BDIS Community Impact Initiatives
More than a program, BDIS Community Impact brings the Summit into the community. Together with our partners, we’re creating projects that deliver real results and lasting value.
Focus Now
High schools across the Richmond region
Focus Now is a forward-looking youth initiative designed for 9th and 10th-grade students, bringing Summit voices directly into classrooms across the Richmond region. Through curated sessions and real conversations with industry leaders, students gain early exposure to innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technology, along with insight into the skills, mindset, and opportunities shaping the future of work.
As part of the program, more than 50 speakers share a consistent message on the importance of preparation and starting early, whether a student’s path leads to the trades, athletics, medical, legal, or other academic fields. Focus Now meets young people where they are, encouraging them to expand their perspectives and see what’s possible now by starting early.
To learn more or volunteer, contact us here.
BDIS + EnergyShare®
In Partnership with Dominion Energy
As part of the Summit, BDIS and EnergyShare® bring community impact to life through home weatherization projects. This year, in partnership with Henrico County, Dominion Energy employees and BDIS stakeholders will come together to deliver insulation, sealing, and energy-efficiency improvements that enhance comfort, lower energy costs, and create lasting benefits for the homeowner.
More than a project, this effort tells a story. From the homeowner’s experience to the transformation itself, highlights of this initiative will be captured and shared during the Summit, connecting the ideas on stage to real, tangible impact in the community.
BDIS Student Fellows Program
In Partnership with Area Universities
The BDIS Student Fellows Program connects students from partner universities to the Summit as active contributors, not just attendees. Fellows are embedded across all three days of programming, working alongside the speakers, founders, investors, and executives who make up the Big Dipper community. Through roles in session support, speaker assistance, and content capture, students gain firsthand experience inside one of the region's most dynamic professional gatherings.
The Fellows Program is also a gateway to what comes next. A select number of fellows will be considered for year-round internship opportunities working across event production, communications, partnerships, digital content, and administration. For students ready to step into the professional ecosystem, this is where that journey begins.
To learn more or bring the Fellows Program to your institution, contact us here.
