Ask almost any successful business owner in the Chippewa Valley how they got where they are, and you’ll rarely hear a story about doing it alone.

Behind nearly every thriving local company is a network of mentors, lenders, investors, educators, fellow founders, and community members who showed up at the right moment. That network is the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and strengthening it is at the heart of what we do at CEDC.

An entrepreneurial ecosystem is the network of people, organizations, and resources that help businesses launch, grow, and succeed. It includes access to capital, mentorship, technical assistance, and training—plus the relationships that help founders keep moving forward when challenges arise.

Think of it like an orchard: a single tree can survive on its own, but a healthy orchard—with good soil, pollinators, and careful tending—produces fruit year after year. Entrepreneurs work the same way. Ideas take root faster and grow stronger when they are surrounded by a community invested in their success.

That is why CEDC works to increase support density throughout the Chippewa Valley. No matter where an entrepreneur is on their journey—from a napkin sketch to a scaling second-stage company—there should be someone nearby ready to help them take the next step.

When we invest in the ecosystem, we’re not just helping individual businesses succeed. We’re creating jobs, encouraging innovation, strengthening our communities, and building a stronger economic future for the Chippewa Valley.

Bringing the Ecosystem to Life

At CEDC, the pitch has never been the end goal. Traction is.

That’s why pitch experiences have become an important part of our Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention (BEAR) programming. While entrepreneurs may spend a few minutes on stage sharing their business, the real value begins long before they ever step up to the microphone.

The magic happens through the connections. Entrepreneurs prepare by refining their vision, meeting mentors, and engaging with resource partners. During the event, they receive honest feedback, expand their network, and introduce their business to people who can help move it forward. Afterward, the conversations continue—often leading to mentorship, strategic partnerships, new customers, investor introductions, and access to resources that create lasting momentum.

That’s what a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem looks like. It’s not built around a single presentation. It’s built through relationships, collaboration, and a community that is willing to invest its time, knowledge, and connections into helping entrepreneurs succeed.

While every entrepreneur’s journey is different, one thing remains consistent: the businesses that gain traction are the ones that build meaningful relationships.

BEAR at the Orchard: Connecting Ideas, Resources, and Opportunities

This same spirit is what inspired BEAR at the Orchard, happening Wednesday, August 12, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Dixon’s Apple Orchard in Cadott, Wisconsin.

This year’s event is designed to create a more interactive experience focused on connections, resources, and helping entrepreneurs take their next step. Dixon’s Apple Orchard provides a beautiful and welcoming setting for an evening focused on collaboration, new ideas, and meaningful conversations. We are grateful to Dixon’s for supporting CEDC and helping create a unique environment where our entrepreneurial community can come together.

A highlight of this year’s event is the addition of BEAR Ambassadors—representatives from several entrepreneurial ecosystem partners who will be available throughout the evening to share their expertise, offer guidance, highlight available services and resources, and help connect entrepreneurs with the support they need to move their ideas forward.

Attendees will have the opportunity to build relationships, learn about local resources, exchange ideas, and connect directly with people and organizations that can help turn ideas into action.

The evening will feature guided connecting, an open pitch experience where entrepreneurs can share their ideas and receive real-time audience feedback, and opportunities to engage with entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and community leaders—all while enjoying refreshments among the apple trees.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur with an idea to share, a business owner looking to build connections, a mentor or investor supporting local companies, or simply someone who wants to see our region thrive, BEAR at the Orchard is for you.

The goal isn’t simply to host another event. The goal is to create the connections, conversations, and momentum that help entrepreneurs move forward.

Every person in the room strengthens the ecosystem. Every conversation has the potential to create the next opportunity.

Join Us at BEAR at the Orchard

There are still a few open seats! Register today on Eventbrite or visit our event page for details—and be part of the Chippewa Valley’s growing entrepreneurial community.

For more information about CEDC and its entrepreneurship initiatives, visit chippewa-wi.com, email staff@chippewa-wi.com, or call (715) 723-7150.