757 BLD for Sponsors > A Program of 757 Collab

Help turn promising people and real problems into startup momentum.

BLD is 757 Collab’s venture-building program.

By supporting BLD, sponsors and ecosystem partners help activate founder talent, form teams, create new ventures, and strengthen the regional startup pipeline in Hampton Roads.

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757 Accelerate

Why BLD Matters

Early ventures need more than ideas. They need structure, talent, support, and momentum.

BLD creates the environment where technical builders, business-minded founders, and ecosystem partners can come together around real problems and begin building solutions.

Support for BLD helps turn entrepreneurial energy into visible outcomes: teams formed, solutions built, startups created, and talent activated.

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The Approach

What Your Support Enables


Supporting BLD helps make venture-building more accessible, practical, and connected.

Founder activation
Builder pipeline creation

Technical talent engagement

Venture formation

Startup momentum in Hampton Roads

Mentorship and ecosystem connection

Prize funding and participant support

Stronger pathways into the broader 757 Collab ecosystem

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Why Sponsors Get Involved

Brand visibility tied to a credible venture-building program
Access to founders, builders, and early-stage ventures

A meaningful role in regional startup development

Alignment with innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development

A visible way to support technical talent and community-driven problem solving

This is not just event sponsorship. It is investment in the people and ideas that can shape the future of the region.

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Awarded at the Last BLD WKND
Mentorship at 757 Accelerate
Microsoft Programming at 757 BLD WKND
757 Accelerate Pitch Event Katy Schuck Reelist
Final Pitch at 757 BLD WKND
Katy Schuck, Co-Founder Reelist
Eddikson Peña AI Architect | AI Engineer

"BLD WKND stood out as a rare environment where builders, thinkers, and operators were all aligned around actually creating not just talking. It brought together a highly motivated group of people in Norfolk who are genuinely interested in pushing forward ideas, especially in areas like AI and emerging technology.

What made it valuable was the combination of energy and intent. It gave people an outlet to collaborate, experiment, and build alongside others who share the same drive to innovate. That kind of space is needed it accelerates ideas, creates real connections, and helps turn concepts into something tangible."

Katy Schuck, Co-Founder Reelist
Tim Masterson Principal Architect of Streaming for Paramount+ and Pluto

"Every time I do a build weekend I learn new things that I end up taking back to my day to day work. Also it’s a good chance make new friends with people who actually make things."

Katy Schuck, Co-Founder Reelist
Sarah Kirkland Senior Associate Vice President for Corporate Partnerships at Old Dominion University

"Partnering with 757 Collab on BLD WKND was a tremendous experience. Their team brings incredible energy, organization, and a true commitment to community-driven innovation.

At Old Dominion University, we are proud to support initiatives like this that inspire entrepreneurship, connect talent to opportunity, and help shape a stronger, more innovative future for our region."

"757 Collab connected us as founders, introduced us to mentors, provided structured programming that helped us refine our thoughts and focus our efforts."

Katy Schuck, Co-Founder, Reelist
Katy Schuck
 Co-Founder, Reelist

"The Collab helped us prepare our business for scale. We are truly ready for national expansion and were given a support system of mentors and resources to make it happen."

Megan Riggs, Founder, Crunchy Hydration
Megan Riggs Founder, Crunchy Hydration

757 Accelerate Startup Requirements:

At least one full-time founder on the team
Willing to travel to Norfolk VA for 2 weeks

Products are innovative and disruptive

Scalable solutions with high-growth potential

Help build the next wave of regional ventures.

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