Asheville Entrepreneurship Week 2026

Encouraging our citizens to celebrate the remarkable and everyday successes of our entrepreneurs and innovators

#AEW26 Calendar

Monday 8/31
  • The Morning read
    • 9:00–10:00 AM | Seven Acres, 105 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 | Free
    • With Amanda Bell, PhD, Thrive Strategy Lab. Hosted by Seven Acres. Sponsored by Aktiga.
    • Signup Link
    • A working session on the numbers that actually run a business: what it really earns, which part of it is quietly paying for everything, and how many sales it takes before any of it is profit. Real numbers from real books, read out loud — like reading tea leaves, except it’s math. Come if you love this stuff, come especially if you don’t. For owners, buyers, and the people who advise them. No accounting background required.
Tuesday 9/01
  • 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | Mountain View Room, Sherrill Center, UNC Asheville
    • Venture Asheville Innovation Summit: Economic Trends & Inflection Points
    • Presented by Baird Private Wealth Management
    • Founders, investors, and business leaders gather for candid conversations on the economy, M&A, capital strategies, and the founder-to-operator transition, followed by a rooftop reception.
    • Get Tickets
  • Accounting for Non-Accountants BootCamp
  • Fractional Executives Connect — Asheville Entrepreneurship Week
    • 4:00 PM to 6:00, White Labs Kitchen & Tap, 172 South Charlotte Street · Asheville, NC
    • Asheville Entrepreneurship Week is back, and we’re carving out a room built specifically for people already doing the work: active fractional executives with real, current clients.
    • Who this is for: Active fractional executives currently serving one or more clients, Fractional COOs, CFOs, CMOs, CHROs, CTOs, CROs, and beyond.
    • Free – Registration Link
Wednesday 9/02
  • 9:00 AM @ Hatch – 1 Million Cups
  • Wednesday 9/2 10-11 AM at Hatch
    • Beyond the Startup: New Paths to Business Ownership
    • What if the next business you own is one that already exists? Join Mountain BizWorks, NCEOC, and The Industrial Commons for a conversation about entrepreneurship through acquisition, business ownership transitions, employee ownership, cooperatives, and other ways to keep local businesses locally owned. Explore new pathways to buying, selling, and transitioning a business—and what it takes to make these models work.  
  • 5:30–8:00 PM @ Hatch Coworking Asheville – AI as Your Velocity Engine:
    • Entrepreneur Week Edition. Hands-on AI workshop hosted by AVL Digital Nomads. Free, no coding required. RSVP
Thursday 9/03
  • C.A.S.T.L.E at the Castle Growing Beyond Yourself: A Practical Expansion Workshop
    • Wednesday, September 3rd, 2026 9:00 – 9:30 AM — Networking & settle in 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Interactive Workshop
    • Location: 19 Zillicoa St, Asheville, NC Investment: $40 per person Seats: Limited to 15 participants
      • Date: September 3rd, 2026
      • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (networking starts at 9:00, workshop runs 9:30–12:00)
      • Where: 19 Zillicoa St, Asheville, NC – Group Room on the 3rd floor
      • Cost: $40 per person
      • Capacity: 15 people — kept small so every business gets real attentionThe details
      • Seats are limited to 15 so the group stays hands-on. Reserve your spot below.
      • More Info: https://www.thesolutionsherpa.com/events
      • [Register Now — $40]
  • Celebrating Asheville Entrepreneurship Week
    • 6:00–9:00 PM | Visuals Rooftop Bar
    •  A rooftop celebration hosted by AVL Digital Nomads and Venture Asheville. Drinks, conversation, and community networking — everyone welcome.
    •  RSVP
Friday 9/04
  • Give Back and Connect: Pledge 1% Service Day
  • 3:30pm – 5:30pm EDT
    The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd. Ste 10
  • Join us for an afternoon of giving back, with time to network and connect. This event is part of Venture Asheville’s Entrepreneurship Week, celebrating the strength of our regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether you’re a Pledge 1% member, interested in business volunteer programs, or bringing along friends and family, this event is open to anyone who wants to make a difference and build connections along the way.
  • Registration Link
Bonus! Wednesday 9/23
  • Money, Margins, & Momentum on September 23rd, 20226
    • Do you know what your numbers are really telling you? 📊
    • Your financials can reveal opportunities, uncover challenges, and help you make more confident business decisions. 
    • Join us for Money, Margins & Momentum, a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to better understand your financials and turn your numbers into practical tools for growth. No accounting background is required.
    • 💲 $30 for 3 hours of great content, at WCU, Biltmore Park, Asheville, NC
    • Register now 🔗 sbtdc.org/events/money-margins-momentum
    • FB link: FB invite
2026