Dale Fickett
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Profile
Dale Fickett is an Instructor of Entrepreneurship at the Robins School of Business, University of Richmond, a top 20 undergraduate business school. He is the lead organizer for Techstars Startup Weekend Richmond, a contributing author at Forbes, and provides policy guidance to the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. He also serves as an Independent Investment Advisor, and CEO & Founder of Open Trellis – a Fintech product to expand access to small business credit. This is an initiative of RVA Works, a Virginia public charity, that Fickett founded and where he serves as President. It provides educational and financial services to people facing social and economic barriers to business ownership.
He has lectured and conducted research on entrepreneurial finance, combinations of explainable AI and blockchain technologies, as well as developmental economics. His current work is focused on barriers to entrepreneurship, and the commercialization of small business credit for income mobility. Previously, he served on board appointments at the Virginia Catholic Conference, and for Virginia's Secretary of Commerce & Trade. He has founded multiple ventures, and served as a strategy consultant for Accenture's European Financial Services practice. He holds a B.S.B.A. cum laude from LaSalle University, and an M.B.A. magna cum laude from Villanova University. His passion is being a father and his missionary work supporting rural Haiti.
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Grants and Fellowships
U.S. Senate Entrepreneurship Research-to-Policy Ambassador, 2023 – 2024
Community Engaged Research, Kauffman Foundation, 2022
Impact Initiative, Capital One, 2014 – 2022
Thrive Grant, United Way, 2015
Building Entrepreneurial Economies, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, 2014
Graduate Research Assistantship, Villanova University, 2002 – 2003
Community Engaged Research, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2022
Impact Initiative, Capital One, 2014 – 2022
Thrive Grant, United Way, 2015
Building Entrepreneurial Economies, Virginia DHCD, 2014
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Awards
Faith & Service to the Small Business Community Award, 2024
Terry Weisenberger Service Award, University of Richmond, 2023
Techstars Startup Weekend Winner, Dublin, Ireland, 2023
Exemplary Service Award, Catholic Diocese of Richmond, 2021
Social Entrepreneur Scholarship - Scaling Nonprofit, Social Capital Markets 2020
Governor's Housing Conference Speaker, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, 2018
GrowInclusive Venture, World Bank & World Economic Forum 2015
Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, 2014
Ambassador of Peace, Universal Peace Federation 2013
Net Impact Leader in Action Award, 2004
Finance Department, Academic Excellence Award (4.0), LaSalle University, 1997
Eagle Scout with Silver Palms, Boy Scouts of America, 1988
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Presentations
Harper-Anderson, E., Fickett, D., & Lambert, J. (2024). The Impact of Mental Health and Well-being Barriers on Entrepreneurial Goal Attainment [Conference Session]. Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Fall Research Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. https://www.appam.org/conference-events/fall-research-conference/2024appam/
Sachan, S., Dezem, V., Fickett, D. (2024). Blockchain for Ethical and Transparent Generative AI Utilization by Banking and Finance Lawyers. In: Longo, L., Lapuschkin, S., Seifert, C. (eds) Explainable Artificial Intelligence. xAI 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2155. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-63800-8_16
Sachan, S. Fickett, D., et al. (2023). A Blockchain Framework in Compliance with Data Protection Law to Manage and Integrate Human Knowledge by Fuzzy Cognitive Maps: Small Business Loans. (2023, May 1). IEEE International Conference on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10174925
Fickett, D. (2022) Entrepreneurship in a Post Pandemic Environment, Main Street America Conference. Richmond, VA.
Fickett, D. (2018) Governor's Housing Conference Speaker, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development. Richmond, VA.
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Professional Experience
Founder & President (2016 - present)
RVA Works Enterprise SupportExecutive Director (2013 - 2016)
Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond, VirginiaInternational Entrepreneurship Researcher (2009 - 2013)
Trinity College DublinManaging Consultant - Banking Strategy (2006 - 2009)
Accenture EMEA
Instructor - New Venture Execution (2005 - 2006)
The Wharton School SBDC, University of PennsylvaniaFounder & President (2003 - 2006)
D’Lectables (chocolatier)Graduate Research Assistant (2002 - 2003)
Villanova UniversityBusiness Analyst / Project Manager (1999 - 2002)
Andersen ConsultingInstructor (2005 - 2006)
New Venture Execution at the Wharton Small Business Development Center, University of PennsylvaniaFounder & President (2003 - 2006)
D'Lectables (chocolatier)Project Manager & Analyst (2000 - 2002)
Andersen Consulting -
Certifications
Series 65 Licensed, Independent Advisor Representative, FINRA
Virginia Life, Annuities & Health Insurance Licensed
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Grants and Fellowships
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Publications
Journal Articles
Fickett, D. (2025, August 21). Council Post: Small businesses and critical supply chains. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2025/08/21/small-businesses-and-critical-supply-chains/
Fickett, D. (2025, May 6). U.S. Senate Factsheet: Small Business & Supply Chain Resilience.
Fickett, D. (2025, April 17). Council Post: Exploring AI’s dual impact on the energy sector. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2025/04/17/exploring-ais-dual-impact-on-the-energy-sector/
Fickett, D. (2025, February 18). U.S. Senate Factsheet: Energy & Artificial Intelligence.
Fickett, D., & Hodge, M. (2025, January 15). Delivering on the Promise of More Diverse Startup Weekends and the Benefits of an Inclusive Founder Community. Techstars Blog. https://www.techstars.com/blog/pov/delivering-on-the-promise-of-more-diverse-startup-weekends-and-the-benefits
Fickett, D. (2024, August 7). Council Post: Tackling Wicked Problems: A new approach to Business leadership. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/08/07/tackling-wicked-problems-a-new-approach-to-business-leadership/
Fickett, D. (2024, May 18). U.S. Senate Factsheet: How Entrepreneurs Find Resources.
Fickett, D. (2024, March 15). Council Post: Innovation-Led Industrial Policy for US Manufacturing. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/03/15/innovation-led-industrial-policy-for-us-manufacturing/
King, K. and Fickett, D. (2024, March 1). U.S. Senate Factsheet: Supporting Micro and Small Business Entrepreneurship.
Fickett, D. (2023, November 8). Council Post: Preparing for a Potential Slowdown. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/11/08/preparing-for-a-potential-slowdown/
Fickett, D. (2023, September 1). Council Post: AI Presents New Business Opportunities. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/09/01/ai-presents-new-business-opportunities/
Fickett, D. (2023, July 14). Council Post: How Enterprise Development Can Help Heal America’s Divisions. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/07/14/how-enterprise-development-can-help-heal-americas-divisions/
Fickett, D. (2023, June 15).Hot Small Business Trends Today’s Leaders Are Watching. (submitted #1 of 20 “Blockchain Enhancements and XAI”) Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/06/15/20-hot-small-business-trends-todays-leaders-are-watching/Fickett, D. and Rumi, S. (2022) American Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development: A Framework for Conceptualizing the Social Impact of Innovation.[Conference Session]. USC Marshall School of Business, Social Entrepreneurship Conference. Los Angeles, CA. https://www.imd.org/event/2024-04-18/imd-social-entrepreneurship-conference/
Mulloth, B. et al.(2021, Nov. 23) Challenges to measuring social value creation through social impact assessments: the case of RVA Works.[Acknowledgement]. Journal of Small Business & Enterprise Development. https://batten.virginia.edu/challenges-measuring-social-value-creation-through-social-impact-assessments-case-rva-works
Mulloth, B. and Fickett, D. (2021) RVA Works: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Big ChangeSAGE Publications: SAGE Business Cases Originals. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529752465
Fickett, D. (2022, May 16) Entrepreneurship in a Post-COVID Environment [Conference Session] Virginia Main Street. Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development.
Fickett, D. (2020, Nov 11) Digital Availability, Affordability & Accessibility[Conference Session]. Governor’s Housing Conference. Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development.
Fickett, D. (2020, April 27) Small Business Relief in the COVID Economy.LinkedIn Blog. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/small-business-relief-covid-economy-dale-fickett/
Fickett, D. (2020, April 13) Coronavirus: Economic Impact for Small Business.LinkedIn Blog. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/coronavirus-economic-impact-small-business-dale-fickett/
Fickett, D. (2020, March 29) Running Out of Cash?LinkedIn Blog. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/running-out-cash-dale-fickett/
Fickett, D. (2019, July 14) Patagonia: Leadership Lessons from South America. Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/patagonia-leadership-lessons-from-south-america-59df28d0f66e
Fickett, D. (2019, Feb. 4) Startup Inclusion – What’s In it for Me?Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/entrepreneur-inclusion-whats-in-it-for-me-9da892d3271a
Fickett, D. (2018, March) Toward a More Just Economic System. [Conference Session]. Conference of Major Superiors of Men. https://www.cmsm.org/
Fickett, D. (2018, March) Faith & Sustainable Economic. Development[Conference Sessions]. Conference of Major Superiors of Men. https://www.cmsm.org/
Fickett, D. (2017, Nov. 19) Problem – Sustainability, How Long Will This All Last?Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/problem-sustainability-how-long-will-this-all-last-c6501c738b0e
Fickett, D. (2017, Oct. 23) Poverty in Shades of Grey, Not Black & White.Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/problem-poverty-in-shades-of-grey-not-black-white-b39db24cfd3
Fickett, D. (2017, Oct. 5) Problem – Personal Income, Why Aren’t We Getting a raise?Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/problem-2-personal-income-why-arent-we-getting-a-raise-eade1f3ff378
Fickett, D. (2017, Sept. 19) What is our Economic Problem?Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/what-is-our-economic-problem-5a79870aeecd
Fickett, D. (2017, Sept. 15) What is the Good Economy? Medium. https://medium.com/@dalefickett/what-is-the-good-economy-5ec5a575f41d
Fickett, D. (2016, May 2) Convening & Catalyzing Entrepreneurs 2.0. RVA Works Enterprise Support.
Fickett, D. (2014) Horizon 2020 – A Top Startup Community[Presentation]. Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond.
Fickett, D. (2014) Differentiating Our Startup Ecosystem[Whitepaper]. Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond.
Fickett, D. (2014) Startups & Entrepreneurship[Chapter]. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Richmond Regional Planning Development Commission. https://hdp-us-prod-app-planrva-engage-files.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/2717/3645/0573/CEDS_2014_Update_LR.pdf
Fickett, D. (2013) Transforming Advantech: New Business Incubation in Richmond. [Presentation] Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond.
Brennan, M. L. and Fickett, D. (2011).Developmental Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa - Assessing financial and social returns. Institute for International Integration Studies, Trinity College Dublin. https://ideas.repec.org/p/iis/dispap/iiisdp386.html