Shenandoah Community Capital Fund: Entrepreneur Summit & Capacitor Program

Our conversation today welcomes back Ryan Hall and Katie Overfield-Zook to the show. Ryan is the acting executive director for the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), and Katie is the director of programming. They discuss the ongoing transformations within SCCF, including Ryan's recent appointment and staffing changes due to fluctuating funding sources. Ryan describes SCCF's commitment to aiding the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Shenandoah Valley, noting their long-standing provision of SBA loans and diverse programming tailored to entrepreneurs at varying stages of business development. They emphasize their continued support for local businesses even amid internal transitions. Katie shares details for their third annual Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit happening September 9/10 in Harrisonburg. She explains that the summit aims to foster connections among entrepreneurs and provide hands-on workshops, aimed at delivering tangible outcomes that attendees can directly implement in their businesses. The theme is "Learning Through Doing," and this year's summit will notably avoid traditional panels in favor of more interactive sessions. The summit will feature a demo day, allowing entrepreneurs to showcase their progress. Katie describes the Capacitor Program, an incubator initiative designed to support scalable businesses in the Shenandoah Valley. The program, aimed at businesses with ambitious growth plans, offers 60 hours of fractional C-suite support covering strategy, finance, and marketing. It is currently funded by a GO Virginia Grant, making it free for participants. The support includes one-on-one coaching, monthly founders' roundtables, and access to a network of subject matter experts. The goal is to provide the necessary resources and guidance for businesses looking to expand significantly. Ryan and Katie both underscore the importance of being receptive to feedback and willing to take actionable steps based on that feedback in the Capacitor Program. They highlight that the program is intensely customized to suit individual business needs and goals and encourage businesses from the northern Shenandoah Valley to participate. The conversation concludes with Katie discussing the importance of attending the SCCF summit, noting the extended early bird discount for tickets. (Use code SUMMIT at checkout for a $25 discount until June 14.) Katie elaborates on the value of the summit for networking and gaining insight into the Capacitor Program, even if just attending the demo day. They also mention sponsorship opportunities available for the summit, with packages starting at $250. Katie reiterates the invaluable resources SCCF offers and encourages entrepreneurs to reach out and take advantage. Learn more on their website: https://www.sccfva.org/ and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.