West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Update February 2022

 Spotlight Program:

Mary Hott
Innovation-Technology Program Manager
West Virginia Small Business Development Center [email protected] 

The West Virginia Small Business Development Center Innovation-Technology (In-Tech) program was designed to provide no-cost, one-on-one assistance to introduce inventors and technology-based entrepreneurs to key commercialization issues such as intellectual property, alternative finance, prototyping and feasibility. The WV SBDC assists with the SBIR/STTR application process, in addition to technology transfer, IP support, licensing and product development cases. https://wvsbdc.com/services/technology-commercialization/

Virtual Sales Month Concept Update July 2022

Tyler Brandstetter, WV SBDC & Advantage Valley [email protected] 

Concepts are coming together for the month of July training schedule and opportunities to highlight online businesses in WV.  Please contact Tyler Brandstetter with any ideas or volunteer to help.

WV Entrepreneurship Conference 2022-Speaker and Panel Announcements!

Bill Woodrum 

Our panels are finalized and some big names are coming to WV for the Bridging Innovation event and specifically the WV Entrepreneurship Conference.  You can register today: https://wveeconference-tues.eventbrite.com/

National Entrepreneurship Week

National Entrepreneurship Week is a congressionally chartered, annual initiative that takes place the third week of February. A network of stakeholders, including entrepreneurial educators, ecosystem builders, and most importantly – individual entrepreneurs, come together to share resources, learn from each other, and share their support for America’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.

This year’s program takes place next weekFebruary 12-19, 2022. Recognizing that the United States’ entrepreneurship ecosystem is as rich and diverse as its population, the NatlEshipWeek team provides NatlEshipWeek Daily Themes to help stakeholders across the United States engage in programming representative of this diverse representation.  West Virginia has a strong impact this year so I wanted to make viewing the calendar and registering as easy as can be.  Go to https://wvbusinesslink.com/2022/02/09/five-days-to-engage-national-entrepreneurship-week-2022/  to register for the various events today!

 

Equity in Entrepreneurship Focus Groups

Lauren Prinzo WVU [email protected]

West Virginia University is conducting in-person strategic planning meetings across West Virginia as part of an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Technical Assistance grant aimed at expanding entrepreneurship opportunities for rural and low-income youth.

The project team will host two meetings in the Spring of 2022. Each participant has the opportunity to the session of their choosing. Please consider registering to join a session in May of 2022 to share your ideas as we begin the “Inventory and Assessment” phase! Register Today https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFAIfcJMAKBfmDQ

Community Business Plan Competition (formerly Seed WV)

Ryan Angus, WVU [email protected]

The  WV Community Business Plan Competition is a $15,000 cash prize contest for new product ideas that can be brought to market in 6 to 12 months and be sold nationally or globally. This contest is open to all WV residents and small businesses. Applications are due 12:00 p.m. on March 15, 2022.

https://www.businessplanwv.com/

Communities of Healing

Peni Adams, WV Hive [email protected]

Communities of Healing is a recovery-to-work ecosystem project designed to spur small business development and employ West Virginians healing from addiction through the growth of social entrepreneurship.  They have a new cohort coming up and are looking for registrations.  For more information about this program contact us at [email protected]

FASTER WV-Health and Wellness Entrepreneurship

Marjorie Cooke-Advantage Valley [email protected]

This webinar seeks to inspire and provide technical resources for nurses or others interested in starting up a business in the health care sector in Advantage Valley. The free webinar will showcase the FASTER WV Program which offers financing, business coaching and training for new business start-ups and expansions, as well as the Future of Nurses Program. This region has one and half to two times the national average of Registered Nurses, Pharmacists and Psychiatrists. This is a niche market primed and ready for new entrepreneurs! https://wvbusinesslink.com/event/faster-wv-starting-a-health-care-or-wellness-business/

Reminders and System Updates:
• Check out this month’s events from the Ecosystem at: https://wvbusinesslink.com/events/
• Other news from around the state

 

 

Next Meeting March 8, 2022 2:00 p.m.  Register HERE for future meetings.

You can also watch the full video of this month’s meeting below.

WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Meeting