9 Years of Stoke: Fueling Denton's Creative & Entrepreneurial Spirit

This summer marks nine years since we opened our doors at Stoke — Denton's coworking space and entrepreneurial hub — and what a journey it's been.

Back in 2016, Stoke started with a vision: to create a space where creators, founders, freelancers, and dreamers could come together, find support, and grow their ideas into thriving businesses. Today, we’re proud to be the home base for a dynamic community of entrepreneurs and innovators who are actively shaping the future of our local economy and culture.

We’ve evolved over the years, and today Stoke spans over 9,000 square feet of coworking space which includes twenty private offices, thirty dedicated desks, and shared office amenities. Our members enjoy access to conference rooms with whiteboards and TV’s, reliable printer/copier/scanner access, and a shared kitchen that’s always stocked with coffee, tea, soda water, and locally brewed beer.

Programming That Powers Progress

Over the past nine years, we've built a strong foundation of entrepreneur support programs and community-focused events that meet people where they are and help take them where they want to go:

• 9 years of mentorship and coaching to help entrepreneurs navigate the highs and lows of building a business. Early on mentorship was office hours and 1:1 mentorship. It evolved to small group mentorship with an expert since 2020, which was virtual through 2024 and we began hosting these in person in 2025.

• 7 years of Flint Conference — our annual day-long event which draws 100 creators and founders each year looking to learn, grow, and connect which started in 2019. This event has showcased dozens of speakers, breakout sessions, hands on workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with 100 local entrepreneurs - all designed with the needs of local entrepreneurs in mind.

• 5 years of AccelerateHER our incubator program designed specifically to support female founders in building scalable, sustainable businesses. Since it’s inception, we’ve provided workshops, coaching, accountability, and access to our work space for the over 35 women that have been through this program and continue to support the AccelerateHER Alumni through quarterly meetups.

• 3 years of hosting Denton Pitch Competition through which we’ve providing local startups with the platform and resources to attract funding, feedback, and visibility. Since 2022 we have coached the 28 business that pitch their plans for growth to a panel of judges , and have put over $30,000 directly into the hands of Denton based entrepreneurs.

• Just last year, we launched a new series of networking events tailored for Denton's vibrant community of creatives. Spark Creative Mixers are a way for creative entrepreneurs to come together to connect and gain knowledge about running a business in a community of their peers.

These programs have sparked new ventures, accelerated growth, and created ripple effects across our local economy and culture of creativity and small business that thrives in Denton.

The Impact We’re Making

Stoke has become a cornerstone for Denton's entrepreneurial landscape — a place where hundreds of people have come not only to work but to belong, to be challenged, to get support, and to take bold steps in their business. We've helped local founders turn side hustles into full-time careers. We've supported artists in building creative businesses. We've helped innovators find co-founders, clients, mentors, and meaning in their work.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking to the future. We are excited to be expanding our footprint into an additional 3,000 square feet which includes 8 private office, and improved mail/copy room, and a multi use room that can be used for trainings, workshops, and large meetings.

More space, more programs, more support, and more stories of people who took the leap — and found what they needed to keep going right here at Stoke. We’re proud to play a role in a Denton that is more collaborative, creative, and entrepreneur-friendly than ever before.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just recently discovered us, thank you for being part of this community. We’re here because of you and we are here for you. You may have to work, but you don’t have to work alone.

Here’s to the builders, the creatives, and the big dreamers. Here’s to 9 years of Stoke.

FlintConf 2025: Denton’s Creatives and Entrepreneurs Lit the Spark

On May 8, 2025, the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center creatives, entrepreneurs, service providers, and big-dreamers packed the space for FlintConf 2025—a full-day event built for connection, growth, and unapologetic honesty about what it really takes to run a business.

Presented by Stoke with support from the City of Denton, FlintConf is more than a conference—it’s a home base for Denton’s doers. Here's what made this year’s event unforgettable:

The day kicked off with breakfast and coffee sponsored by The Local Circuit. Heather Gregory, Executive Director of Stoke, opened the morning by sharing why FlintConf exists: to create space for inrpiration, shared learning, and the good that can come when entrepreneurs gather together..

Educational and Inspirational Speakers

Emily Roden, founder of ReadyRosie and Frankly, delivered a keynote that was equal parts inspiring and enlightening. She shared the behind-the-scenes realities of building a tech-based educational platform from Denton—highlighting the pivots, doubts, and lessons learned along the way.

Elle Hall of Girlfriend’s Budget led a dynamic workshop on “Budgeting Like a Boss.” Elle brought her signature mix of financial wisdom and empowering energy, helping attendees break down how to manage money in their businesses without shame or confusion.

Juli James led an interactive session - MVP Prototype Showdown, a rapid-fire session showcasing early-stage business ideas. Participants saw firsthand how experimentation and feedback can transform an abstract concept into something tangible. The ideas prompts were challenging, the ideas were inspired, and the pitches were hilarious.

Creative Connections

We added a few new components this year as we thought about what would be helpful to the attendees. We offered free fun headshots with Will Milne during the lunch hour were a great way to provide professional photography assets to attendees. Additionally, we invited anyone who wanted to the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business to help ignite connections during our networking breaks.

Two rounds of breakout sessions in the afternoon gave attendees a chance to go deep on topics like using AI to enhance and streamline processes, learning tools to address burnout, and understanding how to fight imposter syndrome and find your confidence in the works of entrepreneurship. These sessions were designed to be tactical not theoretical and the feedback was clear: people left with tools and knowledge they could use the next day.

The final speaker, Monique Segovia of The Brown Thumb and winner of the 2024 Denton Pitch Competition closed the day. In her talk, “Rooted in Growth: How Authentic Marketing Can Build a Loyal Small Business Community,” Monique showed how marketing can be an act of care, not just strategy. Her story of building a plant business grounded in identity, accessibility, and joy brought the audience to their feet.

The day wrapped with Happy Hour at Harvest House, where the conversations kept flowing. Over beers and kombuchas, FlintConf attendees reflected, celebrated, and continued planting seeds for what’s next.

You showed up. You asked brave questions. You celebrated each other. You reminded us that business building doesn’t have to be lonely—it can be collaborative, creative, and human. We’ll see you next year for FlintConf 2026. Until then, keep building, keep connecting, and keep that spark alive.

Why You Can't Miss FlintConf 2025

Big ideas. Practical skills. Real community. FlintConf 2025 is Denton's premier event for creatives, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who are ready to spark their next chapter. Presented by Stoke Coworking, this high-energy, one-day conference is your chance to step out of the daily grind, plug into real inspiration, and leave with the tools and the people to move forward faster.

Whether you’re launching something new, scaling something great, or figuring out your next move, FlintConf is built for you.

Here’s why you need to be there:

Five Reasons You Should Attend FlintConf 2025

1. Gain Real-World Business Skills from Proven Entrepreneurs
FlintConf speakers aren't just talking theory — they're sharing personal, battle-tested lessons. Emily Roden, founder of ReadyRosie and Frankly, will dive into The Critical Trimesters of a Start-up, helping you anticipate the early challenges every new business faces. Elle Hall, of Girlfriend’s, Budget, will show you how to Budget Like a Boss, ensuring your finances can fuel (not sink) your dreams. Whether you're launching, growing, or pivoting, these sessions will give you practical tools to strengthen your business foundation.

2. Connect With Denton’s Boldest Creative and Business Minds
The conference is intentionally designed for authentic connections. You'll start the day networking over coffee and breakfast, have a chance to collaborate during breakout sessions, and wrap it all up with a relaxed happy hour at Harvest House. We’ve also made sure to make a little time for connecting to the folks in the room throughout the day through, the Starter Offer Lab Workshop with Juli James (Eqall and Stoke Coworking), networking break, and an hour long lunch. Whether you're a service provider, a creative entrepreneur, or a budding startup founder, you’ll find your people here.

Headshots provided by Will Milne

3. Walk Away With a New Professional Headshot — and a Stronger Brand Presence
It's time to update that LinkedIn photo (no more cropping yourself out of a wedding photo!). FlintConf attendees get a professional headshot included with their ticket during the lunch break. Great branding starts with a strong, approachable presence — and this small but mighty perk helps you level up your digital footprint instantly. These aren’t any old headshot either, they will be creative and colorful (the photographer will create colorful shadows) so they are perfect for designers, musicians, and folks looking to add a more artistic headshot to their brand assets.

4. Learn How to Innovate, Market, and Scale Authentically
Beyond big-picture talks, FlintConf gives you tactical strategies for marketing and innovation. Dive into Rooted in Growth with Monique Segovia of The Brown Thumb to learn how authentic marketing can build a loyal small business community. Plus, breakout sessions after lunch allow you to dig deeper into niche topics with experts and peers who are navigating the same challenges you are.

5. Spend a Day Investing in Yourself (With Great Food, Great People, and Great Energy)
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when you step out of your routine. FlintConf gives you permission, and the perfect environment, to focus on yourself and your growth. You’ll be fueled by great coffee, a delicious lunch, new connections, and tangible momentum to take back into your work. Plus, a celebratory happy hour at Harvest House ensures the day ends on a high note, Denton-style.

Ready to Stoke the Fire?

FlintConf 2025 is more than an event — it’s a spark for something bigger.
Join us on May 8 for a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration with Denton’s most creative minds. Let’s build businesses, brands, and communities that thrive together.