Big Opportunities,
Bold Partnerships

Colleges and universities across Virginia purchase millions of dollars in goods and services each year, creating valuable opportunities for small businesses. Big Opportunities, Bold Partnerships is a free workshop series designed to help Virginia businesses better understand how to access and compete for those opportunities.

Presented in partnership by Radford University, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD), this six-part virtual series provides practical guidance on navigating Virginia’s eVA procurement system, finding contracting opportunities, marketing your business to institutional buyers, building relationships, and responding to bids and proposals.

Each workshop builds on the previous session, helping participants develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue higher education contracting opportunities more effectively.

The series concludes with an in-person Meet the Buyers event in November 2026, where attendees can network directly with procurement professionals from Radford University, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Community College System, and other colleges and universities. Whether you’re new to procurement or looking to expand your business development efforts, this series can help you make valuable connections and position your business for future success.