Raising Rural

Raising Rural exists to expand the venture talent pipeline and seed the growth of early-stage, place-based investment funds in rural communities across the United States. We achieve this by delivering immersive, 12-month Venture Fellowship programs that equip emerging leaders with hands-on experience in venture capital and national networks, and by accelerating the capacity of economic developers to launch and manage community-based funds that fuel local entrepreneurship. Raising Rural envisions a future where every rural community has the talent, resources, and capital infrastructure to cultivate thriving startup ecosystems—unlocking innovation, shared prosperity, and generational wealth far beyond traditional investment hubs.