VINTON, Va. – Local entrepreneurs hoping to win cash and prizes to help start or expand their business are in the home stretch of the Gauntlet business competition. They are now finishing up week 8 of 10 and will be completing their business plans to submit to the Gauntlet judges by April 20. That will determine if they get to pitch their plan in person for the top prizes.
Even if you are not involved in the program this year, there is a way to connect with this network if you are a business owner, investor, or resource agency. The Advancement Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Gauntlet, partnered with Startup Space to create a virtual platform called Biz NATION. The goal is to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that links entrepreneurs, resources, mentors, and communities.
If you are interested in interacting with Startup Space via the mobile app you can simply download the Startup Space app for free on Apple or Android.
“The excitement is we can now connect everybody across the region,” said Annette Patterson, President of the Advancement Foundation. “We launched Biz NATION which is an online platform that everyone can register their profile, whether they are an entrepreneur, resource agency or an investor, and they can actually outline what their different characteristics are, if they are looking for an investor, or are they an investor looking for a certain type of product to invest in.”
Read more about efforts to develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southwest Virginia.