those building blocks to map existing resources , identify needs and co-create pilot efforts to overcome barriers .
“ We have experienced exponential growth . People were craving not just connection , but collaboration ,” says Tara St . Clair , co-founder of the WVEE and current co-chair . “ There were several events already occurring , so we decided to bring those folks together to bridge the gap and bring key
A panel during Bridging Innovation Week 2023 . Photo by InnerAction Media .
stakeholders together for live networking and collaboration . We had over 1,000 people attend our first weeklong Bridging Innovation , and it continues to grow annually .”
James Rumsey Technical Institute ’ s Company Lab is a powerful example of local impact made possible through co-creation . The Company Lab is a community- and student-facing entrepreneur center housed within a three-county
career and technical education site . Recognizing that many aspiring entrepreneurs can be intimidated by traditional business assistance , the Company Lab emphasizes education and personalized learning for entrepreneurs as an entry point to business ownership . In its first 18 months of operation , the Company Lab has served over 40 clients , licensed 12 new businesses , created 15 new jobs and saved clients over $ 200,000 in revenue and other business expenses .
Educate : Creating a Pipeline
Cultivating a competitive , entrepreneurially minded workforce is a top priority of the WVEE . This includes an emphasis on training the current workforce to meet immediate demand and educating the future workforce on entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway . This focus is already gaining traction in the space of youth entrepreneurship . Bridging Innovation Week features a Youth Entrepreneurship Day , engaging hundreds of students and teachers from across the state in entrepreneurship activities .
Several ecosystem partners , including The EdVenture Group , Marshall University , West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia University ( WVU ) have worked collaboratively to launch the state ’ s first formal entrepreneurship pathway , housed within career and technical education . Through a recent strategic planning effort funded by ARC , WVU Extension published the Equity in Youth Entrepreneurship report . Within this report , the voices of students , teachers and resource providers were captured to identify barriers and
Photo by West Virginia Department of Commerce .
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