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August is National Black Business Month. This month is the perfect time to recognize, celebrate, and support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. The Harris-Stowe Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, including our Minority Entrepreneurship Collaborative Center for Advancement, is committed to uplifting our hard-working innovators. We’re closing out Black Business Month with a bang - make sure you check out the events below.
As we work to foster the growth of emerging entrepreneurs, we encourage you to join our virtual Community for Innovation & Entrepreneurship on StartupTree – a one-stop-shop for all entrepreneurial activities taking place at CIE|MECCA. By creating a profile, you’ll have access to various programs, upcoming events, and networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs. You can even create your own business profile to promote your products and services. Stay up-to-date with everything CIE|MECCA related – it's easy to sign up and will only take a couple of minutes. Join us as we build our online hub for entrepreneurs, you don't want to miss out!
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CIE|MECCA has had a very busy summer! Here are a few highlights:
- The Fall 2023 MECCA Accelerator program has 72 participants.
- We launched a fully-virtual Start-Up Accelerator program. Now, people outside of the St. Louis area are able to participate.
- We launched the CIE Funding for Founders program for nonprofit leaders over the summer, and the inaugural cohort graduates on August 30th.
- Ten MECCA program alumni have been fully-accepted into the new 18 credit hour Entrepreneurship Certificate program at HSSU.
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CIE Alumni,
This is the last chance to apply to the Harris-Stowe CIE Global Ventures Delegation, a six-day, five-night experience in London, England. Learn more and apply by August 25th here: https://forms.gle/a2ss85mJuRThcXxW9. If you have any questions, please contact Kristy Jackson: JacksonK@hssu.edu.
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Graduates of the Spring 2023 Accelerator program also participated in a Gift Day in mid-June, receiving their choice of gift (12-month QuickBooks Online license, laptop with Microsoft Office and antivirus software, or 6-month Cortex shared co-working space) for completing the program. | |
In July, MECCA hosted and sponsored the Young Biz Kid (YBK) Day at Harris-Stowe State University. Founded by Arriel Biggs, YBK Day is a fun, experiential program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their very own businesses. Each year, in participating cities, youth have the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship by setting up their businesses during their city’s community-wide YBK Day. The St. Louis, E3 powered by PNC, YBK Day marketplace featured Skai Miller of Skai Cares, and nearly 80 young entrepreneurs who sold their products, merchandise, and services. | |
Inaugural Funding for Founders Launch | This summer, CIE launched the Funding For Founders program. The inaugural cohort participated in a 10-week program that equipped nonprofit leaders with training and funding development tools, and access to shared resources, as they are often under-resourced and working in isolation. They will be graduating from the program on Wednesday, August 30th. | |
Greater MO Women of the Year | In July, the CIE|MECCA team attended the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation’s Women of the Year Luncheon. At the awards luncheon, HSSU President Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, was celebrated as the Inspirational Leader of the Year. CIE Director Kristy Jackson also served as the Chairperson for the Alumnae Reunion held the previous day. | |
Urban League Back to School Expo | |
Tara Robinson is the CEO of It’s Official 314 Weddings and Ceremonies. Tara is an officiant and her business gently guides couples through every step of planning a wedding ceremony with calming energy, and takes time to know who they are to create a ceremony that reflects the love that they magnify as a couple. Tara graduated from the Spring 2023 MECCA Start-Up Accelerator program! | |
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Collaborations and Partnerships | |
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We value our donors, partners, and collaborators who have invested in us (Arch Grants, Bank of America, US Bank, Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant, Federal Community Project Funding, E3 powered by PNC, Kauffman Foundation, and Wells Fargo). Thank you to our new and growing partnerships, including:
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Would you or your organization like to support CIE? Connect with Kristy: JacksonK@hssu.edu! | | |
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Draft Day
Join us as we welcome our Fall 2023 Spin-Up, Start-Up, and Scale-Up Accelerator program participants! Draft Day is our exhilarating orientation event, where we welcome the newest cohorts of driven entrepreneurs into our dynamic Accelerator program. It's a day of celebration, connection, and empowerment, as we provide valuable insights, guidelines, and a sneak peek into the incredible journey ahead.
Event details:
Thursday, August 24, 2023
6:00 PM
Harris-Stowe State University
3026 Laclede Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63103
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Tech Over Tuesdays
Join CIE|MECCA for our Tech Over Tuesdays, offering a game-changing opportunity for entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital landscape! During the month of August, the sessions cover Microsoft 365. Orlando Sharpe, Technology Innovation Coach, will do a deep dive into how Microsoft productivity software tools can be helpful to entrepreneurs. The Tech Over sessions will be located in HSSU’s Innovation Lab. If you are interested in attending a session, please RSVP here:
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Funding for Founders Graduation
The CIE at Harris-Stowe State University invites you to attend the Funding for Founders Incubator graduation and networking event on Wednesday, August 30th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate our nonprofit entrepreneurs for completing the program and an exciting grant award announcement, and there will also be time to network with them and learn more about their nonprofit organizations!
Location:
Cortex Innovation Community
Havana Room
4220 Duncan Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
Please let us know if you will be attending this event.
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CIE Crash Course
The Crash Course Visual Branding, hosted by the CIE is approaching! Michelle Robinson (CEO of DEMIblue Natural Nails) and Destini Clark will host a FREE discussion about visual elements used to represent your business on Thursday, August 31st, a strategy that innovators and entrepreneurs must understand in order to expand and sustain their businesses. The Crash Course is located in HSSU’s Innovation Lab.
You may sign up for the class here:
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Entrepreneur Reads and Resources | |
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ABOUT CIE
The Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) serves as a hub of innovation, a center for entrepreneurship, and a facilitator of partnerships to enhance the black/brown community as well as the community at large.
ABOUT MECCA
The Minority Entrepreneurship Collaborative Center for Advancement (MECCA) serves as a hub of campus and community entrepreneurial activities fostering the growth of emerging entrepreneurs and cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs from minority and under-resourced communities as future business owners. MECCA provides educational training and services to assist individuals pursuing entrepreneurship, establishes partnerships with local centers for entrepreneurship, provides counseling services to entrepreneurs in developing markets, hosts and sponsors workshops and educational seminars in collaboration with community partners, and assists entrepreneurs in establishing accounting and licensing procedures.
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