As part of Stoke’s mission to support the tech and startup community in Denton and assist entrepreneurs in their endeavors, Stoke works to provide events and programs that are educational, empowering, and enable them to make lasting, enriching connections.
Aligning with an international effort lead by the Kauffman Foundation to break down barriers to entrepreneurship and encourage entrepreneurial hopefuls to take the leap, we’re participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), which is November 18th through November 22nd. Stoke is celebrating all week by hosting events, sharing resources, and listening to Dentonites regarding their wants and needs in terms of resources and support.
GEW in Denton
Here’s a list of what we have in store (with details on our Events page linked and more in an article coming soon):
First Annual Denton County SHEpreneur Crowdfund Live organized by DataReady DFW
Monday, November 18th, 6 - 9 PM at Stoke
Women entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and the crowd, with the first place winner taking home a crowdfunded cash prize.
Lunch + Learn: Using Data In Your Marketing Strategy lead by experienced entrepreneur, Patrick Peters
Tuesday, November 19th at Stoke, 12 - 1 PM
Many small business owners and entrepreneurs take on marketing on their own. How do you know what’s working from your marketing efforts and what’s not? Patrick Peters will discuss ways to analyze data and apply it to your marketing.
Happy Hour + Fireside Chat with founder and CEO of ReadyRosie, education technology company, Emily Roden
Wednesday, November 20th at Armadillo Ale Works, 6 - 7 PM
Mix and mingle with tech and startup community Dentonites and stick around to hear from CEO and founder of education technology company ReadyRosie, Emily Roden who will be interviewed by a moderator.
Strong America Tour presented by Chuck Marohn, author of the forthcoming Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity
Thursday, November 21st at Stoke, 12 - 1 PM
Join author and Strong Towns founder Charles L. Marohn, Jr. for a game-changing presentation on his new book and a community conversation about how to make Denton financially strong and resilient.
And more!
Heather Gregory, executive director of Stoke, speaking at FlintConf 2019
Global Entrepreneurship Network & Week
How did Global Entrepreneurship Week begin? As an initiative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) which focuses on making the world a better place by enabling entrepreneurship across cultures and continents. GEN operates a platform of projects and programs in 170 countries. In the context of GEN’s four cornerstones, we delve into how they’re accomplishing this mission.
Celebrate
Recognizing the need for entrepreneurs and that not all ecosystems can resemble that of Silicon Valley, GEN works to break down cultural barriers and reach new audiences to encourage people to try their hand at bringing an idea to life and becoming an entrepreneur.
Understand
Enabling entrepreneurs to thrive requires better data, research, and analysis regarding the barriers that they face and what will best serve them. “Through the Global Entrepreneurship Research Network (GERN) and GEN’s Startup Nations policymaker network, GEN helps identify and crowdsource best-in-class policies and public programs that help entrepreneurs thrive.”
Support
GEN offers the Global Business Angels Network, Global Enterprise Registration, Startup Huddle, and more to help entrepreneurs at all stages with programs and resources.
Connect
GEN brings together entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and startup community leaders virtually and during live events, such as the annual Startup Nations Summit, global annual meetings of its vertical communities and by co-hosting other events across the globe.
Themes for GEW 2019
GEN supports GEW efforts annually all over the world. The themes for GEW 2019 are
Education
“This theme celebrates the tools and programs communities use to foster entrepreneurship.”
Ecosystems
“This theme celebrates the shared challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship communities and hubs around the world.”
Inclusion
“This theme celebrates diversity in all forms, including women and youth in entrepreneurship.”
Policy
“GEW policy will highlight the work of governments and policymakers to help entrepreneurs everywhere start and scale.”
Stoke’s events and efforts during GEW tie into each of these themes (which will be detailed in an additional article next week!).
Attendees of a Denton’s first startup conference for techies, creatives, and entrepreneurs self-identify as one of the groups
Global Entrepreneurship Week in DFW
In addition to GEW in Denton, GEW Fort Worth will kick off the week prior.
“The GEW festivities kick off with an opening party at the new IREB building on the UNTHSC campus Thursday, November 8. GEW includes some events that regularly occur in Fort Worth, such as Startup Weekend, which will run Friday, November 9 – Sunday, November 11 at the UNT Health Science Center. 1 Million Cups, a weekly educational program for entrepreneurs, will celebrate its five-year anniversary during the week. Fort Worth’s second Startup Crawl will feature startups in several locations on the east side on Thursday, November 15.
The week also will include new events in Fort Worth, such as the first State of Entrepreneurship Tuesday, November 13 at the UNT Health Science Center.”
Stay tuned for detailed previews of the week’s events in Denton and how they tie into GEW 2019 themes.