Loudoun Highlights Women Startups For Global Entrepreneurship Week
Loudoun Economic Development is partnering with Empowered Women International to cosponsor a special 1 Million Cups event on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. at the Mason Enterprise Center, located at 202 Church Street in Leesburg. This free event is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from November 16-22 in 140 nations worldwide.
The 1MC program gives two local entrepreneurs the chance to present their startups to an informal gathering of peers, mentors, advisors and small business owners. Presenters get feedback on how to improve their potential for success. On November 18, the presenters will be alumni from Empowered Women International.
“EWI’s mission is to create jobs and opportunities for immigrant, refugee and at-risk women in our community,” said Loudoun’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Manager Vanessa Wagner. “We invite anyone who’s building a business to come to 1MC on November 18 and be inspired by these women.”
1MC was started by the Kauffman Foundation and now takes place in 77 cities across the U.S. each week. It’s based on the premise that it takes a million cups of coffee to launch a successful business – in other words, making one-on-one connections with potential partners, employees, investors and allied professionals is key to a company’s growth.
“Loudoun got involved with 1MC to help speed up the process of getting new businesses up and running,” said Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “We take some of the trial-and-error out of connecting entrepreneurs to the right people and the right information. We want to make it easier to create, locate and accelerate businesses in Loudoun.”
Entrepreneurs with questions about starting a business can call Loudoun Economic Development at 703-777-0426 or visit biz.loudoun.gov.