07/20/2021

Columbia, South Carolina 1 Million Cups is Live Educating and Connecting Local Entrepreneurs

Free, weekly program developed by the Kauffman Foundation helps build startup communities nationwide

(Columbia, SC) Columbia’s chapter of 1 Million Cups will be back in person soon to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs. Founded by the Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups is based on the notion that entrepreneurs network and discover solutions over a million cups of coffee. The free, weekly gathering helps build startup communities on a grassroots level.

Beginning August 18, 2021, entrepreneurs, innovators, founders and other interested community members are invited to attend each Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. at NOMA Warehouse, 2222 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

The program’s model is consistent in each city: every Wednesday morning, early-stage startups present their companies to an audience of mentors, advisers and other entrepreneurs. Each founder presents for six minutes, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the audience.

The upcoming 1 Million Cups Columbia session, will be an installment of 1 Million Cups “Made It” series featuring Chris Heivly, Co-Founder of Mapquest.

In each 1 Million Cups city, local entrepreneurs drive the program as community organizers. Volunteering for the leadership roles in Columbia are:

  • Shennice Cleckley, Smart Cookie Coaching
  • Sergio Aparicio, Columbia Economic Development
  • Tom Ledbetter, Midlands Technical College
  • Andrena King, Richland County Library
  • Andrew Rabuck, Woodforest National Bank
  • Daniel Andrews, Network In Action
  • Mazie Cook, NOMA Warehouse
  • Sean Powers, Consultant at Yovant
  • Bob Kim, Midlands REIA
  • Nora Williams, Nora Williams Photography

“We are so excited to once again be in-person connecting entrepreneurs and helping each other grow,” Rabuck said. “Entrepreneurism is the most sustainable resource for economic growth,” says Aparicio.

View the national website at www.1millioncups.com and access the Columbia microsite at www.1millioncups.com/columbiasc.