A woman wearing glasses and formal attire speaking to an audience, with her right hand gesturing towards herself A woman wearing glasses and formal attire speaking to an audience, with her right hand gesturing towards herself
About IgniteWV

IgniteWV is hosted by the West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

IgniteWV is a competition open to all parties 18+ interested in registering a business in West Virginia to support the start and growth of their business ideas. The goal is to provide budding entrepreneurs with the education, skills, contacts, and motivation necessary to create a viable start-up company in West Virginia.

Unlike traditional pitch competitions, IgniteWV will offer a four-month program with specialized training, coaching, and resources. Finalists will receive cost-free support from subject matter experts. Coaching will be customized based on need. In collaboration with a local support organization, we will determine specialized training and make industry connections based on business concepts.

“Small” businesses make up 98.9% of the economy in West Virginia and 49.1% of West Virginia employees. Research shows assisting aspiring business owners to navigate through the start-up process successfully, creates a stronger local economy, a committed and more fulfilled workforce, and ultimately a more engaged community.

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Subheading: Fuel your business idea at any stage. Earn funding to start or grow your business in the Mountain State.

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