1 Million Cups presenters have shot at $10K
July 1, 2015 | Bobby Burch
One of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s most popular programs, 1 Million Cups, will soon be offering entrepreneurs more than its typical morning refreshments.
Photo by Justin Leibow
Program leaders announced Wednesday that it’s launching the “One in a Million” competition, in which former presenters in the program could snag $10,000.
Now in more than 70 cities worldwide, 1 Million Cups invites two startup founders each week to present their companies over coffee or tea and then respond to questions or comments from the audience.
“This competition is really great for entrepreneurs and for more awareness of the program,” said Courtney Chapman, a co-organizer of the weekly event. “It’s really amazing that we have this network of people in 1 Million Cups. Each program around the country is a little bit different, but each still has the same goal of fostering entrepreneurship and making their communities better for entrepreneurship. ”
Presenters from all the U.S. cities in which 1 Million Cups operates are eligible for the competition, culminating in Kansas City during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November. Finalists in the contest will also receive pitch coaching and other mentorship.
To be eligible, an entrepreneur must have presented at 1 Million Cups before Aug. 2, and have a scalable company located in the U.S. The winner of One in a Million will receive $10,000, while second place earns $5,000 and third $1,000.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Why a globally-trained Spanish chef is building his new homebase from City Market
It’s all about the pan for Carlos Saura, a Spanish chef whose new paella and tapas spot in Kansas City’s bustling and diverse City Market is set to arrive in late summer or early fall — helping bring the historic marketplace district to 100-percent-leased capacity. The Paella Mix, at 25 E. Third St., is expected…
On the map and in the mirror: 1 Million Cups contrasts international eship visitors with KC startup scene
The fail-fast mindset and high risk tolerance many American entrepreneurs employ in their quests to build unicorn startups are arguably foreign concepts to business builders on the other side of the globe, said Lucy-Llonna Larbi. Her experiences in Germany reflect a slower, security-first focus, she said, expressing admiration for the American approach. “We think that…
After coffee, calm: Messenger co-founder, partner envision West Bottoms bathhouse as retreat from what has been
Nearly a year in the works, a first floor space in an 1890s-era West Bottoms warehouse is open and envisioned as the place for a “ritual of pause.” Klā Sanctuary — with its special spa baths and body-oriented treatments — and the tea-focused Selah Lounge share the 6,000-square-foot spot at 1400 W. 13th St. Matthew…
KC-built delivery platform recruiting drivers, retailers ahead of summer app launch
Dwayne Overton is no stranger to the hustle, he said. The Kansas City entrepreneur once juggled gigs with Lyft and DoorDash — jobs that gave him an up-close look at the struggles drivers face every day. Now, as founder and CEO of VendiSafe, he’s building a delivery platform that spins the traditional model on its…