A new AI-powered digital resource hub is launching today to help entrepreneurs and small business owners across the Charlotte Region connect to resources for starting, running, and growing a business.
RISE (Regional Innovation and Support for Entrepreneurs) utilizes innovative AI-powered technology to offer a one-stop-shop resource hub for business owners throughout their business life cycle. The online hub is now available to help entrepreneurs navigate the complex ecosystem all in one place, allowing them to engage with the small business community, discover resources, jobs, events, and more. The interactive online tool offers a perpetually updated resource directory curated specifically for businesses in the Charlotte Region.
“This is the problem solving that they didn’t know they needed,” Tya Bolton, CLT Alliance Foundation director of small business and entrepreneurship, said. “It is going to help them to relieve some stress of knowing where the resources are, how to navigate them, and at what point in the journey to access them.”
RISE is one of many strategies the CLT Alliance Foundation is employing to provide entrepreneurs the resources they need to be successful. The CLT Alliance Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Digital Equity, will lead a comprehensive strategy to introduce the new online interactive hub to entrepreneurs as part of its mission to empower small businesses, entrepreneurs, and business leaders in the Charlotte Region.
“RISE is a game-changer for entrepreneurs in the Charlotte Region,” Nate Hogan, president of the CLT Alliance Foundation, said. “RISE by itself won’t remove every barrier in front of entrepreneurs, but we believe in an all-of-the-above approach. So, whether it’s trying to find access to capital or equity issues in the ecosystem, we believe we need to address every barrier in front of our entrepreneurs. RISE is an important step in that direction.”
“We know that many of our neighbors need a working computer, affordable internet, and the skills to thrive in the world today,” Bruce Clark, executive director of the Center for Digital Equity, said. “We also know many of those neighbors are entrepreneurs. Supporting RISE and the important work the foundation is leading is part of the collective impact approach it takes to make it easy for business owners to adopt these critical tools.”
RISE is now available online and can be accessed here.
