Seven small-business owners have the chance to pitch their companies during the Mighty Dream Forum.

757 Accelerate’s free annual community pitch event will be held at the Granby Theater from 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Evans McMillion, executive director of 757 Accelerate, said the event continues to get bigger each year. It connects startups and entrepreneurs with customers, investors and each other.

McMillion said the platform during Pharrell Williams’ Mighty Dream Forum enables 757 Accelerate to tell the success story of the founders and the program.

“This is the moment in which the community gets to see what its resources and community have attracted and built,” McMillion said. “The economic impact on the community from these organizations — jobs and revenue creation — is really the incredible story.”

All part of Hampton Roads’ growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, the participants are three-quarters of the way through the nonprofit accelerator’s 12-week intensive training and mentorship program that started Aug. 29.

Inside Business asked the startup founders: What’s been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned to date regarding starting your own business or being a business owner?

“Being a business owner requires a lot of patience, grit and conviction to be successful. There’s plenty of highs and lows. It’s really important to have the right people on your team that truly believe in the mission and the business that you’re working so hard to develop.” — Henry Ines of Chainparency, a tech company that provides global turnkey blockchain traceability for organizations.

“As an underrepresented founder, networking has been the key to our success so far. We do not have the network ties that many founders have and have to work more diligently to create a network that we can trust and rely on.” — Andre Peart and Daniel Justiniano of ConConnect, a professional networking platform for formerly incarcerated job seekers.

“Taking time to slow down and enjoy the journey. When you start a business, it is easy to work 80-plus hours a week and lose yourself in the ongoing to-do list.” — Megan Riggs and Kim Beachum of Crunchy Hydration, a line of sparking waters that promotes mindful hydration.

“I’ve learned that building a business takes immense resilience, never taking ‘no’ as an answer and finding a solution to every problem you face. I also realize that you don’t need the traditional background to build a great business — passion, humility and resilience gets you very far if you are coachable as a founder.” — Ashima Sharma of Dreami, which connects mentees to mentors.

“Pivot as early as possible. Make the product the best it can humanly be.” — Casey Grage of Hubly Surgical, which offers patent-pending medical drilling technology.

“I think the Navy SEAL maxim, ‘the only easy day was yesterday,’ perfectly sums up startup life.” — Mark Schacknies of NFTYDoor, a digital home equity lending platform.

“It takes a community to be successful. We feel incredibly fortunate to be based in the 757. The support we have received from our community has been truly humbling.” — Sean Worden and Katy Schuck of Reelist, which provides job seekers an inside look into companies through videos.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, [email protected]