This special evening highlights the incredible entrepreneurial support organizations making a difference in Greenville — including Village Launch, which empowers minority and women-owned small businesses through training, mentorship, and market access.

Meet the passionate teams behind these organizations, learn how they support local entrepreneurs, and find out how they can help you on your business journey. Be sure to stop by the Village Launch table to hear about our Business Entrepreneur Academy, Village Launch Market, and alumni programs!

After the tabling event, stick around as the Drive takes on Bowling Green in an exciting game.
It’ll be an evening of inspiration, community, and fun — you won’t want to miss it!

Event Summary: Village Launch Mentor Social
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Mill Village Ministries

Join Village Launch for an engaging Mentor Social on August 14th as we connect with community members passionate about supporting entrepreneurs. This informal event is designed to recruit and welcome new mentors for the upcoming Fall 2025 Business Entrepreneur Academy (BEA) cohort.

Whether you're a seasoned professional, a business owner, or someone with valuable experience and insight to share, this is a great opportunity to:

• Learn about the BEA 10-week program and what it means to be a mentor

• Meet current mentors, alumni, and staff involved in Village Launch

• Ask questions about expectations, time commitment, and impact

• Enjoy light refreshments and casual conversation

Your knowledge and encouragement can make a lasting difference in the journey of an aspiring entrepreneur. Come see how you can get involved and make an impact in our local business community!

RSVP by [8/12/25] to mentor social

Please join us to celebrate cohort 30 of the Village Launch Business Entrepreneur Academy!

The event will begin with a vendor fair featuring our graduates, followed by a keynote speaker and graduate speeches. We can’t wait to see you all!

Step into Village Vibes, a networking series designed exclusively for Village Launch graduates! This isn’t just another event—it’s a space where entrepreneurs connect, learn, and grow through engaging panel discussions, interactive activities, and exciting business challenges that test your creativity and strategy.

Join fellow founders, gain insights from industry leaders, and strengthen your network in a collaborative and inspiring environment. Whether you're refining your vision, scaling your business, or seeking fresh ideas, Village Vibes is where momentum happens.

Your village is here! Let’s build, grow, and thrive together!

Space is limited, RSVP!

Click Here to Register!

Save the Date for Village Launch’s Third Annual Village Ignite on February 20, 2025.

Join us for an party along the Reedy River to support minority and female entrepreneurs! The culinary line-up includes plated courses from Table301 and featured tastings from Village Launch Entrepreneurs. Each ticket includes a five-course meal. wine pairings, craft cocktail from Vicario, musical entertainment, a live auction, and more!

Join us for this exclusive event at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 20th at Genevieve's at the Peace Center!

Each ticket is $175 and directly supports Village Launch's mission to equip underestimated entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and access to resources ($75 of every registration is tax-deductible). 

Let's start 2025 off right! The Alumni Roadmap Group is designed to guide you through four key phases of business development: establishing a strong foundation, building momentum, refining operations, and scaling for growth. Beginning in February, participants will begin with an audit of their businesses structure and finances, and work on brand and marketing strategies. From there, we will focus on content creation, customer feedback, financial planning, and process improvements. The final phase emphasizes strategic partnerships, scaling efforts, and setting long-term growth goals.

Orientation is on January 13th at 6pm! 

RSVP to Melissa@millcommunity.org

Please join us to celebrate cohorts, 27, 28, and 29 of the Village Launch Business Entrepreneur Academy!

The event will begin with a vendor fair featuring our graduates, followed by a keynote speaker and graduate speeches. We can’t wait to see you all!

Join us for our Craft and Harvest Market on November 2nd from 10am-2pm! We will have pumpkin painting for the kids, and as always food trucks, unique vendors, and great music! See you there!

1225 Pendleton St
Greenville, SC 29611

Join us for an informative and practical Financial Tools & Funding Workshop with Jeanette Brewster! Designed to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to secure funding and effectively manage financial resources.

Introduction to Financial Tools: Gain insights into essential financial tools and software that can streamline your financial management processes.

1. Financial Planning and Budgeting: Learn how to create comprehensive financial plans and budgets to ensure the financial health of your business.

2. Financial Reporting and Analysis: Learn how to interpret financial statements and use financial analysis to make informed business decisions.

3. Understanding Funding Options: Explore the application process for the Village Launch Catalytic Fund

Join us for an engaging and comprehensive Content Marketing Workshop designed to elevate your digital marketing strategies and boost your brand's online presence! This workshop is tailored for business owners who aim to master the art of creating, distributing, and promoting valuable content that attracts and retains a clearly defined audience!

Understanding Content Marketing: Learn the fundamentals of content marketing and why it is essential for modern businesses.

1. Content Strategy Development: Discover how to create a robust content strategy aligned with your business goals and audience needs.

2. Content Creation Techniques: Gain practical tips and tools for crafting compelling and high-quality content across various formats, including blog posts, videos, infographics, and social media.

3. Content Distribution and Promotion: Learn effective methods for distributing and promoting your content to reach a wider audience and maximize engagement.

4. Measuring Success: Understand the key metrics and tools for tracking the performance of your content marketing efforts and making data-driven decisions.

In this engaging and informative workshop, Sheryl Guarniero of #MakeGVLGreener will explore the importance of sustainable packaging solutions for small business owners. This workshop aims to share practical strategies for implementing eco-friendly practices and equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to reduce their environmental footprint, meet consumer demand for greener products, and enhance their brand’s reputation.

Key Topics:

• The environmental impact of packaging waste.

• Innovative sustainable packaging trends and technologies.

• Cost-effective solutions for small businesses.

• Case studies of successful sustainable packaging implementations.

• Interactive Q&A session and group discussions.

"FUEL" Village Launch Pitch Contest

Village Launch in Collaboration with St. Matthew UMC is hosting our 3rd annual Alumni Pitch Competition.

Village Launch in Collaboration with St. Matthew UMC is hosting our 3rd annual Alumni Pitch Competition, FUEL.

Village Launch Alumni have a chance to win $15,000 in Grant funds for their business. 5 Entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to walk away with start-up capital for their business!

We are inviting the community, our partners, and friends out to celebrate these amazing entrepreneurs as they pitch to win funds to help grow their business.

Join us June 13, 2024 at the Greenville ONE Center. Doors open at 5:30pm!

Special thanks to our Community Sponsors: St. Matthew United Methodist Church, SC Community Loan Fund , and CommunityWorks!

Exciting Event Alert!

Join us on June 6th at 5:30 PM in Greer for an empowering discussion on business certification for Black, women, and minority-owned businesses! Our Program Director will be speaking about the incredible benefits of getting certified and how it can help your business thrive.

• Hear from experts

• Get valuable tips and advice

• Network with certified business owners

Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. See you there!

Register Here

Formerly known as Third Thursday Market, the newly named Village Launch Market was launched in 2021 to support minority and women-owned businesses in Greenville, SC.

The Village Launch Market will be on the 1st Saturday every month from 10am - 2pm at the West Greenville Plaza, located at the corner of Pendleton Street and Burdette Street.

Each month, the market will feature 20+ businesses that have participated in Village Launch's entrepreneurial training programs. This month, to celebrate the new school year, we will be hosting a back-to-school drive.

Join us on the first Saturday of each month to support minority and women-owned businesses and experience the vibrant community of West Greenville.

🎓 Business Entrepreneur Academy Graduation: Celebrating 10 Years of Success!

Join us for an extraordinary occasion as we celebrate 10 years of empowering small businesses in our community. Our Business Entrepreneur Academy has been a steadfast source of support, helping entrepreneurs gain clarity, confidence, and community as they navigate the journey of launching and expanding their ventures.

Event Highlights:

• Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Carla Harris

  • Mrs. Harris, a renowned international public speaker and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, will share her invaluable insights from her book, “Expect To Win!”. Get ready for “Carla’s Pearls” – lessons gleaned from her remarkable life and illustrious Wall Street career.

• Meet the Future: 24 New Growing and Upcoming Businesses

  • The graduating entrepreneurs represent a range of industries, from transportation and health to food & beverage, fashion, beauty, and more. They include both established businesses and startups, showcasing a diverse mix of innovative concepts and passion. These visionary entrepreneurs are shaping the future of Greenville and beyond, with 24 emerging businesses driving forward-thinking ideas and creativity.

• Pitch Presentations & Graduation Certificates

  • Our amazing entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses, showcasing their vision and dedication. Witness their journey as they receive well-deserved graduation certificates.

• Open to All: Friends, Family, and Community Partners

  • Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, join us in celebrating our graduates. Learn how they’re making a difference and investing in our community.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

• Location: Long Branch Baptist Church

  • 28 Bolt Street

  • Greenville, SC 29605

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a thriving entrepreneurial community. Let’s celebrate dreams turned into reality! 🌟🎉

Note: This event is open to the public.

Lead to Win - Luncheon with Carla Harris

Join Village Lanch for an inspiring luncheon with the one and only Carla Harris! Get ready to be motivated, empowered, and equipped with the tools you need to lead to win. This in-person event will be held at the Long Branch Baptist Church, so mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a true leader and take your success to the next level!

Why Attend?

• Inspiration: Carla Harris, a renowned international public speaker, will share her insights and wisdom.

• Business Acumen: Gain leadership and business wisdom from Carla as we celebrate our 10th anniversary of collectively supporting 263 under-resourced entrepreneurs in our community.

• Carla’s Pearls: Carla engages audiences with her popular “Carla’s Pearls,” where she shares hard-earned and hard-learned lessons from her Wall Street career.

About Carla Harris

Carla is a renowned international public speaker and is also a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She engages audiences with her popular “Carla’s Pearls” where she shares with both leaders and emerging leaders how to maximize their career success across all industries using the “hard-earned and hard-learned” lessons that she acquired during her Wall Street Career.

We are excited to invite you to a community-engaged research presentation and photo exhibit titled “Photovoice,” hosted by Furman University’s MAAES program in collaboration with Village Launch, a non-profit entrepreneur support organization based in West Greenville.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024

• Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

• Location: Furman University’s Herring Building (Next to Timmons Arena)

About the Event: Furman’s MAAES graduate student researchers have designed a captivating Photovoice project alongside Village Launch co-researchers. Through powerful visual narratives captured in photographs, we aim to share the entrepreneurial experiences of Village Launch participants. During the event, we will discuss our research findings and explore ways to enhance outcomes for the Village Launch community.

Light Refreshments will be served!

Please consider joining us for this insightful and engaging event. Your presence and insights are invaluable as we collectively work towards empowering our community.!

Founders Forum is an educational series for entrepreneurs, taught by entrepreneurs and subject matter experts in key areas of focus for all startups. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear about tips and tricks to make your business profitable faster.

Founders Forum is an educational series from NEXT designed for entrepreneurs BY entrepreneurs, created to connect and educate founders in core disciplines relevant to all startups and activate the ecosystem at large.

Learn how you can improve your efforts as a founder, walk away with outcomes you can apply directly to your business, and strengthen your relationships with peers and content experts.

Light refreshments will be provided with networking opportunities.

Profit First – Getting to profitability with a product/service quickly

Discover the keys to getting to profitability fast and gain insights from an experienced CFO, learning practical strategies. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your business foundation!

Meet Shondra

After working as a technology investment banker at one of the fastest-growing investment banking firms in the world, Shondra Washington founded TBC-Capital, an advisory and consulting firm offering on-demand CFO, business development, and strategy services for VC-backed companies and small businesses. Through TBC-Capital, Shondra has helped her clients secure over $30M in startup capital. Her work has been featured in Reuters and Inc. Magazine.

Shondra is also the CEO and cofounder of Black@, one of the first all-Black Web3 communities. Black@ brings together creators, artists, investors, and engineers working together to increase ownership of Black culture in the next generation of the Internet.

Learn more about Shondra on LinkedIn

Follow her on IG: @shondradanielle

Join us for a party along the Reedy River at the Peace Center to support local female and minority entrepreneurs!

Prepare to be delighted with mixologist Lauren Fisher's smoky signature cocktail and a five-course dinner prepared by Chef De Cuisine Diego Campos from CAMP. There will be live musical entertainment, spoken word poetry recitations from Tinasha LaRaye, and a live auction.

Enjoy the talent of Village Launch entrepreneurs at work that includes an after-party dessert from Yolanda Young and a locally-curated gift from Katrina McDaniel!

Register Here