Iowa Startup Accelerator Sponsors Statewide Broadcast of 1 Million Cups
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Heather Stanley, Marketing and Communications Manager
319.221.1667 / heather.stanley@geonetric.com
To help Iowa build a stronger entrepreneur network, Iowa Startup Accelerator plans to sponsor and broadcast the popular 1 Million Cups program, making it available across the state.
Cedar Rapids, IA – November 6, 2013 — Iowa’s metro areas aren’t the only places entrepreneurship is taking root. It’s well known that the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Des Moines/Ames startup communities have made huge strides in the past few years, but entrepreneurship is also blooming in areas like Cedar Falls and Pella. In an effort to connect entrepreneurs and leverage current enthusiasm, the Iowa Startup Accelerator is announcing it will sponsor the popular 1 Million Cups (1MC) program, allowing it to be broadcast to other coworking spaces around the state.
“The startup culture is strong in many communities around Iowa, but for the most part they are operating independently,” says Eric Engelmann, founder of Iowa Startup Accelerator. “It’s time to pool our efforts.”
The 1MC program, started by the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, holds its event in Eastern Iowa on a rotating basis between the Vault Coworking and Collaboration Space in Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City CoLab. Each week, two local entrepreneurs get an opportunity to present a 6 minute educational presentation and engage in 20 minutes of feedback and questioning. Entrepreneurs gather real-time feedback and connect with a community that truly cares about their progress. The audience also learns a great deal from the presentations.
Sponsoring 1MC and setting up an infrastructure that will allow the program to be broadcast around the state will broaden the reach of 1MC and create a network of empowered and connected entrepreneurs.
“We don’t have the luxury in Iowa of each community going it alone, there’s not enough density,” says Engelmann. “We need to take advantage of the strengths of as many Iowa communities as we can, and share as much as we can. This will help us all grow together.”
Kris Fassler, operations director at Vault, the Cedar Rapids-based coworking organization that facilitates 1MC, agrees. “We’re excited to build off the success of 1MC and expand it to include entrepreneurs from around the state. In fact, we’d love to invite those entrepreneurs outside our immediate community to present at 1MC. It’s through these conversations and camaraderie that we can learn from one another and support one another.”
The Iowa Startup Accelerator expects to have 1MC ready to broadcast in January 2014. It will be broadcast over the Internet free of charge. Coworking spaces will be able to send questions for the entrepreneur that is presenting via Twitter.
To date, StartupCity Spencer (Spencer, IA), Purple Cat Cowork (Cedar Falls, IA) and Veel Hoeden (Pella, IA) have already signed up to join the live-stream broadcasts once they become available. Other Iowa communities are expected to follow suit.
To learn more about 1MC or get your area’s coworking space signed up to participate, contact Kris.
About Iowa Startup Accelerator
Iowa Startup Accelerator is Iowa’s first 90-day accelerator program for pre- and early-revenue startups. While the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Corridor currently has significant resources available to entrepreneurs, most are aimed at companies that have already proven themselves viable. This accelerator, which formed in 2013, attracts and cultivates early stage startups, helping to turn concepts into businesses ready for funding and scale. To learn more or get involved, visit www.iowastartupaccelerator.com.
About 1 Million Cups
1 Million Cups (1MC) is a simple way to engage entrepreneurs in communities around the world. Each week, the 1MC program offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs. Presenters prepare a 6 minute educational presentation and engage in 20 minutes of feedback and questioning. The Iowa City/Cedar Rapids 1MC program takes place every Wednesday morning from 9:00 – 10:00 on a rotating basis between Vault Coworking & Collaboration Space in Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City CoLab. Visithttps://www.facebook.com/1MCICR for more information.
About Vault
Vault is flexible and affordable professional shared office space for entrepreneurs, creatives, freelancers and startup companies, all wrapped in a collaborative, friendly and supportive community of like-minded people. Learn more at www.crvault.com and follow them at @CRVault.