Miller School of Entrepreneurship provides RISE29 update

Spring 2021 saw the continued growth and support of RISE29’s focus on rural small business development. The RISE29 consulting internship program focused on its four core service counties of Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, and Pitt, placing 12 students with five small businesses, the Beaufort County Economic Development Office, and the Hyde County Manager’s Office. In assisting their clients, students completed business plans, developed marketing and social media strategies, analyzed supply chain constraints, and implemented talent recruitment strategies. Those students placed with the local government organizations conducted industry supply chain analyses and comprehensive economic development strategies. In all, the consulting interns contributed more than 3,500 hours toward assisting rural small businesses this semester.

Emily Cross and Dana Shefet helped Hackney Distillery as part of the RISE29 program.

Spring also saw the launch of RISE29’s newest program, the RISEUp Academy led by Dr. Dennis Barber. Built as an intensive, semester-long accelerator, the RISEUp Academy hosted its first cohort of 16 student entrepreneurs. They focused on integrating entrepreneurship into a comprehensive economic development strategy in rural communities. Working to develop concepts ranging from eco-friendly sunscreen to healthcare communications, RISEUp students spent the spring semester conducting industry analysis, creating extensive business models, and interviewing regional economic developers and entrepreneurs. These students also received assistance from the Duke Law Startup Ventures Clinic, a strategic partner of the Miller School of Entrepreneurship. Additionally, all participating students completed the Ice House Entrepreneurship Certification. By the end of the semester, eight new businesses were launched, creating 12 jobs in eastern North Carolina. Students from the RISEUp Academy will continue working with Small Business Technology Development Center staff to grow their nascent businesses.

With spring complete, the RISE29 program has now placed more than 100 interns throughout Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, and Pitt Counties. In total, these students have worked more than 29,000 hours and helped 30 existing small businesses and 20 start-ups. Looking toward summer, ten summer consulting interns are slated to begin their projects in mid-May, working with six regional clients. Fall semester client recruitment will begin in mid-June to add six clients and 16 student interns. The RISEUp Academy will return in spring 2022 with a new cohort of student entrepreneurs.

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