Forward Festival Returns to Madison Aug 17-21

In the next instalment of our mini-doc series, we sit down with Brandon Pierre, aka Don Pierre, founder of DSGNR Studio & DSGNR Initiative CIC, to hear about his entrepreneurial journey, the power of creativity, and how MAKE IT London's Future Enterprise Programme has helped him grow and expand his business. From turning ideas into opportunities to building a brand with purpose, Brandon's story is a reminder that the right support can help take your vision even further. 🎬 Watch the full episode and be inspired by the next generation of entrepreneurs.

With $142K in New Support, Bayou Region Incubator Opens Ticket Sales for Upcoming Pitch Night THIBODAUX – The Bayou Region Incubator recently secured $142,300 in funding from four corporate partners to expand its support for local small businesses. The funding comes as the incubator prepares to host seven local entrepreneurs for its annual Pitch Night at Nicholls State University. Leading the charge is Chevron, which has.... #NOLANewswire

We're proud to have partnered with Builder’s Series to host an insightful gathering of founders, builders, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs at the Datamellon office. The event featured engaging sessions on startup growth, product development, fundraising, and one of the most important, but often overlooked, aspects of entrepreneurship: building on a solid legal foundation. From company structure and ntellectual property to founder agreements and investment readiness, attendees walked away with practical insights to help them build sustainable businesses. Beyond the sessions, the event created an opportunity for founders to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships within the growing startup ecosystem. Thank you to Builders series teaml, the speakers, and everyone who joined us to make the event a success. We look forward to supporting more initiatives that bring innovators together and inspire the next generation of builders. #Datamellon #BuilderSeriesLagos #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #FoundersEntrepreneurship

Strong partnerships don't happen by accident. They happen when communities intentionally identify the gaps in their entrepreneurial ecosystem and bring the right organizations to the table. The goal isn't to have the most partners—it's to have the right partners working together to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Before launching another initiative, ask yourself: Is your ecosystem missing a program, or is it missing a partner? Learn more about entrepreneurship-led economic development at www.egstrategies.com #EconomicGrowthStrategies, #EntrepreneurshipLedDevelopment, #EconomicDevelopment, #EntrepreneurialEcosystems, #EcosystemBuilding, #StartupCommunity, #EntrepreneurSupport, Tarsha Hearns, EDP

What happens after the ribbon-cutting? We spend so much time talking about starting businesses, but how often do we talk about helping them survive beyond the five-year mark? Somewhere along the way, entrepreneurship has become heavily weighted towards the launch. We celebrate the registration, the funding, the incubator, the first customer. But what about year six? For me, legacy isn't about building a company that becomes big. It's about building one that becomes sustainable enough to outlive its founder. A business that creates jobs twenty years from now. One that becomes part of its community rather than just another statistic. If the Fifth Industrial Revolution is meant to be more human-centred, then maybe our conversations need to become more long-term too.

The Harbor Entrepreneur Center Executive Director Grady Johnson said: "This collaboration between the state's entrepreneurial support organizations is reflective of the shared belief that the entrepreneurial ecosystem isn't fenced in by geographical boundaries and also that all young companies need patient nurturing to fully blossom into powerful contributors to the state's economy." https://lnkd.in/ebZNgyAJ

Entrepreneurship can be about more than starting a business. It can be a pathway to greater financial stability, new opportunities, and a brighter future. Learn how a growing partnership between ForKids and Old Dominion University's Hudgins Transitional Entrepreneurship Lab (HTEL) is helping families explore entrepreneurship, build new skills, and create additional income opportunities. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eurGNKZm

The Times Entrepreneurs Network Live was everything it promised to be - and more. We've pulled together the key moments and sharpest insights from the event, which we were proud to support as headline sponsor. From Harry Stebbings, founder of 20VC talking about the three key elements of building a business, to Trinny Woodall on scaling Trinny London with purpose - the conversations were honest, practical and genuinely inspiring. Watch the highlights here: https://lnkd.in/ea9SRbwU Wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll find plenty of ideas worth carrying forward. #TimesEntrepreneurs #EntrepreneursNetworkLive #ScalingBusiness

Today on Positively West Virginia, host Nick Hart sits down with Catherine Read of Right to Start during Bridging Innovation Week at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. As a leader dedicated to expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs, Catherine shares how empowering founders and strengthening local startup ecosystems can help communities across the country and right here in West Virginia thrive. Recorded at one of the state's premier entrepreneurship events, this conversation explores the importance of removing barriers to business creation, fostering innovation, and ensuring every aspiring entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed. Catherine also discusses Right to Start's mission to make entrepreneurship more accessible and why supporting small businesses is essential to building stronger local economies. Website: https://lnkd.in/dJ_ZzEd Studio Powered by: Breezeline Sponsored by: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia | Freedom Kia of Morgantown | Inner Action Media | Humble Influence: The Strength of True Followership by Jim Matuga | Portland Coffee WV | West Virginia Lottery Produced by: Inner Action Media | Jim Matuga

Last week marked the final workshop of Creative Enterprise (Creative UK)'s Foundations programme, bringing together the last cohort after three years of supporting early-stage screen entrepreneurs across England. The session, led by Sophie Morgan and Alison Grade, focused on one of the most valuable skills any founder can develop: how to pitch your business, communicate your vision and sell with confidence. Since launching in 2023, Foundations has helped hundreds of emerging founders take their first steps in building sustainable screen businesses, creating a community of ambitious creatives ready to grow. While this chapter comes to a close, it's also the beginning of a new one. Foundations will evolve into Screen Launchpad, introducing two new tailored pathways to support the next generation of screen entrepreneurs. A huge thank you to everyone who has shaped Foundations over the past three years, and congratulations to the final cohort as they take their next steps.