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