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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Screen shot 2013-12-09 at 11.06.28 AMThe big Accelerating Appalachia Venture Forum will be held tonight at Highland Brewing, and it promises to be a an exciting event. Some of the region’s most exciting entrepreneurs will be pitching their ideas in hopes of landing funding. Tickets are $15. Here are the details.

Accelerating Appalachia’s 2013 crop of nature-based businesses are presenting their plans for the future on Monday, December 9. Everyone is invited to the big event at Highland Brewing Company, 5 – 8 p.m.

“Accelerating Appalachia is the US’s first nature-based business accelerator, focused on scaling high-impact, innovative businesses aligned with place, people, and prosperity in nature-based sectors like food & farming, clean energy, craft brewing, forest products, textiles, and nutraceuticals,” says founder, Sara Day Evans.

Evans adds, “It is important to support this growth of a diversity of sectors of nature-based innovations and businesses for a sustainable economy; regionally, nationally, and across the globe. Don’t miss this chance to hear some of our region’s most exciting entrepreneurs share their vision of the future and how you can engage.”

Accelerating Appalachia companies, chosen from more than 100 applicants, include:

Appalachian Botanical Alliance is an herb grower’s cooperative that supplies high quality Western and Chinese herbs to practitioners, distributors and manufacturers.

Bark House utilizes natural materials from sustainable forests, processing them minimally through hand crafting, and placing them in high design projects to bring innovative, high design to the marketplace with low impact on the environment. B-corp, Cradle to Cradle certified.

Carolina Ground is the only mill in the SE USA producing organic wheat, rye and barley flours, Carolina grown and milled.

Climate Alive is a climate forecasting and planning tool for business and industry, governments, farmers, broadcasters, planners, the energy industry and many more.

Echoview Fiber Mill is the first fiber mill built in NC in 40 years, only GOLD LEED certified mill in the US, and supports and provides living wage jobs for employees and manufacturers of natural fibers.

Gallolea Pizza Kits are the only organic, gluten-free, low sodium make-at-home pizza kit in the country.

Native Touch, based in Cherokee County, NC, is an indigenous, woman-owned, veteran-owned proprietary natural healing products for the body and skin. Laralyn Riverwind, owner of Native Touch, is a biologist, herbalist and holds a doctorate of naturopathy.

Riverbend Malt House is unique on the east coast as a processor and purveyor of barley, wheat, rye malts for brewing and distilling. Based Asheville, NC, voted Beer City USA three years running, and home to Sierra Nevada and New Belgium new east coast distributing facilities.

Smokin J’s Fiery Foods is the only grower of ghost peppers in US, and maker of proprietary base pepper paste sold wholesale nationally to salsa and hot sauce makers, while empowering organic agriculture.

Veterans to Farmers is working to provide American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with pride, education and fulfillment through a permanent source of sustainable income, community and contribution: The family farm.

For more information about Accelerating Appalachia businesses, visit Accelerating Appalachia.

The Venture Forum on Monday, December 9, from 5-8 p.m. will be emceed by Entremanureship, along with a bit of entertainment from Joel Schantz. Each ticket includes access to all company presentations, hors d’oeuvres, and two beverage tickets. Highland Brewing Company is located at 12 Old Charlotte Highway in Asheville.

Reserve your tickets now.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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