The HIVE - VB Business Resource Center

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Get your company on the path to success.

The HIVE is a business resource center designed to support an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Virginia Beach. The HIVE offers mentorship, networking, and a variety of fundamental resources to those who need them.

Our Mission

The HIVE is a business resource center designed to promote an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Virginia Beach. The HIVE is committed to serving small businesses, particularly those that are in socially and economically disadvantaged communities.

Purpose

The HIVE’s objective is to accelerate, establish, and showcase innovation and startups by translating insights into actionable strategies, rethinking the customer experience, improving operational experience and efficiency as well as testing new business models through the use of technology.

The HIVE is the result of a successful collaboration among the City of Virginia Beach, academic institutions, other cities in the metropolitan area, Small Business Associations, and other entrepreneurial-related organizations in Virginia Beach and beyond.

The HIVE focuses on offering its community the opportunity to grow and scale early-stage businesses by acting as a knowledge hub, providing useful resources, and connecting like-minded individuals in the City and the region to help businesses flourish.

We strive to serve as a hub of knowledge for small businesses in Virginia Beach. We look forward to solidifying the foundations of any business that wants our help.

What

The HIVE offers individualized consulting, training programs, seminars, procurement assistance, capital formation, mentorship, networking, and a variety of fundamental resources to start-ups and established small businesses within a cooperative network of government agencies, educational institutions, private sector and community organizations.

Where

The HIVE is located in the Town Center of Virginia Beach, in the heart of the City’s Central Business District, where some of the region’s most prominent businesses are headquartered. It is a convenient location to meet with mentors and get access to a variety of resources.

Who

The HIVE is reserved for the exclusive use of entrepreneurs and existing businesses that need on-site resources to help guide them to growth and success.

The HIVE is perfect for:

  • Companies in the infancy through maturity phase of their business
  • New entrants into the Virginia Beach business community
  • International businesses new to the U.S. and/or the City
  • Individuals looking to expand their skill set who can take advantage of continuing education opportunities offered at The HIVE
  • Existing businesses wanting to grow and expand
Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parking

Download directions.

At The HIVE, We Can Help You With:

Business start upIndustry-related certifications
Business plan developmentGrant and loan application assistance
Guidance and connections for financing, marketing, and product developmentHiring, training and managing staff
City permitting and processesVocational education

Zoning-related questions

Basic skills (e.g., English, math)
Business licensingHard skills (e.g., welding, IT)
Government certificationsSoft skills (e.g., work ethic, attitude)


At The HIVE You'll Have Access to:

Success Is Bred From Collaboration

The HIVE focuses on offering its community the opportunity to grow and scale early-stage businesses by acting as a knowledge hub, providing useful resources, and connecting like-minded individuals in the City and the region to help businesses flourish.

We partnered with Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU), Tidewater Community College (TCC), Hampton Roads Workforce Council, and other agencies to provide resources for small businesses.

At The HIVE, you also get access to our network of organizations:

  • Virginia Beach SWaM business office (for small, women and minority-owned businesses)
  • Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity
    agency (SBSD)
  • Women's Business Center (WBC) at Old Dominion University (ODU)
  • Hampton Roads Workforce Council
  • Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center
  • Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC)
  • Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Entrepreneurship and Business Academy
  • Virginia PTAC
  • Urban League of Hampton Roads
  • Educational support at VWU and TCC
  • Legal partners: Poole Brooke Plumlee PC
  • Banking partners: Fulton Bank, Langley Federal Credit Union
  • Business Development Center at ODU
  • SCORE - Hampton Roads Chapter
  • Virginia Beach Public Library
  • Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

The HIVE: One-Stop Shop Free Counseling Services

It's not a sales pitch, and it's not an investor pitch.

1 Million Cups is a global initiative of the Kauffman Foundation (www.kauffman.org) to support, educate and promote local entrepreneurs. ​​​

The Virginia Beach chapter (known locally as "Shark Tank….Without the Bite") was launched in 2015 by the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development and the local entrepreneur community. Over the years, more than 1400 entrepreneurs and small business owners have attended the meetings. The VB HIVE (140 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA) is the new home for this event, which is held the third Wednesday at 9 a.m.. If you are a local business owner or startup 1 Million Cups is a great place to refine your presentation skills, apply to present today here.

For more information, contact Letitia Langaster, Business Development Manager, Virginia Beach Economic Development at (757) 385-6412 or visit this page.

For information on the Operation Hope program contact Theresa Tumber below:

Mondays and Wednesdays at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (By Appointment Only)
(757) 276-1469 // Theresa.tumber@operationhope.org

The SCORE offers free business counseling if you are considering starting a business.

By appointment; at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)

c.caton@scorevolunteer.org

The SWaM Business Office is dedicated to the growth and development of small, women, and minority-owned businesses, including service-disabled/veteran-owned businesses by providing resources and trainings to assist your business in obtaining contracts with the City of Virginia Beach.

For information on the SBSD program contact Angela Barber below:

Monday through Friday at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (By Appointment Only)
(757) 385-6585 // angela.barber@sbsd.virginia.gov

For information on the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Virginia PTAC) program contact Daryl Corley below:

Wednesdays at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (By Appointment Only)
(540) 538-1959 // dcorley@gmu.edu

For information on the Hampton Roads Workforce Council contact Deborah "DeDe" Bailey below:

Monday through Friday at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)
By Appointment Only
(757) 629-4695 // dbailey@theworkforcecouncil.org

For information on the Virginia Beach Public Library contact Dorothy Williams below:

Wednesdays, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at The HIVE (140 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach)
Walk-ins and by Appointment.

DMWillia@vbgov.com

Atlantic Union Bank

Wednesdays; 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

(By Appointment Only, RSVP here)

Contact Information

The HIVE

140 Independence Blvd.
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
(Virginia Beach Town Center at the corner of Independence Blvd. and Columbus St.)


Phone: (757) 385-2470 / Email: thehive@vbgov.com