This Week in 757 (Happenings) Jul 11, 2025

FOUNDERS

Where Are They Now: Catching Up with Startup World Cup Finalists

Now, nearly a year later, several of those standout companies have gone on to raise capital, expand their reach, and bring new products to life. Here’s a look at where three of them are today—and why you’ll want to be in the room on August 21 at the Sandler Center for this year’s Startup World Cup Virginia Regional Finals. Read More ➜

757 Collab’s Defense Technology Accelerator Launches in Hampton Roads

For Innovate Hampton Roads’ audience, this is your chance to join a thriving ecosystem where innovation meets opportunity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a supporter of local commerce, the Retail Catalyst is shaping a future where Hampton Roads’ retail scene shines brighter than ever. Read More ➜

LOCAL HEADLINES

Light Up Your Brand: Join the 39th Annual Grand Illumination Parade’s “Winter’s Glow” in Norfolk

For Hampton Roads entrepreneurs, this parade is a golden opportunity to showcase your ingenuity. Whether you’re a startup crafting a dazzling float to highlight your brand or a creative agency designing a motorized display, participating in the parade puts you in front of a massive, engaged audience. Read More ➜

Ignite Your Retail Dreams: Hampton Roads Retail Catalyst Launches to Fuel Small Business Success

For Innovate Hampton Roads’ audience, this is your chance to join a thriving ecosystem where innovation meets opportunity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a supporter of local commerce, the Retail Catalyst is shaping a future where Hampton Roads’ retail scene shines brighter than ever. Read More ➜

ivWatch’s Game-Changing IV Safety Tech Scores Major Win for Hampton Roads and Global Healthcare

For Hampton Roads, ivWatch’s success is our success. It proves our region can nurture startups that solve global problems, attracting talent, investment, and prestige…Its FDA-cleared and CE-marked SmartTouch Sensor uses advanced light-based monitoring to catch IV leaks in real time, preventing severe complications like scarring, nerve damage, or worse. Read More ➜

From Pitches to Profits: Mastering Sales and Customer Connections

In a dynamic workshop hosted by REaKTOR, and led by Amber Hamilton and Sara Brown of Redwood Rise, founders got a crash course in turning interest into income…Attendees learned how to build a sales pipeline using just three things: their network, their calendar, and their curiosity. Whether through former coworkers, casual LinkedIn connections, or warm intros, the workshop emphasized that your first ten customers are usually people you already know—or are just one connection away from. Read More ➜

FERVENT FOUR
A Global Look at Healthcare, AI, and the Future of Work
https://youtu.be/byo8DUqwgmw

Major Takeaways

• The United States faces a critical nursing shortage projected to reach up to a million nurses by 2030 due to retiring baby boomers and an overburdened education system.

• International nurses from countries like The Philippines, India, Nigeria, and Ghana, who are often already trained in U.S. standards and English, represent a significant untapped resource to mitigate the nursing shortfall.

• Sponsoring international nurses can provide a more stable and long-term solution for healthcare facilities compared to domestic hires, who often have higher turnover rates due to better offers or work-life balance issues.

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