As the host of the Slice of Mentorship podcast and founder of Traction5, I’m excited to share the story of Hannah Horne and her remarkable work with the Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) at the Gravity Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Hannah’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship and community-driven entrepreneurship.
Hannah Horne, the Executive Officer of the Gravity Center, has an inspiring background that led her to her current role. After 18 years as a news anchor, she pursued an MBA and fell in love with the small business story during her grad school experience. She went on to lead small business initiatives at the Hilton Head Bluffton Chamber of Commerce before joining the Gravity Center a year and a half ago to launch it as a hub for entrepreneurship in Rock Hill.
The Gravity Center, established as a public-private partnership, stands out due to its entrepreneur-led approach. The center is the result of a collaboration between 10 local entrepreneurs and the city of Rock Hill, which recognized the importance of supporting small businesses in its economic development strategy. This partnership has allowed the center to scale its efforts and aim for financial sustainability.
The VMS program, which the Gravity Center oversees, is modeled after MIT’s venture mentoring service. It adopts a team-based mentoring approach, differentiating it from other programs like SCORE. The Rock Hill VMS program, initially launched in 2016, faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but has been revitalized under Hannah’s leadership. Through the use of Traction5 software, the program has been re-energized, empowering both mentors and ventures.
Hannah emphasizes the importance of selecting the right ventures for the VMS program. The program targets businesses with a well-developed business idea and product-market fit. While it is open to ventures at various stages, it ensures that they are ready for the intense, team-based mentoring that VMS provides. The selection process involves an initial assessment and an interview with lead mentors, who determine the venture’s readiness for the program.
Mentors are the backbone of the VMS program, and their dedication is driven by a genuine desire to give back and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The program continually seeks to grow its mentor pool, ensuring diversity and inclusion. Mentors undergo a competitive process, including interviews and background checks, to ensure they align with the program’s principles and are motivated by pure intentions.
Building trust with both mentors and founders has been crucial to the program’s success. Hannah highlights the importance of one-on-one meetings, in-person interactions, and consistent communication. Transparency and honesty have been key in navigating the program’s challenges and rebuilding trust after the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Office hours have been introduced as an additional resource for ventures, providing access to professional services such as legal, accounting, and HR advice. These sessions complement the team-based mentoring by offering targeted, specialized consultations. Unlike mentors, office hours advisors are active professionals who can take on clients, making it a valuable business development opportunity for them.
Looking to the future, Hannah is excited about deploying the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile (EMP) to better understand and support the mindset of entrepreneurs in the VMS program. She also plans to introduce targeted early-stage development programs to help ventures prepare for VMS. These initiatives aim to ensure that every entrepreneur, regardless of their stage in the journey, has access to the resources they need to succeed.
Hannah’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and community spirit. Under her leadership, the Gravity Center and the VMS program are not just supporting entrepreneurs—they are transforming Rock Hill into a vibrant hub of entrepreneurial activity.
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