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. 

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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. 

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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.

Apply to Business Pitch Competition by March 7th

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. 

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!

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