HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2013-09-13 1 Million Cups
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Loudoun County, VA Completes Successful Pilot, Becomes
Newest Location in 1 Million Cups' Expanding U.S. Network
Weekly program developed by Kauffman Foundation aims to educate
entrepreneurs, accelerate startups
Leesburg, VA (September 13, 2013) – 1 Million
Cups™, a program created by Kauffman
Foundation's Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation
to engage, educate and connect entrepreneurs, has
completed a successful three-month pilot in
Loudoun County, Virginia. The pilot was launched
after Debi Roder, Entrepreneurship Manager with
Loudoun County Economic Development, returned from Kansas City having attended 1 Million
Cups there. In Roder’s words she came back “evangelized” to start the program in Loudoun,
and did so, partnering with the Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) and the Town of Leesburg. The
first session was held May 1, 2013.
After successfully handing-off program leadership to entrepreneurs a few weeks ago, the
northern Virginia community, located outside Washington, D.C., officially becomes the 13th
U.S. location to host the weekly gathering that is building startup communities over cups of
coffee and conversation across the country.
According to Susan Henson, Director of the MEC programs in Loudoun County, “The magic
really happens when entrepreneurs help entrepreneurs. Our goal is to launch best-practice
programs and then stay out of the way.”
1 Million Cups began in April 2012 in Kansas City, the hometown of the Kauffman Foundation.
On pace to expand to 20 cities in 2013, 1 Million Cups' program leaders plan to have at least
one international city in the mix by year's end.
The program's model is consistent in each location. Each Wednesday morning, two early-stage
startups present their companies to an audience of mentors, advisers and other entrepreneurs.
Each founder presents for six minutes and then fields audience questions for 20 minutes.
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Entrepreneurs, innovators and supporters from Loudoun County’s tech-rich business
community meet at 9 a.m. each Wednesday at the Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church Street
SE in downtown Leesburg, the county seat. Since the May pilot launch, approximately 20
startups have presented to a weekly crowd that averages about 30 people.
Presenting in upcoming weeks at 1 Million Cups in Loudoun County are:
September 18th
• Vanessa Maddox, CEO, The Girlfriend Group
• Nabeel Ahmed, Founder, GoFarGoLocal
September 25th
• Jeff Stratyner, Co-Founder & CEO, Hypersuade
• Millicent Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, Voysee
In each 1 Million Cups’ location, local entrepreneurs drive the program. Assuming the
leadership roles in Loudoun County are Tom Watson, founder and CEO of Capital Computers &
Networks, and Ryan McGeary, founder and CEO of BusyConf. Capital Computers delivers IT
services and computer hardware to business and government clients, while BusyConf simplifies
the conference planning process with online solutions.
"It's all too common to feel alone when you're running a new business," McGeary said. "1
Million Cups alleviates that feeling by bringing together entrepreneurs in similar situations. This
is a safe environment for individuals to discuss their most pressing challenges."
Watson agrees. "The feedback generated by 1 Million Cups could, in many cases, be the
difference between success and failure when developing a business," he said.
Nate Olson, a Kauffman Foundation associate and leader of 1 Million Cups, is pleased to
welcome Loudoun County to the 1 Million Cups family. "They've already had a strong start this
summer and very favorable response from the region's startup community," he said.
"Innovations and ideas are found everywhere, and we’re excited that 1 Million Cups is creating
synergy for entrepreneurs just outside the Beltway."
In addition to Loudoun County, 1 Million Cups is currently operating in a dozen other locations
including Kansas City, Des Moines, Houston, St. Louis, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Reno,
Chattanooga, Denver, Chapel Hill/Research Triangle Park, Georgetown (Delaware), Lawrence
(Kansas) and Columbia (Missouri). Scheduled to launch in September are 1 Million Cups sites in
Orlando and San Diego.
View the national website at www.1millioncups.com. Access the Loudoun County microsite at
http://loudoun.sites.1millioncups.com.
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About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that aims to foster
economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success.
Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is
based in Kansas City, Mo., and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information,
visit www.kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and
www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.
Media Contacts:
Ryan McGeary, Co-Organizer 571-212-4185, ryan@busyconf.com, BusyConf
Tom Watson, Co-Organizer 703-777-3146, twatson@capcomputers.net, Capital Computers
Barb Schulte, 816-932-1103, bschulte@kauffman.org, Kauffman Foundation
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