The countdown is on for the 10th anniversary of the Cross-Regional Entrepreneurial Expo and Gauntlet awards ceremony. The Gauntlet is Virginia’s largest business program and competition. New this year, business owners, outside of the GAUNTLET class of 2024, are invited to hit the stage during the day to pitch their business to a panel judges. The opportunity to pitch to judges is free. The winner will receive a $1,000 award to help build their business.

Applications are now being accepted for the 10th annual Gauntlet business program and competition. Over the past decade, the program has built a network of more than 1000 Gauntlet Alumni/entrepreneurs, 300 industry experts who serve as mentors and has provided entrepreneurs and communities with over $7 million in resources to advance business development and innovation.

Crunch time for 120 local entrepreneurs who were vying to win the state’s largest business competition: The Gauntlet.The 10-week course wrapped up Tuesday night for their final virtual meeting.

The Gauntlet is Virginia’s Largest Business Program and Competition and offers a proven formula to develop business knowledge, by pairing entrepreneurs with mentors, and opening up numerous resources for new and expanding businesses.

Judging is underway for the Gauntlet, Virginia’s largest business competition and program.

Tuesday is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating women around the world and here at home.

A major grant has been awarded to the advancement foundation to help entrepreneurs working to start or expand their business. State Farm has awarded $35,000 through the opportunity and purpose driven economic development grant program.

Over the 10-week course, entrepreneurs will learn skills in order to create a business plan. Annette Patterson, president of the Advancement Foundation, said it’s crucial for all business owners to have a written business plan in order to map out their idea, understand what works, what doesn’t and truly grasp if their business is fiscally sound.

More than a hundred people representing around 90 local businesses showed up for the first night of the gauntlet Tuesday, ready to launch or expand their business.

If you have an idea to start your own business, or already have a business you are looking to expand, registration is now open for the 8th annual Gauntlet Business Program and Competition hosted by the Advancement Foundation in Vinton.

A Roanoke business owner took the title of two big honors in one day. Marj Easterling, owner of Big Lick screen printing found out she won the title of Most Savvy Entrepreneur in Roanoker magazine’s “Best of 2020,” and that morning she was named citizen of the year from the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce

One step closer to making their business dreams come true, nearly 50 local entrepreneurs submitted their business plans this week to be judged in the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is the state’s largest business competition program that has helped hundreds of local businesses start or expand over the past 7 years.

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.

It’s called “an entrepreneurial ecosystem.” Fostering entrepreneurship has become a core focus of economic development in cities and countries around the world. Tapping into the entrepreneurial ecosystem is a core lesson taught in the program. AdOften, local businesses support other local businesses, knowing they’re each stronger together. Amanda Forrester with the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center said that’s a trend in Southwest Virginia, especially during the pandemic. The community plays a big role in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

ROANOKE, Va. – In an effort to make more entrepreneurs’ dreams come true, the Advancement Foundation is expanding its business competition. Fourteen more locations, mainly in Bedford County, are on The Gauntlet’s list to help. The business competition wants to use its resources to rebuild economies again, especially after taking a hit during the pandemic. “It really helps provide a sense of security which is more important than ever,” the Advancement Foundation President Annette Patterson said. And then the pandemic hit and everything came to a screeching halt,” Oiler said.

ROANOKE, Va. All westbound lanes of Interstate 64 in the Longdale Furnace community, will be closed at mile marker 35 today. The closure will be in place from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next couple of days. Theres a free walk-in COVID-19 testing site in Roanoke today. The Virginia High School League Executive Committee will meet today. They will answer questions about the transition from essential operations to modified operations, which is schedule to take place on August 3rd.

The Advancement Foundation puts on Virginia's largest business program and competition called The Gauntlet. This year's winner was Nick Morgan the owner of Formable Grabber. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

VINTON, Va. – The Roanoke Valley’s own The Gauntlet celebrated the end of its fifth season Thursday night. Entrepreneurs once again competed in Virginia's largest business growth competition. They were recognized for their hard work and growth over the last few months at the Vinton War Memorial. The Advancement Foundation is behind the program and said as the program continues to grow, so do the opportunities for businesses right here at home. We want to keep our talent here," Advancement Foundation President Annette Patterson said.

ROANOKE, VA (WSLS10) A non-profit in the town of Vinton is working to create an environment for small businesses to thrive. Workers at the Advancement Foundation are helping business owners build a solid plan so they can start their own business. "It makes me feel great to know that it's there but I would have liked to have known about it a long time ago," Habibah Yasin, the owner of Black Diamond Beauty Salon said. They help entrepreneurs by linking them up with small business owners who can mentor them to make sure they are on the right track. “Research shows that small business failure is common but businesses that come through a business incubator are about 87% successful which is unbelievable,” Annette Patterson, the president of the Advancement Foundation said.