The Advancement Foundation’s Virginia’s Innovation Accelerator in Buena Vista will host the first Cross-Regional Entrepreneur and Innovators Expo highlighting talent from Central and Southwest Virginia on April 23.
The event will bring together the region’s most promising entrepreneurs, innovators and investors for a first-of-its-kind, crossregional expo featuring key community leaders and partner agencies including AFCEA, I-HUB, VMI, SCCF, SCORE, SVU and MGCC as co-hosts of the event.
The pre-event experience begins at 4 p.m. with sessions covering essential topics such as attracting investors, structuring equity partnerships, artificial intelligence and marketing to accelerate growth. Visitors may be interested in checking out the launch of Junction 245 Marketplace and Café, a cooperative space with over 20 entrepreneurs operating out of the new space.
At 5 p.m. attendees will then move to an immersive Resource Organizations and Entrepreneur Showcase, where founders will present live demonstrations of innovative products and solutions in an interactive, expo-style environment.
From 6 to 7:30, the evening culminates in an awards gala, with recognition of 45 entrepreneurs, awards, and top winning pitches from top Gauntlet and Quest finalists. Winners will be recognized for innovation, impact, and scalability, with attendees also participating in selecting a People’s Choice Award, adding real-time engagement and community voice to the competition.
“This event showcases the power of regional collaboration and the strength of Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Annette Patterson. “By bringing together innovators from across Central and Southwest Virginia, we are creating a platform where ideas gain visibility, connections turn into capital, and businesses are positioned to scale.”
For free tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or to participate as a featured entrepreneur, visit www.TheAdvancementFoundation. org.
The Virginia Innovation Accelerator is located at 245 W. 21st St.
