Shenandoah Community Capital Fund’s 4th Startup Shenandoah Valley (S2V) cohort is made up of eight technology or tech-enabled businesses across the Shenandoah Valley. We sat down with each of our participants to get to know more about them as entrepreneurs, and why they choose to participate in the S2V program.
Our first S2V spotlight highlights A.D. Carter. Carter is the founder of Retail VR LLC based in Strasburg, Virginia. Retail VR translates a physical business into the digital world by using 360-degree imaging technology. Each virtual reality model includes clickable rooms to help visitors navigate your business, replicating an in-store experience. Learn more about Retail VR here.
Carter is among the 4th S2V cohort, and was inspired to apply for the S2V program after seeing the results of the previous cohort participants, “I knew that I wanted to be in a network surrounded by like-minded individuals.” He hopes this comradery amongst entrepreneurs will push him and his business beyond, what he calls, his “self-imposed barriers,” while also keeping him accountable for his proposed actions. He is excited to join this tech-focused cohort because he says, “The thought of working with others striving to build, create, and achieve is like having turbocharged training wheels while learning to grow.”
We also asked A.D. Carter a few questions about life as an entrepreneur in Strasburg:
What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
The freedom and the challenge of writing my own story, where the potential is only bound by my creativity.
Fun fact about you?
I used to live in Japan while serving in the military, I read, wrote, and spoke Japanese for a long while, now I can barely get by with the language.
What is your favorite restaurant/coffee shop in your town?
Hands down Box Office Brewery and Nancy’s Coffee Bar are my go-to spots. These are both in the same building and the staff is amazing!