Venture Local 2012 was a tremendous success!
Thank you for attending and supporting our event focused on local, sustainable and social entrepreneurship opportunities in WNC. Check out photos and more from our friends at AshevilleChannel.com. Learn More

An initiative of the AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council is a nurturing organization for entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina, creating homegrown jobs and growing the region's economy.

BREC supports entrepreneurs through the following four focus areas: education, mentoring and networking, communications and capital formation. BREC meets monthly, and provides quarterly opportunities for qualified entrepreneurial businesses to present plans before a group of local investors, the Blue Ridge Angel Investors Network.

AdvantageWest tops $1 million mark in loan financing to early-stage, high-growth startups in Western North Carolina.
The Advantage Opportunity Fund started in 2007 with $40,000 and thus far has provided seed-stage loans to 26 high-growth startups in the region.

Entrepreneurs with nature-based businesses encouraged to apply for accelerator.
May 20 is the deadline to apply for Accelerate Appalachia, with opportunities for 14 entrepreneurs.

Forbes Magazine profiles regional entrepreneur
Kara Errickson, an Advantage Opportunity Fund loan client who uses the Natural Products Manufacturing Facility at Blue Ridge Food Ventures to make her product, Skinfare, shares her success.