1 Million Cups Phoenix Receives $5,000 ASU E+I Seed Funding Grant
PHOENIX, Ariz. — 1 Million Cups Phoenix (1MCPHX, @1MillionCupsPHX, #1MCPHX) will receive $5,000 in support from Arizona State University, a recent awardee of the Kauffman Foundation’s Kauffman Inclusion Challenge. With the funding, 1MCPHX will increase engagement with more women and minority entrepreneurs at its weekly events. 1MCPHX will execute focused marketing campaigns to reach women and minorities, and hold special events for women and minority entrepreneurs. They also will increase diversity of the 1MCPHX team of organizers.
Every Wednesday morning at Galvanize Phoenix, you can walk into the sounds of pouring coffee, background music and ambient conversation. These sounds compose a free weekly event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the growing peer network of founders in Phoenix. The hour-long journey includes Q&A with the audience and quality feedback for presenters, all spearheaded by a small group of volunteers dedicated to the #yesphx community.
Just a few miles north, on February 16, 2017, lead 1MCPHX organizers Darryl Keeton and Luke Miller joined in an ASU Entrepreneurship + Innovation (ASU E+I) workshop at 1951 @ Skysong, ASU’s new coworking space in Scottsdale. The workshop promoted the Kauffman-funded initiative to increase demographic inclusion in the entrepreneurship spectrum, and offered participants a chance to receive $5,000 in grant funding to target inclusion initiatives at increasing the number of female and minority entrepreneurs in the Valley’s startup community.
ASU E+I’s Susan Halverson, a frequent 1MCPHX attendee, “invited us to the workshop following discussions on how we plan to increase our inclusion in presenters and events,” Keeton said. “We’ve been looking to partner with ASU, which is a pivotal asset in our entrepreneurial community and endeavors.” ASU E+I serves as a connecting and collaborating resource for entrepreneurs at all stages across ASU and throughout the Valley of the Sun.
“Arizona is bursting at the seams with entrepreneurial activity. There are many talented people doing amazing things in this city. It’s going to be an honor to serve and represent more diverse groups by cultivating our community,” Miller said.
Kauffman Foundation’s Rachel Carlton and facilitator Tamara Christensen were present that day, sharing the benefits of inclusion in entrepreneurship and guiding participants through the discovery process. Keeton and Miller engaged with local entrepreneurs, some of whom are regular 1MC attendees. Thanks to these discussions, the 1MCPHX organizers were able to start identifying challenges and areas of improvement to increase inclusion by developing goal-oriented solutions to increase engagement of women and minority-owned businesses.
1 Million Cups is a free, national program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs. Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, 1MC is based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and network over a million cups of coffee. Weekly events are free for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the thriving peer network of founders in Phoenix. The coffee is highly encouraged.
We have an amazing team of organizers who love meeting new people and helping everyone in the community in any way possible. If you are interested in connecting with our team, sponsoring events, presenting, or joining us for a cup of joe, please connect with one of us today!
About ASU: Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it. Here is a link to ASU E+I’s blog announcing the grant funding awardees: http://blog.entrepreneurship.asu.edu/2017/04/05/ei-kauffman-inclusion-awardees- named/
