MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS LAUNCH CENTER

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING & NETWORKING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING EVENTS

As a participant in the programs offered by the Minority Small Business Launch Center, you can access the training events for small businesses below that are offered by our partners and by our Center. Click on the events below for more details and any Zoom/Webinar links that may be provided.

THE MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS LAUNCH CENTER FALL & SPRING TRAINING ACADEMIES


Each Fall and Spring Semester, OUR CENTER OFFERS A FREE VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON BUSINESS ACADEMY OFFERING TRAINING worth over $5,000 to entrepreneurs who enroll. Each fall or spring academy lasts for 2.5 months. Participants must complete at least 6 training sessions by the end of each training academy in which they enroll to receive a Certificate of Completion, graduation books, and other awards for their completion. Both live and on-demand courses available.

We also offer specialized academies with several of our partners, including the Rural Business Academy in partnership with the Virginia MBDA and the Minority Business Training Academy in partnership with the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council and the Virginia MBDA. 


See the link below to access our Current Training Academy Cohort & See Our Previous Cohorts:

ENROLL IN THE MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS LAUNCH CENTER TRAINING ACADEMY
WATCH PAST TRAINING VIDEOS

PAST EVENTS

October 2021

Join the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. For more information on how your business can get involved, visit www.vahcc.com.

www.vahcc.com/restaurante-week

Metropolitan Business League

October 20, 2021

The Power of Social Media Marketing

Virtual Event sponsored by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) City Point Innovation Center. Access the event at www.thembl.org

Metropolitan Business League

October 15, 2021

Women Who Mean Business Summit

Live Event sponsored by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL). Held at the Richmond Convention Center. 9 am - 5 pm.
Ignite Your True Purpose & Success
The Women Who Mean Business Summit is a one-day conference that brings together women professionals for a day of workshops, networking, advice, and opportunity. The Summit focuses on leadership and innovative thinking. Each session is anchored by thought-provoking, high-profile speakers that engage the audience in each topic. During the Summit, there are numerous opportunities for networking, and considering this is one of the largest gatherings of professional women in Virginia, the networking can mean new business opportunities.
Special Guest: Keisha Knight Pulliam (Actress & Co-founder of the Fearless Fund)
Fees/Admission - Members | $109.00 , Non-members | $129.00
Exhibitors | $250.00

Metropolitan Business League

October 9, 2021

YEP(Youth Entrepreneur Program) MBL Jr. Meeting

Virtual Event sponsored by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL). Access the event at www.thembl.org

September 2021

VIRTUAL KICKOFF for the Minority Small Business Launch Center - Learn About Resources in the Richmond Area To Launch or Grow Your Business

Tuesday, September 14, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM

Virtual Meeting - VSU Center for Entrepreneurship

ZOOM MEETING - Register to receive Zoom Link

Join us for THE VIRTUAL KICKOFF EVENT for the VSU Minority Small Business Launch Center
You will find out about the free resources available to you through our new Minority Small Business Launch Center programming to help you launch and grow your business, and hear from the many entrepreneurship support organizations and government entities in the Richmond region that can help.

The VEC - Student Entrepreneurship Club Interest Meeting

Thursday, September 9, 4:00 PM

Foyer - Reginald F. Lewis College of Business

1 Hayden Drive, Virginia State University, VA 23806

Interest meeting for students who want to join the VSU Entrepreneurship Club and take advantage of the resources provided as part of the Minority Small Business Launch Center. Bottled drinks provided. Masks required.

Senator Tim Kaine Visit to the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship in Support of the Minority Small Business Launch Center program

Tuesday,  September 7, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

VSU Center for Entrepreurship,
Reginald F. Lewis College of Business,
Virginia State University

1 Hayden Drive, Virginia State University, VA 23806


Senator Tim Kaine visited our Center, spoke with students interested in entrepreneurship, and seniors in the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business in support of our new GO Virginia-funded Minority Small Business Launch Center program. 

Metropolitan Business League

September 30, 2021

Understanding Your Credit with Peoples Advantage Credit Union

Virtual Event sponsored by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) City Point Innovation Center. Access the event at www.thembl.org

Empower 2021: Celebrating Black Academic Entrepreneurship

Empower 2021: Celebrating Black Academic Entrepreneurship Virtual Conference, September 23 - September 24, 2021

This first conference in the series, Empower 2021, will focus on Black entrepreneurs from throughout academia, bringing together national thought-leaders to share actionable knowledge and tools that can help transform university discoveries into companies and ventures that advance societal and economic progress. REGISTER NOW FOR FREE!

SUMMER (JULY-AUGUST 2021)

"CEO TO BE" ENTREPRENEURSHIP IMMERSION SUMMER CAMP (Inaugural Event)

4 Day Virtual Entrepreneurship Camp & CTE Course for Middle and High Schoolers
Monday, July 26-Thurs., July 29, 2021, 10 AM-12 PM

Implemented in Partnership with the Metropolitan Business League & Girls for a Change 

  1. DATES - Mon., July, 26-Thurs., July 29, 2021                                 ZOOM MEETING TIMES - 10AM-12PM                                       OPENING CEREMONY - Mon., July 26                                       CLOSING CEREMONY & PITCH COMPETITION - Thurs., July 29
  2. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS                                                               -Scholarship Valued at $1000                                                             -Free Certificate in Student Small Business Launch                            -Hear From and Network with Successful Entrepreneurs                  -Chance to Win Prizes for Student Business at Pitch Competition (Prizes Include a Free Tablet, 1 Year Subscription to Canva Software, and/or an Office Depot e-Gift Card)                                                   -1 Full High School CTE Credit If Entire Online Course Curriculum with Success Academy Online Completed by 8/30/2021
  3. OUTCOMES - 66 Student Registrants, 40 Accepted Students, 20 Student Entrepreneur Pitch Competition Participants, 13 Student Small Business Launch Certifications, 6 Pitch Competition Winners (1 - 1st Prize, 1 - 2nd Prize, and 4 - 3rd Prize Winners)

This 3-Week college preparatory and business experience training program was offered by VSU's Honors College for high school students and culminated with an Entrepreneurship "Business Launch Feasibility Project" and a Pitch Competition for student teams. Training for the Entrepreneurship Project and Competition element of the program was provided at the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship in the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business as part of the Minority Small Business Launch Program. Students primarily from Virginia but from across the U.S. and the U.S. Virgin Islands participated from July to August 1, 2021.

  1. DATES - Tues., July, 6-Sat., July 31, 2021
  2. CLOSING CEREMONY & PITCH COMPETITION - Sat., July 31
  3. ENTREPRENEURSHIP BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS                                                                                             -Participation Scholarship Valued at over $5000 per student provided by TMCF                                             -Free Training & Certificate in Small Business Launch from the Minority Small Business Launch Center        -Opportunity to Learn From and Network with Successful Entrepreneurs & Business Professors                     -Chance to Win Prizes for Student Business at Pitch Competition 
  4. OUTCOMES - 54 Student Participants, 29 Student Small Business Launch Certifications, 3 Pitch Competition Winning Teams