A new event series launching in Dubuque caters to entrepreneurs and local business owners looking for fellowship as they travel the path to a successful business model.
Starting with an inaugural event Wednesday, May 14, 1 Million Cups will host free forums at 8:45 a.m. every Wednesday, sponsored by area coffee shops and local venues, with the first event held at Collins Community Credit Union.
Dubuque’s is the latest chapter of the 1 Million Cups organization, which stretches across the Midwest from its origins in Kansas City, Mo. It was founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which helps people achieve financial stability and economic prosperity. The 1 Million Cups organization aims to create entrepreneurial ecosystems through grants and nonprofits.
Jason White, Greater Dubuque Development Corp. vice president of business services, is one of several who have taken on the responsibility of launching the local chapter.
“When they originally launched this organization (the idea was) if those of us in the business community just got together and had — fun exaggeration — a million cups of coffee and talked about entrepreneurship, growth, development, small-business ownership and just tried to build that ecosystem of support — what if we did that … with dedication and heard someone every week that was taking a risk launching a business and looking to their community for support? What kind of impact would that have?” White said. “And that’s what started 1 Million Cups.”
The rules of the organization require that free parking is available and the event is accessible to all, including students or those who don’t have a business yet.
Community guidelines are intended to ensure polite and productive questions and feedback, comparable to localized Ted Talks — a presentation rather than a pitch as 1 Million Cups Midwest representative Ben McDougal puts it.
“When you collide in a community setting on an ongoing basis, you’re able to find people that might fill gaps in your skill set or have similar interests,” McDougal said.
1 Million Cups is accepting applicants who would like to share their ideas and get feedback from the business community on the Dubuque portion of initiative’s website at tinyurl.com/1MCDubuque.
“Especially in a community like this with college students and creative people downtown, it’s a great way to focus on a creative vibe and maybe involve some stakeholders we have in our community,” White said.
Dubuque’s first presenter will be Jessica Pfohl Paisley, a Dubuque entrepreneur who has already spoken in Des Moines, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. She said 1 Million Cups helped connect her and her company, AMIDST Magazine, to publishers.
“AMIDST is a media platform with print and digital sides, but what we’ve really pivoted to is our community platform, which is Midwest-based creatives all throughout the 12 recognized Midwest states,” she said. “Because of my chance to present at 1 Million Cups, I got to meet a lot of people that would not have provided those resources otherwise.”
Paisley’s company also developed a roll-on fragrance and candle that funds many of her creative pursuits. Without boutiques and hotel owners she met at 1 Million Cups, she says she might never have had distributors.
Paisley is on a committee of five local organizers that includes White and representatives from The Innovation Lab and Dubuque County.
“One of the biggest areas that (AMIDST) has seen growth in recently is rural communities, so rural artists and creatives,” Paisley said. “A lot of times, it’s forgotten that artists are also entrepreneurs. They need those business resources the same as any other small-business owner, and 1 Million Cups is one way for us to help support (them).”