Center on Rural Innovation

We love seeing rural innovation get the recognition it deserves — and today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible work happening at BRIC (Black River Innovation Campus) in Springfield, Vermont. BRIC is showing what’s possible when rural communities have access to the digital skills, hands-on learning, and tech-powered opportunities that fuel the future. CORI is proud to partner with BRIC and thrilled to see their leadership highlighted. Their approach is expanding what’s possible not just for rural Vermont, but for rural communities everywhere. 👏 Congrats to the BRIC team on this well-deserved feature — and thank you for showing the country what rural innovation looks like. Read the full piece here: https://ow.ly/Vum950XymGs #RuralInnovationNetwork #RuralInnovation #Vermont #TechForGood

For too long, the story about rural entrepreneurship has been told through a lens of scarcity. But the data tells a different story. In 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, CORI’s research shows that rural incubators are not struggling to find entrepreneurs — they’re helping them thrive. 📊 Only 10% of rural incubators surveyed cited attracting startups as their biggest challenge. That means the talent, ideas, and ambition are already here. What rural innovators need is sustained investment and support to keep growing. We must work together to ensure they have the resources and support to not just survive, but to truly thrive in the accelerating age of technology. 👉 Discover the full story, download your free copy of 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦: https://lnkd.in/ePBia27b #RuralInnovation #RuralIncubators #Entrepreneurs #FactVsFiction #RuralEquity #RuralAmerica #Funding

As AI reshapes the economy, rural America has a historic opportunity to lead. Grounded in research and partnerships with rural leaders, our new report, Bridging the Divide, lays out a model for rural communities to harness emerging technologies, grow local tech talent, and build inclusive ecosystems from the ground up. This free resource offers a comprehensive framework for building resilient, innovation-first economies in a rapidly changing tech landscape. Download the report: https://ow.ly/U35W50Xupkk #RuralInnovation #AI #RuralTech #EconomicDevelopment #RuralAmerica

𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 We are thrilled to announce that six communities have been chosen for the Heartland Rural Innovators Initiative, an 18-month program funded by the Patterson Family Foundation to support rural regions in Kansas and western Missouri as they grow their tech and innovation economies. After a highly competitive application process, we’re proud to welcome: 📍Allen County, KS (Thrive Allen County) 📍Cloud County, KS (CloudCorp) 📍Coffey County, KS (Coffey County Economic Development) 📍Crawford County, KS (Pittsburg State University) 📍Ellis County, KS (Fort Hays State University) 📍Vernon County, MO (Build Vernon County) Each community is represented by a committed team of local leaders working every day to expand opportunity and build a future where innovation thrives. Through this initiative, participants will receive a customized tech economy assessment, hands-on implementation and funding-readiness support, peer learning opportunities, and participation in a regional innovators summit. → Read the full announcement and learn more about the communities: https://lnkd.in/euhq6sY4 #RuralInnovation #RuralAmerica #EconomicDevelopment #TheFutureIsRural #News #Announcement #Heartland #Kansas #Missouri #HeartlandRuralInnovatorsInitiative

Rural founders are proving, once again, that innovation truly has no geographic boundaries. At this year’s Small Towns, Big Ideas pitch event, entrepreneurs from communities across the country took the stage with bold solutions in gaming, health tech, AI, and the creative economy. Their stories underscore what we see every day at CORI: when rural talent has access to opportunity, it rises. This year’s grand prize went to Authsnap Inc., an AI-powered platform that helps medical providers tackle insurance claim denials, enabling patients to receive the care they need faster. But every founder walked away with something invaluable—new relationships, new champions, and new pathways to scale in the small towns they call home. If you're ready for a dose of optimism about the future of rural innovation, dive into the full recap: 🔗 https://ow.ly/C0iM50XrMsb #RuralInnovation #Entrepreneurship #EconomicDevelopment #RuralAmerica #Founders #RuralStartups #TechEconomy #TechForEquity #PitchEvent #Investors #InvestInRural

Exciting opportunities to help shape the future of rural America! At CORI, we believe that rural places can lead in the innovation economy. Our team works hand-in-hand with communities across the country to develop rural tech ecosystems, expand tech jobs, support entrepreneurs, and create inclusive pathways to opportunity. We’re looking for passionate, mission-driven people to join us in this work: 💼 Director, Community Experience 💼 Director, Entrepreneurship 💼 Senior Program Manager, Tech Workforce 💼 Community Learning & Engagement Manager If you’re passionate about empowering communities, building inclusive ecosystems, and helping rural America thrive in the digital age, we’d love to hear from you. 👉 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/e7PdXCZu #hiring #careeropportunities #job #nonprofitjobs #JobsWithPurpose #remotework #remotejobs #jobseekers #joinourteam

𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠. In 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, CORI’s new report, we share what rural incubators are revealing about community, innovation, and opportunity — and how founders across the country are proving that big ideas can start anywhere. These programs are helping launch startups, upskill talent, and strengthen local economies — in places far from major tech hubs. And they’re not smaller copies of urban models. They’re something new. Something uniquely rural. 💡 “Rural incubators stand out by actively serving as vibrant community pillars… these incubators play an outsized role in bringing people, ideas, and resources together.” Download the report to explore how these incubators are fueling the next generation of rural innovation. 📘 Get your free copy of 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 → https://ow.ly/lOLX50XqtrN #Research #FreeReport #RuralAmerica #RuralIncubators #RuralInnovation #EconomicDevelopment #TheFutureIsRural #Entrepreneurship #BuiltForPlace

Exciting news from our friends at the Patterson Family Foundation! We are thrilled to hear about their new Patterson Fellows Program — an incredible opportunity for rural entrepreneurs in Kansas and northwest Missouri. This initiative will help high-impact founders build scalable companies that drive meaningful change and prosperity in rural communities — a mission we deeply share. Learn more or submit your interest: https://lnkd.in/g7QJkQgC

And the winner is… Authsnap Inc.! Congratulations to Gretchen Heinen, RN, PHN, BSN and the entire Authsnap team, from Marquette, Michigan, the winners of this year’s $10,000 Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Competition! Their AI-powered platform automates insurance denial appeals, cutting hospital admin time from hours to minutes and helping healthcare teams focus on what matters most: patient care. Let’s also celebrate all of this year’s incredible finalists — Capnesity, Inc. (St. Johnsbury, VT), Pathless Productions Ludare (Portsmouth, OH), RespexTech Inc. (Shenandoah Valley, VA), and WholeNote (Paducah, KY) — each bringing bold ideas and rural innovation to the national stage, proving that rural entrepreneurship is alive, thriving, and worth investing in. A huge thank-you to our judges, keynote speaker Bill Veghte, sponsors, and attendees who joined us in person and online, your enthusiasm and belief in rural entrepreneurship make this event possible. And a special thank-you to our partner, the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth, for hosting and collaborating with us to bring together founders, investors, and innovators for this incredible evening of connection and inspiration. Together, we’re proving that big ideas can start anywhere — and that innovation truly knows no zip code. Learn more about the event and this year’s finalists: https://lnkd.in/ecPrrGhz #SmallTownsBigIdeas #RuralInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Investment #TechStartups #PitchCompetition #CORI #MagnusonCenter #HanoverNH #RuralEntrepreneurs #InvestInRural #TheFutureIsRural #MarquetteMichigan

We’re thrilled to announce that Bill Veghte will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow's Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Event! Bill is a builder and transformer of software companies with more than three decades of leadership across every stage of growth — from founding startups to scaling global enterprises. As Founder and Managing Partner of Athene Partners, he works alongside CEOs and founding teams to turn ambitious ideas into scalable, enduring businesses. Throughout his career, Bill has helped shape products and organizations used by billions — leading Windows 7 at Microsoft, returning HP’s Enterprise Group to growth, and guiding high-impact outcomes like Turbonomic’s $2B acquisition by IBM and Venafi’s $1.15B sale to Thoma Bravo. 🎤 Hear Bill share insights on building and scaling great companies during the 5th Annual Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Event, presented by the Center on Rural Innovation in partnership with the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth. 📅 TOMORROW - Wednesday, November 5 | 5–7 p.m. ET 📍 Hanover Inn at Dartmouth College 🥂 Reception to follow (with complimentary snacks & open bar!) 👋 If you’re in the Hanover area, come join us in person 💻 Or tune in virtually via livestream It’s free to attend — register now: https://ow.ly/beJ250XmEJF #SmallTownsBigIdeas #RuralInnovation #Entrepreneurship #PitchEvent #TechStartups #RuralAmerica #HanoverNH #CORI #MagnusonCenter #AthenePartners #Dartmouth