CoHabitat provokes forum among entrepreneurs
In a new effort to engineer the success of entrepreneurs, the Cohabitat Foundation is bringing in a series featuring businesses and customers together in an intimate, open forum.
In February, CoHab introduced 1 Million Cups, a weekly open discussion session between new businesses and the community. Shreveport is one of 32 cities nationwide to offer the program.
In a region increasingly becoming known for its new business-friendly atmosphere, 1MC has quickly become popular. “We fought long and hard for Shreveport to get 1 Million Cups, and we got it before New Orleans,” John Grindley, executive director of Cohab, said. “It’s because of the quality of life, cost of living, and there’s just something in the air in Shreveport.”
1MC meetings are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Wednesday at Cohab, located at 500 Clyde Fant Parkway, Suite 200 in the Red River District in downtown Shreveport. Discussions are free and open to the public.
Through 1MC, budding business leaders have a platform to test their ideas, business plans and obstacles to a diverse audience and receive honest evaluations and work toward solutions.
“1 Million Cups represents the dialogue between community leaders and customers,” Grindley said. “That conversation usually happens over a cup of coffee.”
1MC is an interactive discussion and formatted to be beneficial to both the presenting businesses and the audience. The businesses, all in their first three years of the startup process, give a sixminute educational presentation about their company.
“Tell a good story. What’s your wow factor?” Grindley said. “What is needed from the community to help you? What problems keep you up at night? How can we help you?” Entrepreneurs may gain ideas for how to improve their businesses and gather real-time feedback and honest criticism from a community that truly cares about their progress. The goal of 1MC is also to help entrepreneurs develop and nurture personal connections with the community and walk away feeling like they have advanced their business.
“Entrepreneurs need more than money; they need customers, testers and someone to validate their ideas,” he said. “1 Million Cups validates the business and serves as a platform.” Furthermore, the audience learns in depth the process of starting a new business.
1MC is led by Jessica Schiele, director of programs and membership at Cohab, with the assistance of volunteer community organizers Ryan Smith of Twin Engine Labs and Justin Martin of Digital Lion.
Past presenters have featured a variety of products and entrepreneurs from a flying vehicle prototype to a pre-teen technology prodigy.
Entrepreneur Stewart Hamel was the debut speaker of 1MC in February and discussed his company, SkyRunner, LLC. Founded in Shreveport in 2012, SkyRunner has developed and is currently manufacturing a “flying car” – an all-terrain buggy, part light-aircraft recreational sports vehicle.
Twelve-year-old Luke Higginbotham presented his mobile game application company, Higgy Ziggy, founded in 2014 in Ruston. His original game “The Lost Tribe” is being developed in conjunction with Twin Engine Labs.
Lee G. Mallahan III presented his company 4 Your Home Inc., founded in 2013 in Shreveport. Mallahan has designed and is manufacturing the Tad Pole Tape Cutter, a bladeless cutter that’s ideal for cutting different tapes, such as duct tape.
“The no-blade cutter is good for painting, packing and shipping,” Grindley said. “He could become a multimillionaire.”
New businesses that are already striving are also welcome to present at 1MC.
Grindley said Shreveport craft beer company Great Raft Brewery, founded in 2012 by Andrew and Lindsay Nations, used the platform to share ideas and gain the insight of the community in an effort to continue future growth.
When 1MC began in Shreveport, Grindley said he was concerned about not having enough startup businesses in the area to feature. That was a shortlived concern as after the second week of the sessions, the word about 1MC quickly spread and new businesses began approaching Cohab about presenting. Businesses interested in participating in the series may complete a proposal application available at www.shreveport. sites.1millioncups.com/.
Cohab offers additional mentoring and training programs to entrepreneurs, including Elev8, Elev8High and CoSolve. To learn more about these programs and 1 Million Cups, visit www.cohab.org or www.1MillionCups.com or call 759-7997.
– Tiana Kennell
