchmark Community Bank.

Wednesday, May 3, 2022 – 8:30-10:00am
Brunswick Rise & Shine Entrepreneurship Breakfast
Entrepreneurs of all ages are invited to join this monthly RISE Collaborative Rise & Shine entrepreneurship breakfast hosted by the Brunswick County IDA and Brunswick County Economic Development. It takes place at the Brunswick County Conference Center, on the first Wednesday of the month. This monthly gathering includes discussion about entrepreneurship. It is free to the community, thanks to sponsors like Benchmark Community Bank.
Learn From Past Meetups
You can find recaps and video recordings from recent meetups in our blog posts.
Learn How to Apply for Community Investment Collaborative Loan Funds
On November 30, 2022, Stephen Davis of the...
Virginia Enterprise Zone Grants and How to Apply
On October 19, 2022, Kate Pickett Irving of...
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022 Recap from Southern Virginia
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is celebrated...
Lake Country Development Loan Funds and How to Apply
Deborah Gosney, Executive Director of the...
Kim King shares tips on building your business credit
On May 18, 2022, guest speaker Kim King of...
Chandra Hurst shares how the Economic Equity Fund provides small business loans
On August 17, 2022, RISE Collaborative hosted a...
Bridge to Recovery has Funding for Businesses in Southern Virginia
Was your business impacted by the COVID-19...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Michelle Walters on Scaling Small Business and Adapting to Opportunity
Michelle Walters, CEO of Island Glow, LLC,...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Morgan Clark’s Entrepreneurial Venture into Nonprofit Consulting
Morgan Epstein Clark is the founder and lead...
From Seed to Startup: Mikita Smith’s RISE to Business Owner
Our latest Rise & Shine virtual meetup...
The Power of Opportunity Recognition with Rhett Weiss
From his first bulk mailing business in junior...
Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: How SERCAP Can Assist You with Your Small Business
In RISE Collaborative’s latest RISE & SHINE...
From Ideas to Implementation: How GENEDGE Partnerships Can Support the RISE Collaborative Network
Not sure about marketing strategy? Wondering...
The Energy of Synergy: Halifax Pharmacy Owner Stephen Anderson on Building a Support Network
As the new owner of a 130-year-old business in...
Host a Local Meetup
Do you want to bring together entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders in your locality?
Let’s talk! We love to partner with local entrepreneurs, businesses, and resource providers to bring awesome events to life!