It’s the time of year for reflection, and we wanted to take a look back at 2024 to see all of the ways that Stoke brought together business owners and supported entrepreneurs in our community.
The 2023-2024 AccelerateHER Denton cohort.
In January, we wrapped the fourth cohort of AccelerateHER, the incubator program for female founders that we run in partnership with Texas Woman’s University Center for Women Entrepreneurs. The cohort was made up of 7 women working to start, validate, and grow their businesses who participate in a 5 months program that includes weekly workshops and 1:1 mentorship. The 23-24 AccelerateHER cohort wrapped up with a virtual showcase where each entrepreneur had the chance to share about their business and a call to action. We then met up in person to celebrate the end of an incredible five months of the program.
Happy Hour at Harvest House with supporters after the AccelerateHER Denton virtual showcase.
In March, we held our first Spark Creative Mixer of 2024. These events are designed to bring together individuals that are a part of the creative economy of Denton and support their creative work through helping to strengthen their business foundations. Through the three Spark Mixers we held in 2024, dozens of folks in video production, graphic design, music, art, retail, content creation, and more gathered with the intention of connecting with and learning from other creative entrepreneurs in Denton.
May brought our sixth annual FlintConf year and for the first time ever we held a kickoff event, First Strike, the evening before. This free event featured a panel discussion with three creative entrepreneurs followed by a community conversation where people shared events, resources, and opportunities for creative businesses in Denton.
This year FlintConf was held at Patterson Appleton Arts Center. The day featured 6 speaker sessions, one hands-on workshop, and a happy hour at the end of the day. We had lunch provided by Chestnut Tree and Triptych Coffee Co was onsite all day to keep the attendees caffeinated. Speakers included Amber Briggle from Soma Massage Therapy, Michelle Williams from Mass Challenge, and two local lawyers from HBWV.
Pictures from FlintConf 2024 at the Patterson Appleton Arts Center. Photo credit to Will Milne.
Summer is a quieter time at Stoke which gives our team time to rest and plan for our busy fall program season. We open applications for the fall AccelerateHER cohort and the Denton Pitch Competition during the summer, and prepare for the launch of both programs. In September, the fifth cohort of AccelerateHER started their weekly workshops and the Denton Pitch Competition held a kickoff meeting with all of the semifinalists who made it to the coaching round.
November holds our busiest week of the year with our annual participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week. GEW is a celebration of entrepreneurship around the world and since 2018, Stoke has hosted events in Denton that connect, educate, and support the entrepreneurs in our ecosystem. Throughout the week Stoke hosted 5 events; a Lunch & Learn about Google Ads, a Coffee + Convo on business finances, a Big Ideas Creative Mixer, Denton Pitch Competition + Entrepreneur Expo, and a day of free coworking with a coffee pop up from Triptych Coffee Co.
Denton Pitch Competition is always a highlight of the week and this year was no different. 10 entrepreneurs pitched in front of a panel of judges and an audience of over 100 people for their chance to win cash prizes to support their business growth. This year, we handed out big checks to four female entrepreneurs who had a clear idea of how to use the funds to grow their business.
The 2024 Denton Pitch Competition Winners. The Brown Thumb (first), Brite Smiles by Heather (second), Azul Therapies (third), and Directing my Life (community choice).
As we reflect back on 2024, we are so grateful for the work that we get to do. We supported over 125 entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers through membership in our coworking community. Additionally we provided education, mentorship, and support to over 600 business owners and creatives through the over 40 events that we held throughout the year. Through this work, we are able to live out our goal of having a positive impact on the culture and economy of Denton and we look forward to continuing this work in 2025 and beyond.