Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
Do you have questions about how to move forward? Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form? Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?
Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!
In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.
Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.
Note that this is a live, on-line Webinar.
Fee: No Cost
Do you need:
- Research assistance for your business plan or market study?
- Professional development surrounding HR, accounting, and marketing?
- A jumpstart for your business idea?
- Job search assistance?
- A place to meet clients?
- A telework location?
Look no further than your local public library, in person and online. While each location is different, every library, through the Library of Virginia, has access to digital resources, learning assets, and research tools to help you meet your career and business goals. Join us to learn more!
Presenters:
- Nan Carmack – Director of the Library Development and Networking Division, Library of Virginia (nan.carmack@lva.virginia.gov) (and small business owner!)
- Barry Trott – Adult Services Consultant, Library of Virginia (barry.trott@lva.virginia.gov)
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Craft beverage producers know only too well how quickly the industry can move; from pandemic-related closures to regulatory shifts and everything in between, Virginia’s breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries have had to respond to ever-shifting terrain. This same adaptability is needed when it comes to capital attraction.
In this webinar, Virginia SBDC Craft Beverage Assistance Manager Chris Van Orden welcomes back previous speaker Jason Sleeman, Vice President of Craft Beverage Lending at United Community Bank, to share his insights on the changing capital landscape for craft beverage producers.
SPEAKER: Jason Sleeman is Vice President of Craft Beverage Lending at United Community Bank. In this role, he has worked with dozens of craft beverage producers around the country to secure capital and chart a stable financial course. In addition to his expertise with SBA loan products, Jason closely tracks the developments in the craft beverage industry. While he works with clients throughout the United States, Jason lives in Georgia with his family.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Unfamiliar with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets? Learn about intellectual property (IP) basics and potential ways to protect your innovations as you transition from idea to product. The session will cover:
- What is the USPTO?
- An overview of intellectual property types: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets
- Why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP
- How to get started in protecting your intellectual property.
Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Speaker(s): Elizabeth Dougherty, USPTO
During this webinar you will learn:
- What and why you need to build or expand your current security posture in 2023
- A list of free cybersecurity services and tools for your small business
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
This module will cover the basic facts about patents. We will explore the different types of patents, including utility, design, and plant. We will define the difference and use of both provisional patent applications and non-provisional patent applications. Further, we will discuss the process of patent prosecution, the role of the U.S. patent examiner and what to expect when working with the USPTO. Information regarding a number of patent prosecution programs and initiatives available to applicants will also be provided.
Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Este seminario cubrirá información sobre los pasos a seguir para iniciar un negocio:
- Conocer las diferentes estructuras legales de negocios
- Proceso de Incorporación/Registración en VA
- Contabilidad e Impuestos para su negocio
- Licencias de Negocios
- Empleados vs Contratistas Independientes
- Recursos para Financiamiento
Todas las capacitaciones se entregarán en Español a través de zoom. (All trainings will be delivered in Spanish via Zoom.)
Por favor regístrese para el seminario y recibirá su confirmación para acceder a la sesión por medio de Zoom.
Para más información enviar un texto a Cely Argueta, Consultora de Negocios al 301-401-7317.
Would you like to add to your business’ portfolio and bottom line through a federal government contract?
Are you struggling to make inroads?
Join us and learn marketing strategies and tips to increase your chances of success.
The Federal Government buys over $600 billion per year on goods and services, 23% of that spend is allocated for small business. This is a huge opportunity for small firms to grow their business and become part of the challenging world of Government Contracting. Before entering into this arena you must first know how to market yourself to government. This presentation will help you prepare your firm to get noticed by government and prime buyers by developing a proper marketing plan and strategy.
In this session you will learn:
- Steps to take to be where you can be found by buyers
- Preparing a winning capability statement
- Organize your website, business cards and marketing materials
- Prepare a marketing plan to attract buyers
Join Lisa Wood, Director of the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), for this informative presentation – a “must” for those who are considering the Federal Government contracting market and want to learn how to prepare for/navigate this huge potential market. The class offers tips and tricks on how to win Federal business.
HYBRID event: In-Person at 300 Preston Ave, 2nd floor, Charlottesville (free parking on-site) or online via Zoom
2023 Government Contracting Series is presented jointly by Central Virginia SBDC and Capital Region SBDC
Updated for 2023
Businesses need to understand the basics of digital marketing now more than ever, because digital marketing creates growth.
Learn about the basics of digital marketing, including:
- Social Media
- Email Marketing
- Paid Ads
- SEO
- Affiliate Marketing
- How to use analytics to measure your success
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Instructor: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, Virginia SBDC
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.
Fee: No Cost
Understanding Intellectual Property: A Deep Dive into Pathways for Your IP
Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
Do you have questions about how to move forward? Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form? Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?
Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!
In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.
Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.
Note that this is a live, on-line Webinar.
Fee: No Cost
Businesses need to understand the basics of digital marketing now more than ever, because digital marketing creates growth.
Learn about the basics of digital marketing, including:
- Social Media
- Email Marketing
- Paid Ads
- SEO
- Affiliate Marketing
- How to use analytics to measure your success
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Instructor: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, VA SBDC
Mr. Nelson has over 19 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.
Fee: No Cost
Join us for a discussion about what all entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups should know about trademarks. We’ll discuss what trademarks are, the benefits of federal trademark registration, and the basics of the registration process. We’ll also talk about why it’s so important for any new business to select a trademark that is both federally registrable and legally protectable.
We’ll close out the discussion with a question-and-answer session and direct you to free resources from the USPTO.
Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration, please be on the lookout for it.
Speaker(s): Mariessa Terrell – Trademark Examining Attorney. Mariessa began her trademark law career at the USPTO in 2000. After her departure from the USPTO, she worked as a solo trademark practitioner; in-house trademark attorney consultant for Lockheed Martin and Leidos Corporations; and trademark and fashion law professor at her alma mater Howard University School of Law (HUSL). In 2015, Mariessa was recruited to manage the USPTO Trademark Law Clinic at HUSL and was instrumental in helping to develop a Patent Clinic at HUSL in 2019. Mariessa returned to the USPTO in 2020 and currently works as a trademark attorney advisor in the office of Trademarks Customer Outreach where she delivers to experienced practitioners educational content on advanced trademark topics. She earned her J.D from Howard University School of Law; her B.A., magna cum laude, from Pace University in New York City; and is admitted to the Maryland and District of Columbia bar associations.
Topic: Market Research w/ Census data and other free tools
Grab your lunch and join us the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.
Market research is an integral step in creating your business plan, identifying your competition, and identifying your market. In this workshop we will cover free resources to find market research data using the following databases:
- Census Business Builder
- International Trade Data
- Trade Group Data
- ESRI
Speaker(s): Martin Short, Lead Economic Development Specialist & Public Information Officer
If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540) 654-1383
Small business leaders can expect more incidents of attack surface expansion, data security breaches, identity theft, and remote code execution attacks than in the previous year if they don’t take proactive cybersecurity measures.
Learn how to avoid the TOP 5 mistakes that could let hackers in!