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.
About this Workshop
Makerspaces, Product Development, and the Future of Innovation
PANEL DISCUSSION
Description:
Whether you’re designing your first prototype or refining a product for market, access to the right resources can accelerate your path from idea to impact. Representatives from four regional innovation spaces and the Longwood Small Business Development Center will share how makerspaces support product development, entrepreneurship, workforce skills, and manufacturing innovation—and how businesses can tap into these resources to create what’s next.
Panelists: Adam Reeves, SOVA Fab Lab; Amy Reed, P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center; Autumn Evans, The Spark Innovation Center; Dana Knott, Longwood SBDC; Evan Jones, SEED Innovation Hub
PANELISTS
Adam Reeves
Moderator/Panelist
SOVA Fab Lab
Amy Reed
Panelist
P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center
Autumn Evans
Panelist
The Spark Innovation Center
Dana Knott
Panelist
Longwood SBDC
Evan Jones
Panelist
SEED Innovation Hub
Register TODAY for the RISE Summit
The 3rd annual RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville, VA. Don't miss out the unique opportunity to connect with peers and resources designed to help you start, grow, or scale your business in Southern Virginia.