for Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
Cut through the noise. Connect with customers. Grow your business.
RISE (Regional Investment in Startups & Entrepreneurs) is launching a new Ready, Set, Grow! Marketing Bootcamp to equip entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southern Virginia with practical marketing skills and strategies for growth.
The Ready, Set, Grow! Marketing Bootcamp is a series of six two-hour virtual classes featuring expert instruction, interactive exercises, and actionable takeaways. Each session will provide valuable hands-on skills that entrepreneurs can implement in their businesses immediately.
The Ready, Set, Grow! Marketing Bootcamp will be delivered by Letterpress Communications (an award-winning marketing firm based in Farmville, VA). The SOVA Innovation Hub (a non-profit organization based in Halifax County, VA) will manage applications and registration. The program is open to all entrepreneurs operating a business in the Southern Virginia region served by RISE.
Applications open October 1, 2025. Space is limited, so apply early to secure your spot.
Program Information
Key Dates
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Applications Open: October 1, 2025
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Applications Close: December 19, 2025 (or until all seats are filled)
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Acceptance Notifications: Rolling basis (applicants will be notified within 2 weeks of applying)
- Weekly Online Classes: Tuesdays, 6-8pm, January 6, 2026 through February 10, 2026
Course Topics Include
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Your Foundation & Messaging
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Communications Planning
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Digital Channels
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Visual Branding & Canva
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DIY Videography & Photography
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Measuring Success & Paid Advertising
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The order of the topics may vary based on expert availability.
Post-Course Consulting
Participants who complete the bootcamp will also receive a complimentary two-hour-long virtual consulting/coaching session with Letterpress Communications, within the following areas:
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- Marketing Consulting
- Graphic Design
- Photography/Videography
- Paid Advertising Coaching
- Canva Coaching
- Public Relations Coaching
Commitment
The RISE Marketing Bootcamp will meet for 6 consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, from 6 pm – 8 pm, in a virtual format. Participants will need to have access to reliable internet and a two-way audio/video device (laptop, tablet, or cell phone) to fully engage in each session. You will also need a Google/Gmail account to access course materials in the online classroom.
Before applying to participate, please ensure you have time to attend the six weekly two-hour virtual sessions and additional time (2-3 hours/week) for assignments.
Investment
Course tuition is $75 per person and includes digital course materials and post-course consulting. Need-based scholarships are available, which may reduce the tuition to $25 per person.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be located within the RISE service region, which includes: Counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward (and the Towns within these Counties), and the Cities of Danville and Martinsville, Virginia.
- Business license required if applicable in your locality (sole proprietorships and businesses in localities without license requirements are eligible)
- Actively operating business at the time of application, meaning you are currently selling products or services, engaging with customers, and managing regular business activities. Idea-stage businesses that are not yet ready to launch/not yet operating are not eligible for this program.
- Commitment to attend all six sessions of the bootcamp. If you are unable to attend a live session, you will be responsible for watching the recording and completing a make-up activity.
- Willingness to actively engage during course sessions and complete assignments between sessions.
- Access to reliable internet and a device for virtual participation. If access to reliable internet service is a barrier, our team will assist you with finding a community location that offers internet access, such as your local library or the SOVA Innovation Hub.
Download Program Flyer
Facilitation Team
The bootcamp will be led by Karyn Keane, who will serve as the lead facilitator throughout the six-week program. Karyn is an Account Executive and Social Media Manager with Letterpress Communications. Karyn will guide participants through the full learning journey, ensuring consistency, connection across sessions, and actionable takeaways. She will be joined by subject matter experts who bring deep experience in specific marketing areas, including digital channels, branding and design, photography and videography, and paid advertising. Together, this team approach combines Karyn’s expertise in marketing strategy, content creation, and social media management with practical insights from professionals who are experts in specific areas in the marketing field.
Karyn Keane
Account Executive & Social Media Manager, Letterpress Communications
Ready to Apply?
The application for the Ready, Set, Grow Marketing Bootcamp is open!
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is December 19, 2025, or until seats are filled. Applicants will be notified of acceptance within two weeks of submission. Course tuition must be paid in full by January 2, 2026 to participate.
Questions?
Email hello@sovarise.com or contact the SOVA Innovation Hub at (434) 570-1305.
Program Partners & Sponsors
The Six-Week Marketing Bootcamp powered by RISE is an entrepreneur training program delivered by Letterpress Communications (an award-winning marketing firm based in Farmville, Virginia) in collaboration with the SOVA Innovation Hub (a non-profit organization based in Halifax County, Virginia). RISE (Regional Investment in Startups & Entrepreneurs) is a collaborative initiative that connects entrepreneurs across Southern Virginia with the training, resources, and support they need to grow. This bootcamp program is funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.