Caffeine nation: 1 Million Cups hits the century mark

Dubbed as “the church for entrepreneurs,” 1 Million Cups recently hit a milestone with the reach of its programming.

A product of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups has launched in Waco, Texas, marking the entrepreneurial forum’s 100th participating community.

1 Million Cups launched in Kansas City in 2012 and has been spreading across the country ever since. The forum allows entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses, gather feedback and then interact with community members over a cup of coffee or tea.

“I enjoy being an organizer because of the people in the community,” said Kansas City 1 Million Cups organizer Courtney Windholz.  “It’s amazing to think of all we have accomplished in past four years.”

To further connect the entrepreneurial ecosystem across communities, 1 Million Cups recently launched a mobile app. With the app, attendees can check in, give presenters additional feedback and are encouraged to connect with members of the audience on social media.

On Nov. 16, the organization will wrap up its 1 in a Million pitch competition that connects all 99 communities. Founders that pitched to 1 Million Cups between Aug. 12, 2015 to Aug. 24, 2016. in any location were eligible to submit a 90-second pitch to earn a shot at winning $25,000. One Kansas City startup, the Grooming Project, is still in the running.