Last month, we hosted three founders from the first Optimist Ventures cohort to share their thoughts on what it means to build a business in Western North Carolina and how Optimist Ventures has supported them in their entrepreneurial journey. The founders emphasized the value of flexible capital, an intensive accelerator and ongoing structured support.
Jesse Dean from Asheville Tea Company shared the sobering reality of losing their manufacturing facility during Hurricane Helene as well as facing supply chain disruptions.
“We want to thrive in this economy,” Jesse said. “We want to thrive in this area. Investment and peer to peer support through Optimist Ventures was the perfect combination. It was exactly what we needed to get through that moment and to be able to get in that mindset again to look forward.”
Jesse noted that they’ve able to retain their team while fundraising, searching for a new facility and planning for growth.
Sarah Martin of Online Training Concepts spoke about navigating shifting nonprofit funding landscapes while developing a new learning management platform. “Optimist Ventures was the thing that allowed us to lean into that development and really start to realize that in earnest,” Sarah said.
Seth Eisman of Legally Addicted Foods noted the value of learning from and sharing experiences with other local entrepreneurs. “Being in a room with eight other entrepreneurs from the same area as you is incredibly valuable. We continue to talk all the time. We help each other. That’s an ongoing benefit from having participated in [Optimist Ventures] which will forever reap dividends.”
Sarah agreed, “We could really have some honest conversations about challenges and struggles with other founders who know what that’s like. Even if we’re in different industries, we could support each other through those kinds of moments and celebrate the wins because we know what it takes to get to a win like that. My confidence as an entrepreneur grew tremendously during the program.”
Optimist Ventures is Asheville’s venture-philanthropy fund and entrepreneurial accelerator. Powered by Venture Asheville, the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville Buncombe County and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Ventures is designed to help long-term ambitious growth ventures based in Western North Carolina succeed by offering start-up funding and education. The Optimist Ventures model blends venture philanthropy and private investment, providing founders with grants that reduce risk and capital that supports long-term scalability. The program’s approach is grounded in practical technology, sustainable growth and community-forward economic development.