It is important to look at data for what it is and craft a narrative with the data and allow it to lead us toward innovation and growth. This week, season 2, episode 10 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, is about leveraging data to support entrepreneurs!

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Brandon Hennessey, share how we can take data and craft a story from the information it is giving us to grow as an ecosystem. We also discuss the intersection of the small business development center model with ecosystem building at a regional level in a rural landscape. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• The ways in which Longwood’s Small Business Development Center operates differently than other SBDCs.
• How the idea for the Seed Innovation Hub has evolved over time to become what it is today. 
• Brandon’s background as a technical artist and educator and how this weaves into his role as an ecosystem builder. 
• The impact that the rise in AI will have on small business owners. 
• How we can use data points and KPIs to determine growth in our region. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH BRANDON HENNESSEY:

LinkedIn

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Longwood Small Business Development Center

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Mark Cuban 

By working together and bringing entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders together with an interest in supporting Black and Brown-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, we can build stronger regional economies. This week, episode 9 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast is about creating inclusive entrepreneurial support networks! 

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guests Bethann West James and Hope Harris-Gayles are sharing the importance of building a better ecosystem through diversity and how the Grapevine Network pours into their efforts of supporting these marginalized entrepreneurs. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• How RISE Collaborative has evolved and grown over time. 
• What is Grapevine in relation to RISE Collaborative and what it stands to accomplish. 
• What the summit confirmed as to the kind of support entrepreneurs are looking for. 
• Hope and Bethann’s vision for growth for the Grapevine Network.
• Actionable tips to hold a productive meeting.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH BETHANN:

LinkedIn 

Gemstone Consulting

CONNECT WITH HOPE:

LinkedIn

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Dan River Region Black Chamber of Commerce 

Southern Virginia Higher Education Center

The Grapevine Entrepreneur Network

Longwood Small Business Development Center

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

RISE

Throughout the pandemic and subsequent years, we saw a shift in how businesses approached diversity and equity. However, it is clear that if we want to continue improving our ecosystems, we still have a long way to go before we can close that divide. This week, episode 8 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast is about human-centered solutions and technology to help entrepreneurs scale. 

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Todd Waldo are sharing why entrepreneurship may not be the answer to all of our problems and the responsibility existing businesses have to use their platform to move past performative practices and prioritize meaningful actions towards equity and inclusivity. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• How Todd’s engineering background impacted his ability to improve operations and efficiency within the organizations he works with in his current role. 
• The four main areas Hugh Helen focuses on when working with their clients.
• The cultural shifts and attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion that have come out of the pandemic and where we go from here. 
• Using technology to intentionally close the diversity gap while being cautious not to create new barriers along the way. 
• Finding a balance of tools and effective strategy in your business.
  
  

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH TODD WALDO:

Hugh Helen

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone by James Baldwin

The Jackson Ward Collective Foundation

NC State University: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Robert Russa Morton Museum

[Article] The Closing of Prince Edward County’s Schools

Discover Durham: Black Stories of Durham’s Past & Present 

Smithsonian: Remembering Tulsa

Venture Richmond: Jackson Ward

To create an ecosystem that is thriving, it’s important that ecosystem builders work together with the local community. Everyone impacted should have a voice and be made aware of the shifts happening in their rural community. This week, episode 7 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast is about how to build a resilient startup ecosystem! 

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Anand Macherla are sharing the importance of finding other value sources in these ecosystems. They also discuss the underpinning value of ecosystem building. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• How growing up in New Mexico shaped his perspective on startups and ecosystems. 
• Skillsets we should be passing on to younger generations to drive change. 
• Setting the model for equitable ecosystems. 
• The intersection of state policy, environmental protection, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH ANAND MACHERLA:

LinkedIn

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Michael Scales on a Lifetime of Ecosystem Building

Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Serendipity in ecosystem building is a huge underlying and immeasurable resource. It’s important to have communities that support amazing things coming together in a harmonious way. This episode of the Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast is about reducing the barriers to entry for rural startups.

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Beth Zimmer are sharing Beth’s experience in working to solve the problem of an underdeveloped ecosystem lacking in startups and the beauty that comes when we all work together towards a common goal. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• The role of serendipity in ecosystem building. 
• What is an ecosystem builder, in Beth’s own words. 
• How Right to Start helps reduce the barrier to entry so that entrepreneurs can start and feel supported along the way. 
• Creating a platform with high engagement by setting the intentions of it being a space that belongs to all of it’s creators AND users. 
• The immense value of social capital in ecosystem building.
• Advice and guidance for early ecosystem builders.

Ecosystem building is a no brainer but we have to remember that we can go farther together than we can alone.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH BETH ZIMMER:

eblp.zimmer@gmail.com

EBLP Trade Wing

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Startup Communities by Brad Feld

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

When you look at ecosystems in nature, like the rainforest, for example, it’s not all tall trees but a variety of different species that come together to create a bigger landscape. The same goes for our regional ecosystems. It takes every one of every size to come together and win as a whole. This week, season 2, episode 5 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, is about the value of variety in ecosystem building.

RISE Collaborative strives to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Eric Weissmann, Executive Director of NEXT, are sharing the importance of having variety and diversity in all areas of an ecosystem and how we can adopt this community mindset to put our efforts together and make our ecosystem successful for the benefit of all participants. 

Some of the talking points discussed in this episode include:

• Using a campaign mentality to break your goals down into milestones, so you’re focusing your energy in the right places and avoiding getting stuck in activity vs. productivity.  
• How ecosystem building is like chili- everyone uses different recipes and ingredients, but we still get to the same outcome at the end of the day.
• How Eric’s work as a bridge spanner is focused on educating people that when they work together, everyone wins. 
• Highlighting the smaller companies that, as a whole, contribute quite significantly to the GDP of the country and have an impact on ecosystem development. 
• The importance of diversity (in all areas) as we enter into this new age of lifestyle expectations. 
• The game of business attraction to a region shifting to talent attraction. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH ERIC WEISSMANN:

Next SC

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Team of Teams  by General Stanley McChrystal

Those of us who have easy access to the internet often take for granted the benefits we reap from it. By providing equitable access to the internet across our rural communities, we are opening doors for these individuals to start a business, finish their degrees, participate in programs, and reap the benefits as well. This week, season 2, episode 4 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, is about the impact of internet access! 

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski are sharing the importance of providing equitable access to the internet and how both data and personal stories weave together to drive decisions. 

Some of the talking points discussed in this episode include:

• What programs Comcast is working on to make a difference in rural communities. 
• How Trinity’s background in policy and advocacy has shaped how she is active in her career today. 
• The importance of inclusion and iteration in policy creation.
• Where Trinity and her team are being recognized for their heart-centered work. 
• Using digital navigators to connect one another and provide equitable resources. 

Providing equitable resources goes far beyond setting up the internet in a community but going one step further to educate and fill the gaps on how to utilize these resources to their benefit. 

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH COMCAST AND TRINITY THORPE-LUBNEUSKI:

Apply for the Comcast Rise Program 

LinkedIn

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Boston Consultant Group Study

The Investment and Infrastructure Jobs Act

Poor Economics

Good Economics for Hard Times

Furiously Happy 

Talking to Strangers

The Pew Charitable Trusts

For anything to come together in a short amount of time AND without funding, it takes a community of people believing in the same mission and working together to create a network of resources to act as a strong foundation. This week, season 2 episode 3 of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast is about fostering collaboration, connection, and building a statewide network of entrepreneurial support!

RISE Collaborative is striving to create a more inclusive and vibrant regional economy in which makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and service providers interact organically and collaboratively. Our mission is to enhance equity and access to entrepreneurship and innovation for people who have been underserved based on geographic location (anyone who lives, works, or owns a business in Southern Virginia), and for people who have been underrepresented based on race, gender, religion, or other factors. We are doing this by creating regionally-relevant incubator services and accelerator programs that can be accessed at many locations across our service area.

In this episode of Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, Jacob and Lauren, joined by their guest Tara St. Clair are sharing how far we can go when we come together as a network of one and the true value in integrating ecosystem building into our school systems to build the next generation of leaders. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• How Tara and her colleague’s work fills the need to match resource providers with entrepreneurs looking for support in growing their business. 
• The Bridging Innovation Summit’s impact as the jumping off point to continue fostering collaboration and connection in West Virginia and beyond. 
• The responsibility of future generations to build upon the natural grit and hardworking nature of West Virginians. 
• Where Tara hopes to see her efforts and the ecosystem as a whole expand into in the coming years. 
• Tracking the correlation of integrating entrepreneurship into education at a young age with the likelihood that these students will go on to become better entrepreneurs and employees.   

When we work together towards a common goal, everybody wins. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about RISE Collaborative at https://sovarise.com/ 

CONNECT WITH TARA ST. CLAIR:

tara.stclair@mail.wvu.edu

LinkedIn

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
West Virginia Business Link
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Bill Woodrum