Rural Entrepreneurship
The Rural Edge: Connected in Rural Colorado
At CORI, we are interested in broadening the conversation about rural America and sharing stories from local change agents and entrepreneurs who are driving innovation in the small towns and communities they call home.
Read MoreA Vermont startup solving problems sustainably, with technology
We recently chatted with Connor Dahlberg, the CEO and Founder of Arsana Health, a health IT startup. Arsana Health’s technology is designed specifically for the Post Acute Health Care environment (nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, etc).
Read MoreInclusive Ecosystems from the Start
Changing the culture and outcomes of tech and entrepreneurship at the scale needed for social justice will require a comprehensive effort that spans governments, businesses, philanthropists, investors, nonprofits, and community leaders.
Read MoreThe Rural Edge: Durango, Colorado
SCAPE is place-based, focused both on incubating growth startups and helping the local economy—and to date, it’s succeeded on both fronts. In just seven years, SCAPE has helped rural companies raise over $24 million and create 152 jobs at above average wages.
Read MoreThe Rural Edge—The Cubby, Waterville, Maine
In addition to the direct support these organizations provided, Josh says that through these experiences, he “got to see the powerful ecosystem growing here in Maine first-hand”—and it’s that same ecosystem he credits as a major advantage for starting The Cubby in a small town like Waterville.
Read MoreThe Rural Edge: Wilson, North Carolina
At CORI, we have a saying: once you’ve seen one rural community, you’ve seen one rural community. America’s small towns are diverse and dynamic, and through our work with our Rural Innovation Network, we have the privilege of working in depth with 18 communities building digital economy ecosystems. To highlight these incredible places, Siegel Family…
Read MoreThe Rural Edge: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Innovation and tech entrepreneurship can happen anywhere—and Cape Girardeau is proof that rural places are part of that equation.
Read MoreThe Rural Edge: A Mental Health Startup In The Time Of COVID
Hudenko and Voi chose to focus on suicide, a life-or-death issue in behavioral health without many tech-based solutions to address it. Using Hudenko’s expertise and collaborating with researchers at the University of Vermont, Voi built powerful technology around two product lines: Voi Reach and Voi Detect.
Read MoreRural America Is Not A Monolith
But changing the narrative for its own sake isn’t good enough; the major goal must be to inspire action that addresses the structural inequities rural communities of color face. There must also be resources and policies directed towards their specific challenges.
Read MoreThe Rural Edge: Small Town, Wide Network
Often, as rural people, we underestimate our talent, or have imposter syndrome. We think there’s not a space for a rural entrepreneur or a small business, or no opportunity to scale. But when we’re persistent, when we actively build a community of people who can help strengthen and grow and fine tune a brand, we can succeed, it may take time, but I do believe it is possible.
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