Here are 12 Virginia organizations offering funding, mentorship, training, and resources that every woman entrepreneur should know about.
Starting or scaling a business can be a daunting task, but women entrepreneurs in Virginia don’t have to go it alone, thanks to a network of organizations designed to offer guidance, capital access, and community. From statewide support, like the Virginia Small Business Development Center, to regional incubators, like YWomen Prosper Academy, here are 12 organizations all women entrepreneurs should know about.
Statewide
Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity
Location: 101 N. 14th St., 11th floor, Richmond
The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity operates to empower small, women, and minority-owned businesses within the Commonwealth. It provides certification, financing, business development and outreach, and sourcing and compliance services.
Obtaining WOSB (woman-owned small business) certification may prove useful because it offers enhanced procurement opportunities in state-funded projects. The certification requires that at least 51 percent of the business be owned by one or more women and that the management and daily operations are handled by one or more women. Information about applications can be found here.
The department also offers the Virginia She Served Business Builder Initiative, a program aimed at empowering female active-duty, reservist, veterans, and military or veteran spouses who are business owners. The free program requires that businesses have been in operation for a minimum of one year. Participants are provided with a curriculum focused on the unique difficulties faced by entrepreneurs who have or are currently serving.
Virginia Small Business Development Center
Location: 10306 Eaton Place, Ste. 180, Fairfax
The Virginia Small Business Development Center is a one-stop shop for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. Importantly, it provides no-cost individualized advising. Programs on how to acquire capital are also offered.
Pamela Lucas of PAMCO Care is a success story from the center. She was named the 2024 Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year Award winner, which resulted in $600,000 in capital formation and the creation of 30 new jobs.
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce Economic Evolution Accelerator Program
Location: 8270 Greensboro Dr., Ste. 850, McLean
Even though the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Evolution Accelerator Program isn’t exclusively focused on female entrepreneurs, it’s ideal for Black female business owners looking to expand and strengthen their enterprises.
Early-stage business owners from all sectors and industries are welcome to participate. The workshop-focused program provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, a leadership mindset, and a technology-focused outlook. Of particular importance is the emphasis on how to access capital and provide quality customer service.
Eligibility requirements include two years of business operations and a minimum of $50,000 in annual revenue.
Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia
Location: 10300 Eaton Place, Ste. 440, Fairfax
The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia at George Mason University seeks to empower women to achieve success in small business ventures. Potential and existing small business owners from such localities as Fairfax and Alexandria are welcome to attend the center’s classes or view its on-demand webinars.
One-on-one business counseling sessions are also offered for assistance with business planning, marketing, accounting, registrations, and contracts.
Central Virginia
Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia
Location: 1500 N. Lombardy St., Richmond
The Women’s Business Center of Central of Central Virginia seeks to empower small business owners to obtain economic success by providing them with the support they need. It provides a range of important services to female entrepreneurs, including one-on-one counseling, training, technical assistance, and networking.
Another important service focuses on capitalizing, such as credit profile assessments and loan readiness and preparation.
Women’s Business Center RVA
Location: 4915 Radford Ave. Ste 300, Richmond
Co-working spaces like the Women’s Business Center RVA might be beneficial for female entrepreneurs who are in the early days of getting their business off the ground and aren’t quite ready for a brick-and-mortar location. The center bills itself as offering a home for your business. It was founded by Virginia resident Tywan Lee.
Office spaces and mailboxes are available for rent. It also offers seminars that are focused on elevating one’s business skills.
NAWBO Richmond
Location: P.O. Box 73201, North Chesterfield
NAWBO Richmond, short for the National Association of Women Business Owners, has been supporting women business owners in Central Virginia since 1982. The association performs advocacy, hosts events and an entrepreneurial development institute, and provides a variety of resources.
A basic membership costs $359.40. The association prides itself on having a diverse and inclusive membership, encouraging women business owners from all backgrounds to join.
Hampton Roads
YWomen Prosper Empowerment Academy
Location: 340 High St., Ste. 206, Portsmouth
The YWomen Prosper Empowerment Academy focuses on empowering women economically. It seeks to do this by providing them with the skills and resources needed to achieve financial independence, and entrepreneurship plays an important role in that mission. The business incubator provides services in the form of business planning, pitch development, branding, vendor markets, and access to grant opportunities.
The academy is hosted by YWCA South Hampton Roads, an organization focused on eliminating racism and empowering women.
Women’s Business Center
Location: 112 Bank St., Norfolk
The Women’s Business Center at Old Dominion University exists to help women business owners navigate the complex marketplace by providing support and education. It’s part of the broader ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The tools offered by the center are available at low to no cost. To get started, women business owners need to complete a member profile. The free profile provides access to event registrations, auto-completion of government forms, business advice, and access to a database of business and marketing materials.
SWaM Business Office
Location: 4525 Main St., Suite 700, Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach’s SWaM Business Office focuses on helping grow and develop small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses within the city. Following a 2018 disparity study, the city council designated resources to help SWaM businesses better contract with the city.
The office provides a variety of resources and training sessions that are meant to help businesses obtain contracts with the city.
Southwest Virginia
The Gauntlet
Location: 214 W. Lee Ave., Vinton
Although The Gauntlet isn’t focused solely on supporting female entrepreneurs, it’s well worth looking into because of the level of support it offers. Billed as the largest business program and competition, it helps entrepreneurs reach their business goals through a 10-week competition.
Entrepreneurs who already have a business up and running, as well as those just starting out, can participate. Main Street-focused businesses, like retail, service, food, and various other community-facing ventures, are the focus of the competition.
Participants exit the program with a new or revised business plan, connections, and award packages. Candace Monaghan, the founder of the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival, is an example of a successful female entrepreneur who won the competition in 2021. She was awarded over $8,000 in prizes.
Southside Virginia
RISE Female Founders Fund for Women-Owned Businesses
Location: 715 Wilborn Ave., South Boston
Female entrepreneurs in Southside Virginia, including localities like Martinsville and Mecklenburg County, may be eligible for micro-grant funding from the RISE Female Founders Fund for Women-Owned Businesses.
Since 2023, it has been providing grants to entrepreneurs at all stages of the business cycle, ranging from initial business plans to established businesses. The main requirements are that a business is located within the service region and is at least 51% owned by a woman. Participation in a RISE funding round event is also required.
The rural marketing firm Letterpress Communications is an example of a past prize winner of the fund.
