Startup Virginia Starts Up Tonight in Roanoke

Roanoke's first StartUp Virginia group has been organized as an initiative of the White House to provide guidance, support, and solutions to help small business owners manage and grow their business.

Samantha Steidle of Business Lounge

Startup America was launched at the White House in response to a call to foster the growth of entrepreneurship. Samantha Steidle of the Roanoke Business Lounge will launch StartUp Virginia here in the Roanoke/Blacksburg region.

“Innovation is key to local success,” says Steidle. “StartUp Virginia is focused on making Roanoke a great place to start and grow small businesses.” The goal is to strengthen our local and state entrepreneurial ecosystem."

The first “StartUp MeetUp” event in downtown Roanoke will be held Thursday, November 29 (tonight), 2012 at 5 p.m. at Blue 5 Restaurant to celebrate the launch of StartUp Virginia in the Roanoke/Blacksburg region.

 Group members share resources to improve everyone's chances of success. Sponsors of Roanoke StartUp MeetUp include Roanoke Business Lounge, Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center, Downtown Roanoke, Inc., StartUp Virginia and Blue Ridge Copier.

"We're looking for a core group of entrepreneurs stepping up to say, 'I get it,'" says Donna Harris, "Where we have that, we will launch a region. No one owns it. It's a team of co-leaders."

"We also need to ask entrepreneurs what they need,' adds Harris "One thing startups have told us they need is mentors. Does your community have breadth and depth of mentors?" If you are interested in supporting or starting a small business please contact Roanoke