UVA Wise Celebrates First Community Entrepreneur Cohort, Seeks New Participants for 2023

In October, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) and Opportunity SWVA partners celebrated its inaugural group completing the CO.STARTERS Core program, powered by the Hatch Business Accelerator. Now, UVA Wise is already seeking its next set of aspiring Southwest Virginia business owners for 2023.

The 10-week program equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn ideas into action and passions into sustainable and thriving endeavors. Participants learn about local funding opportunities and location incentive programs.

The program is open to anyone in Southwest Virginia ready to transform their idea into a thriving business, said Blake Salyer, UVA Wise’s Ecosystem & Innovation Manager.

Participants can be business owners wanting to pivot to a new opportunity or someone with an idea who has never started a business. The next cohort begins February 23. Application deadline is January 26 and there is a $150 fee to cover materials. For more information, check out www.hatchaccelerator.com.

“What we’re liking so far about CO.STARTERS is the versatility of the program. Whether you have a lifestyle or Main Street business or a high-growth, scalable idea, it is a great place to start. I am equally as excited about the network building we are doing through CO.STARTERS and other programs as well. Not only do we want to provide support during the start-up process, but we offer support and mentorship that guides you as far along the journey as possible,” said Salyer.

From August to October 2022, the eight-person cohort met three hours weekly, mostly online but also at UVA Wise’s Oxbow Center in St. Paul. Participants included UVA Wise students, alumni, staff and local residents from Scott, Wise and Dickenson counties.

Two successful entrepreneurs, Salyer, founder of the e-commerce merchandise brand, Winze Co. and Scott Lawson, owner of Legacy Creations LLC, served as co-facilitators leading the CO.STARTERS cohort and sharing their own hands-on knowledge.

Several guest entrepreneur speakers shared their own experiences including Andrea Hicks, owner of Coffee Station, along with UVA Wise graduates Kara Spurlock, owner of Heart + Soul Boutique, Jahmal Potter, owner of JGreat Entertainment; Zak Sturgill, owner LazaModz; Madison Savarese, co-founder of JRZY; and Matt Dotson, an attorney at Mullins, Harris, Jessee and Dotson.

UVA Wise Director of Economic Development and GO Virginia Region 1 Kalen Hunter, who was also a participant in the program, said communities thrive when downtowns are filled with unique businesses, defining the experience for visitors and community members.

“The program is regionally important because it provides a community for like-minded entrepreneurially spirited individuals,” Hunter said.  “It also provides an opportunity for communities to tap into the entrepreneurial potential in their region, enhance their communities, create jobs, diversify economies and create a great quality of life for all.”

Getting An Early Start

Roanoke native Julianna Jenkins, a junior psychology major and pre-law at UVA Wise, got her first taste of entrepreneurship at the College’s Side Hustle Market last spring where she sold smoothies and learned about the CO.STARTERS program through Salyer.

“It went super well and I had so much fun with it,” Jenkins said. “I signed up excited to further expand the venture.”

Her goal is creating a smoothie stand that she will set up on UVA Wise’s campus and in the surrounding communities.

“We need more quick healthy options,” said Jenkins who hopes to have it up and running her senior year.

Her favorite part of the classes was developing mission statements.

“When you really care about what you want to do, it is not about the income. It is more about why you are doing what you are doing,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins thinks it is important for the region to offer more small businesses and for high school and college students to start early.

“When you see how practical and attainable it can be, you can’t help but take action,” Jenkins said.

UVA Wise student Charlotte Schroeder has always wanted to be her own boss.

“Work and school take up so much of your life. I like the idea having more control over my day-to-day life. I have wanted to work in the entrepreneurial space since middle school,” she said.

About two years ago, Schroeder decided to make custom stationery and journals.

“I really care about journaling, writing, self-expression. It’s played a huge role in my life and I can use this to give that kind of experience to others,” she said.

In CO.STARTERS, Schroeder learned the importance of marketing and branding.

“I loved it. It was basically a crash course in how to take your personality and values and monetize them and infuse so much of yourself into a product and brand. I had never made that connection and with Blake and Scott I was able to see that,” Schroeder said.

She started in the conceptual phase and now has designed stickers and is getting ready for production. She is working on a website and online store and hopes to launch in a few months.

Business is Open

UVA Wise Alumna McKenzie Dykstra ’22 knew she wanted to sell her art but wasn’t sure how to get the business going when she joined CO.STARTERS.

“I was at the beginner stages. This is my first legit attempt at an entrepreneurial endeavor,” Dykstra said. “The program helped me define my business. It also contributed to me obtaining a better understanding of how to run a business. It is a lot more than just selling art at a flea market.”

She was surprised by the level of detail in the curriculum including readings, worksheets, case studies and examples.

“It was very well put together. I appreciated the time the instructors took to make this program easy to understand,” she said.

Under the name “the gray by mckenzie renee,” Dykstra opened an Etsy shop, started a website, mckenzierenee.wixsite.com/mckenzierenee, and sold her art at Wise’s Fall Fling.

“I feel more confident that I have the necessary tools to keep this business running,” she said. “I don’t think my business would be where it is today without this program. Having the college sponsor these programs starts the process at an earlier stage which brings about more growth.”

New Ventures

Industrial engineer Paul O’Quinn moved away from Dickenson County after high school and returned 35 years later with a mission.

“I have always had a desire to one day return and see how I could make a contribution to the area where I grew up. I decided the time was right to move back home and use my skills and experience to help the community and the region,” O’Quinn said.

That led him to take the program this fall. He had an idea of starting a consulting service geared to improving the standard of living of economically depressed communities by supporting economic development and public health.

He felt the program helped him spend time to articulate the mission, target market and scope of service for the business.

“As an industrial engineer, I appreciate a logical, systematic approach to achieving an outcome. CO.STARTERS uses its Canvas tool to walk participants through a very well organized process to go from an idea to a well thought-out plan,” O’Quinn said.

Now, he has leased office space and launched a website, www.appsolsolutions.com.

Gate City resident Caitie Cox also moved back home to create a business and invest in her local community. Out of her passion for books, she created Maple Tree Bookshop, which is primarily aimed at getting children interested in reading. She did her first pop-up shop selling high-quality used books in June and is working on renting a brick-and-mortar store front.

At the same time she started CO.STARTERS, her plans for a storefront property fell through. Cox said learning how to pivot with advice from program members encouraged her to launch her website, www.mapletreebookshop.com. She is now getting online sales with plans to open a physical shop.

“I had no experience running a business,” said Cox. “I got out of the program what I had hoped and a little more. I feel l learned what I needed to help me run and build the business better."

Hunter chose to attend the program to start her first entrepreneurial endeavor.

“I decided to embark on this journey because I felt that I could provide a solution to some of the challenges that I was hearing in my day job. I want to be part of the solution,” Hunter said. “I joined CO.STARTERS because I had a concept that I wanted to make a reality, but did not know where to begin.”

Hunter said the guest speakers added immense value to the CO.STARTERS program.

The two most meaningful aspects were the relationships that were formed with other members of the cohort and hearing from the guest speakers, who were often times entrepreneurs, Hunter said.

“There was a sense of camaraderie and trust that was built with the participants as everyone was cheering each other on in their business venture,” Hunter said.

She said UVA Wise wants to work with communities to co-host cohorts that align with specific needs, objectives and incentives.

“Momentum is building all across the region, and it is only the beginning of what can happen in Southwest Virginia around entrepreneurship,” Hunter said. “I am amazed by the support that is already in place and the partnerships that are flourishing in our ecosystem. I invite any and all to help us continue to build out the CO.STARTERS program.”