ASHEVILLE - Nearly two months after Hurricane Helene decimated Western North Carolina, the Asheville business community is still reeling. With physical spaces flooded or washed away, valuable equipment damaged, and millions in revenue lost, many regional companies are seeking resources to help rebuild. In a bold move to define entrepreneurship and rebuild the business ecosystem in Western North Carolina, Venture Asheville will host a high-energy live telethon aimed at raising $1 million in community-driven capital for established Buncombe-County brands heavily impacted by the storm. 

Traditionally, Venture Asheville, a high-growth entrepreneurial initiative formed by the economic development coalition for Asheville-Buncombe county and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, would celebrate the 15 highest-growth regional companies of the year at the annual Venture 15 Awards and Venture Asheville Honors. This year, the needs have changed. 

In a dynamic reimagining of its annual celebration, Optimist Ventures and Venture Asheville will host a vibrant telethon on December 11th, featuring a performance from nationally award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers, a variety of live music acts from bluegrass to hip-hop, comedy, tarot card readings, and inspiring interviews with leading entrepreneurs deeply affected by Hurricane Helene. Hosted live on Facebook and in person, the telethon invites the greater community to participate in raising $1 million in mixed funding for Optimist Ventures, a groundbreaking community-first fund. 

“This telethon isn’t just a fundraiser,” said Jeffrey Kaplan, Executive Director of Venture Asheville. “It’s a night of inspiration, looking forward to how Asheville and Western North Carolina will reinvent itself in our new reality. Our community is rallying around a vision to rebuild and reimagine what business can mean here. It’s a variety show with heart—a chance for everyone to be part of something transformative.”

Unlike traditional venture capital, the Optimist Ventures Accelerator is structured to empower community-rooted companies with a hybrid financing model. Each selected company receives $50,000, half of which is a no-strings-attached grant, while the other half is a low-interest investment repaid over six years. This unique structure allows companies to secure the capital they need to grow and pivot in a post-Hurricane Helene landscape without the pressures of high interest rates or rapid exits.

“This fund isn’t about chasing unicorns,” added Kaplan. “Optimist Ventures is about nurturing businesses that are committed to the long-term resilience, job creation, and economic health of Western Carolina. We’re investing in ambitious companies that embody our community values and drive sustainable, meaningful growth.”

Join us for the Venture Asheville Community Rebuild Telethon on December 11 at the Orange Peel at 101 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville. The telethon event will also be live-streamed on Facebook, inviting community members from Asheville, across the state, and beyond to join in the celebration and be part of this historic moment for Western North Carolina’s business community.

For more information and to tune in to the event, visit Facebook.com/VentureAVL.