THE RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING ACADEMY

Developed and Administered by the 
Virginia Minority Business Development Agency 
Business Center, the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship and its Minority Small Business Launch Program
at Virginia State University

FALL 2023

ENROLL HERE

HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS TRAINING PROGRAM

Enroll

To enroll, simply click the enroll button and fill out the enrollment form. Training materials will be sent to the business address you provide post your completion of at least 10 of the cohort training webinars. These training materials include:
1. Get Prepared to Launch Your Dreams -Business Launchpad workbook that accompanies the self-paced certification, and the following timeless entrepreneurship books. 
2. Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?: How Reginald Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire by Reginald F. Lewis & Blair S. Walker.
3. Entrepreneurship for Rural Start-ups: Lessons and Guidance for New Venture Creation
4. Resources for Rural Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Planning, Adapting, and Growing Your
Business from the USDA (printed copy provided to RMBEs)

Commemorative Awards
Graduates of the program will also receive the following commemorative awards marking their successful program completion:
1. Training Program Certificate of Completion


Live & Recorded Webinars

You will have access to recorded and live training webinars during the cohort to help you grow your business on topics ranging from developing your business model to raising capital. 

Enrollees must register to access each of the live OR recorded courses. This enables us to track your progress.

Enrollees must complete at least 10 of the cohort training webinars in order to earn a Certificate of Completion for this program.

Self-Paced Certification Program & Workbook

In addition to the live training courses, enrollees will have access to the "Get Prepared to Launch Your Dream - Business Launchpad," a self-paced certification workbook and online program that takes entrepreneur executives through:
-an assessment of the personal and managerial skills they possess to launch and operate a successful firm,
-business model/idea validation,
-personal net worth assessment,
-developing product descriptions and prices, target market identification,
-cost of goods sold calculation,
-operating expenses and profit and loss statement development. 

Participants can optionally earn an additional certification for completion of the Launch Your Dreams workbook and online program. This would qualify them for an application for seed investment grants and participation in pitch competitions through Virginia State University's VSU Center for Entrepreneurship and its Minority Small Business Launch if they are Virginia-based businesses.

Visit www.minoritysmallbusinesslaunchcenter.com, click on the Certifications tab, and select VSU Business Launchpad for more information or to enroll separately. 

Final Program Survey (Required)

Post completion of all sessions, complete the final survey here on how the program benefitted you, and how it can improve.

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Grow your business based on what you learned!

ON SITE RURAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

FALL 2023

Prince George County Economic Development


November 1, 2023

10 PM - 2 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Petersburg Economic Development


TBD

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Hopewell Downtown

TBD

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Dinwiddie County Economic Developement


TBD

Zoom Link to Join Live Session  

Sussex Industrial Development Authority


TBD

Zoom Link to Join Live Session 

Surry County Economic Development Authority


TBD

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

LIVE TRAINING WEBINARS

FALL 2023

Agribusiness Support Programs
VSU Virginia Cooperative Extension & the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship


TBD

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Free All Day Small Business Legal Counseling Sessions
Attorney Doris L. Edmonds

October 24, 2023

12 PM - 1 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Using AI for Your Business
Sean Powell, Marketing Coordinator and Hal Miles, Small Business Consultant
VSU Center for Entrepreneurship


October 25, 2023

10 AM
Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Contracts, Business Entities and Intellectual Property
Attorney Justin Griffin, 
Reginald F. Lewis College of Business


October 25, 2023

10 AM - 3 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Business Banking for Small Business Owners: "Your Financial Journey"
Ricky Parker,
Chase Bank Community Manager


October 25, 2023

2 PM - 3 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Free All Day Small Business Legal Counseling Sessions with
Attorney Doris L. Edmonds


October 26, 2023 

10 AM - 3 PM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session 

How to Find and Qualify
for Small Business Capital
Karen White, Regional Lending Manager Small Business and Supplier Diversity


October 30, 2023 

10 AM - 3 PM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session

Employee Retention Credit Funding
Dean Francis,
Senior Consultant and Partner
One Bridge Advisors


November 2, 2023

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session 

Women in Entrepreneurship
Shara Gibson, Executive Director
Women's Business Center of Richmond


November 2, 2023

10 AM - 11 AM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Worksite Advantage Employee Life Insurance Benefits
Seth Thomas, Regional Agency Director Globe Life Liberty National

November 8, 2023

10 AM - 11 AM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Business Insurance & Essentials
Tiffany Smith,
Owner and Licensed Commercial Insurance Agent
The Insurance Ladi


November 8, 2023

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Minority Business Development Programs
Lisette Johnson
Programs and Operations Supervisor Office of Minority Business Development City of Richmond


November 9, 2023

12 AM - 1 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

eVA Registration, SWAM &
Micro Certification Day
Randy Brown, Business Services Manager,
Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) 


November 9, 2023

2 PM - 3 PM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session  

Grants for Small Businesses
Robert Brooke,
Director of Federal Funding
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)


November 14, 2023

11 AM - 12:30 PM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session 

Entrepreneurship Training Academy Graduation and Certificate Award Ceremony


Tuesday, December 12, 2023

In Person at VSU Gateway Event and Conference Center

VIRGINIA INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP CORPORATION (VIPC) & INNOVATION COMMERCIALIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ICAP)

UNIVERSITY COMMERCIALIZATION SERIES
LIVE SESSIONS

ICAP and VIPC Present - University Research Commercialization Series


September 26, 2023

1 PM

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

ICAP and VIPC Present - University Research Commercialization Series


October 3, 2023

1 PM

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

ICAP and VIPC Present - University Research Commercialization Series


October 10, 2023

1 PM

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

BLACK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

IMPLEMENTED BY THE
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LIVE SESSIONS

Black Business Accelerator - Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

September 27,  2023

7 PM - 8:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Black Business Accelerator - Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

October 11, 2023

7 PM - 8:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Black Business Accelerator - Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce


October 25, 2023

7 PM - 8:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Black Business Accelerator - Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

November 15. 2023

7 PM - 8:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

Black Business Accelerator - Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

November 29, 2023

7 PM - 8:30 PM

Zoom Link To Join Live Session

ON DEMAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING WEBINARS

FALL 2023

Introduction to the VSU Minority Small Business Launch Center Program at Virginia State University
Dr. Patrice Perry-Rivers,
Founding Director
VSU Center for Entrepreneurship

On Demand

Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

Business Models, Feasibility and Business Planning 101
Dr. Patrice Perry-Rivers, Founding Director of VSU's Center for Entrepreneurship


On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

How to Select Your
Ideal Business Legal Form
with Attorney Doris L. Edmonds


On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

How to Identify, Quantify, & Reach
Your Target Customers
Dr. Patrice Perry-Rivers,
Founding Director
VSU Center for Entrepreneurship

On Demand

Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session

Unique Strategies for Raising Capital
Antonio Miller, Small Business Advocate & MBL Bridge Board Member

On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session

Intellectual Property Protection for Small Business: Patents, Trademarks, & Copyrights
Attorney Cheryl Black

On Demand

Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

Preparing Pitches to Investors, Competition Judges, & Banks
Dr. Patrice Perry-Rivers,
Founding Director
VSU Center for Entrepreneurship


On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session

How to Do Business with the States of Virginia and Maryland, and with
the Federal Government

Randy Brown,
Business Services Manager
Virginia Department of Supplier and Small Business Diversity (SBSD)

William Pocan, SBA Economic Development Specialist

Giorgio Rashadd, III, SBA Small Business Coordinator

On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session

Recession and Disaster Management Strategies: Inflation, COVID, Supply Chain Management, and the Unforeseen
Simeon Harris,
Senior VP of Commercial Lending for Towne Bank



On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session

Small Business eVA Registration and SWAM & Micro Certification Day
Randy Brown, Business Services Manager,
Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) 
(Online and In-person Drop-in session at the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship)


On Demand

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Free All Day Small Business Legal Counseling Sessions with
Attorney Doris L. Edmonds 


On Demand

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Funding for University & Small Tech Firms via Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants
Robert Brooke, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)


On Demand
Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Small Business Human Resources Management Strategies
Sachiko Wooten, Assistant Professor of Human Resources and Former Director for Academic Faculty Recruiting and HR
Programs at VSU


On Demand

Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

Creating and Understanding Small Business Financial Statements
Arthur Wharton, Ph.D., VSU
Associate Professor of Accounting 


On Demand
Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap:
Creating Your Corporate
Exit Strategy Webinar
Danielle Graves, Founding Owner & Leadership Coach with The Aramint Group


On Demand

Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

Small Business Human Resources Management Strategies
Kelly Suazo, Owner of Anchor In Management Consulting & Talent Acquisition Firm


On Demand

Zoom Link to Join Recorded Session 

How to Register to Do Business with the Federal Government
on SAM.GOV
Michelle A. Wilson,
President of Rock Creek Business Systems
(Federal Government Contractor)


On Demand
 
Zoom Link To Join Recorded Session

PITCH COMPETITIONS & BAZAARS

FALL 2023

Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) Pitch Competition
Applications Due!


September 27, 2023

Zoom Link to Join Live Session

Elevator Pitch Practice, Xave Morgan of The Metropolitan Business League, City Point Innovation Center


October 24, 2023

5:30 PM - 7 PM

Zoom Link to Join Live Session

VSU Center for Entrepreneurship
Student and Community PITCH PREP!
Hal Miles, the Metropolitan Business League


October 25, 2023

3:30 PM - 4:50 PM

VIRTUAL
Zoom Link To Join Live Session

VSU Center for Entrepreneurship
Student and Community PITCH PREP!

Hal Miles, the Metropolitan Business League


November 1, 2023

3:30 PM - 4:50 PM

IN-PERSON

VSU Reginald F. Lewis College of Business Auditorium (RM 120)

VSU Center for Entrepreneurship
Student & Community Pitch Competition!


Wednesday, November 8, 2023

IN-PERSON

VSU Reginald F. Lewis College of Business Auditorium (RM 120)

Self-Paced Certification Program

Business Launchpad Certification

Completion of this certification training in addition to the live and on demand courses offered as part of the Minority Small Business Launch Center Program Cohort will earn you an additional certificate, provide you with access to a pitch deck, and qualify you to apply for seed investment funding offered through the Minority Small Business Launch Center at Virginia State University's VSU Center for Entrepreneurship. To access this training, visit the Certifications tab and select VSU Business Launchpad Certification at www.minoritysmallbusinesslaunchcenter.com .

WANT MORE RESOURCES TO
SUPPORT & GROW YOUR BUSINESS?
Visit the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship or the Minority Small Business Launch Center's site.


Contact Us:
VSU Center for Entrepreneurship
1 Hayden Drive
Singleton Hall, Rm 102
Virginia State University, VA 23806
Email: cfe@VAState365.onmicrosoft.com

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