The Creative Coast is all about entrepreneurship, community and collaborative learning, so bringing the Kauffman Foundation’s 1 Million Cups program to Savannah is an ideal way for us to kick off the new year.
Beginning next Wednesday and every Wednesday morning throughout 2015, the public is invited to join us from 9-10 a.m. at the Creators’ Foundry to embrace this unique educational program for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. A free cup of PERC-donated coffee, plenty of parking and, most importantly, great conversation awaits you.
The 1 Million Cups format is simple, yet proven: Two entrepreneurs present, in six-minute blocks, their ideas, motivation and struggles to an intimate group of caring supporters who then engage the presenters in a 20-minute question-and-answer period.
The whole thing is volunteer driven, and just meeting the other local 1MC organizers has been half the fun.
Jill Cheeks is a motivational coach who recently relocated to Savannah from Brunswick; Ugochukwu “Francis” Obechukwu is an engineer and mobile app developer from Nigeria, and Murray Wilson of TPS Consulting is a technology and entertainment industry wizard who has embraced Savannah for decades yet still holds on to some hints of his British accent and vocabulary.
Kait Lance graduated from Armstrong just this month and launches her business career as the Entrepreneurship Evangelist at the Creators’ Foundry.
Applications have been coming in throughout the fall, so January’s lineup is sure not to disappoint. Since the Kauffman Foundation is all about education, entrepreneurs are learning at every stage. The application process, the coaching and the required Kauffman Founders School videos are all part of the learning.
In addition, every startup that presents will gain incredible exposure because each presenter’s logo and company information is linked to the nationally recognized 1 Million Cups website.
While The Creative Coast focuses on helping connect coastal area entrepreneurs, a unique strength of the 1MC program is the opportunity for participants to network nationally with other entrepreneurs and startup communities connected to the Kauffman Foundation.
Savannah’s 1 Million Cups participants can present at 56 other 1MC cities nationwide and gain access to different audiences with different feedback and insights. Conversely, Savannah is eager to host entrepreneurs from far and wide as they search for broader feedback and insights on their own projects.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, we’ll kick off our first 1 Million Cups event with two exciting presenters. Local inventor Ian Nott of Aetho will demonstrate a video stabilization device that’s ready to revolutionize home video with professional level filmography, and social media entrepreneur Justin Sacks of StartupPoint will explain his concept for building crowd-sourced ecosystems for startups.
Interesting note: Justin is a veteran 1 Million Cups presenter and undoubtedly has some interesting lessons learned to share.
If you believe entrepreneurship holds the key for America and Savannah’s future jobs, then mark your calendars for every Wednesday in 2015 and join us at the Creators’ Foundry for 1 Million Cups. Bring your positive energy and your words of encouragement.
Come to listen, learn, teach and be a part of something big.
Your participation may help one entrepreneur achieve his or her dreams.
Bea Wray is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Wray can be reached at 912-447-8457 or bea@thecreativecoast.org.