The West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem has received a $125,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to support the expansion and infrastructure of the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (WVEE). This funding will connect and identify opportunities for improvement in aiding entrepreneurs across West Virginia by bringing together key providers and business development resources. Additional funded partners in this effort include The EdVenture Group, Inc.,and the Robert C. Byrd Institute.

The WVEE operates as a collaborative network by conducting monthly meetings of over 75 active members, convening over 150 registered entrepreneur serving organizations (ESOs) on the state’s engagement platform, WV BusinessLink, and providing outreach and engagement to more than 700 stakeholders. WVEE also hosts Bridging Innovation Week, a weeklong symposium packed with entrepreneurial events from workshops to vendor fairs to competitions. This year’s symposium will take place in Wheeling, WV from April 17-21, 2023. To learn more about the program, click here. 

“The growth of the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem has been possible due to the dedication and voluntary efforts of a coalition of the willing to date,” said founding Co-Chair, Tara St. Clair of WVU’s Encova Center. “We are grateful to the Benedum Foundation for recognizing the catalytic opportunity an influx of focused funding can provide to this effort and look forward to seeing the ecosystem’s growth as a result.” 

This project is made possible by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. The Foundation has served West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania since it was established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum. Grants are made to support specific initiatives in the areas of Education, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, and Community Development.

For more information on the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, contact Co-Chair Tara St. Clair at Tara.StClair@mail.wvu.edu.