Running a small business or creative venture often starts with passion. You have an idea, a skill, or a vision—and you dive in. But as you move from “I think this could work” to “I’m building something real,” there’s one question that becomes more and more important: WHAT’S THE PLAN?
At Stoke, we are all about community. From our values of inclusivity and authenticity, to the way our staff know our members personally, to the work that we do to support entrepreneurs in Denton - we put people first.
At Stoke, we are all about community. From our values of inclusivity and authenticity, to the way our staff know our members personally, to the work that we do to support entrepreneurs in Denton - we put people first.
We’re highlighting the business owners in our 2024-25 AccelerateHER Denton Cohort. Learn more about these amazing entrepreneurs and the stories behind their businesses.
That’s a wrap for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2019!
We watched entrepreneurs and community members meet and connect and learned from those experienced in starting their own companies and working in their industries. We hope you made it out to some of the events! You can read a brief summary of each one in this blog post.
Wondering why you should be excited about Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)? We need entrepreneurs to continue solving problems, meeting needs, and filling gaps by designing and innovating with the future in mind. GEW is a celebration of the contributions of entrepreneurs then, now, and looking forward. During the week all over the world, organizations host events and offer resources to entrepreneurs and those who are aspiring to be.
Cover photo by Royce Gossett
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.
We’re elaborating on the tips that we published in 5 Tips For Starting a Small Business in Denton (linked) in a new series!
John Knowles landed a full-time position in software development after an internship with Stoke member company, Team of Defenders. He works as a level one software developer and shared some of his experience with us, including ideal results of attending a tech job fair here at Stoke!
Read the whole interview!
Wedding planners and those planning for weddings have a new ally, and it’s a company called Fêtefully, a play on the French word for celebration or festival, “fete.” … Members of the Denton Angels recognized the startup’s contribution to the wedding industry and moved forward with funding Fêtefully after GiGi pitched to the group in early 2019.
Read the full blog!
Let’s face it: working remotely or from home can be challenging as much as it can be enjoyable. Sometimes the nature of your work (updating your client on project progress face-to-face, perhaps) requires you to step out and find a different space. Or, you’re a remote worker who has the freedom to travel and work from anywhere, which is great, until you need a place with impenetrably secure and reliable internet and zero distractions/noise to check in with your supervisor or team.
Valerie works for Clear Measure, a DevOps-Centered Software Engineering company that specializes in Microsoft technologies and cloud-based platforms. She manages DevOps and custom software projects of all sizes. Read on to learn more about how one of our newest Stoke members helped a delivery company save a whopping $1.5 million a year, and to learn about a pretty royal tribute band name hint hint.
Celebrating Stoke’s 3rd anniversary and the thriving culture and economy of Denton, Kevin Roden, VP of education technology startup ReadyRosie, and Heather Gregory, executive director of Stoke, hosted Big Ideas - a lil d creative mixer, inviting community members to deliver three minute pitches about their big ideas for Denton.
Meet Heath: RV Entrepreneur, CEO and Co-Founder at CampgroundBooking, working in the recreational vehicle and camping industry. Bitten by the travel bug, instead of a traditional honeymoon, Heath and his wife took off on a five year adventure in an RV across the country four days after their wedding. He’s a Stoke member who has quite a story to tell.
Check out Heath’s member spotlight to read about the device he says will make you feel like James Bond and a harrowing experience involving an un-hitched vehicle on I35, along with details on becoming an entrepreneur and what his work life and style looks like.
Studies have shown that standing desks are beneficial to your health, and can increase workplace productivity and your own creativity. Increased blood flow while standing = better brain power.
On the other hand, being on your feet the entire day can also be detrimental to your health and is linked to heart disease. What’s the happy medium?
Protecting your data and your clients’ data helps you maintain your reputation and avoid losing time, money, and trust. For individuals and for business owners, understanding cyber security can help you prevent data breaches and theft. Read a preview blog for Stoke’s May Lunch + Learn: Cyber Security - Essentials to Protecting Your Network.
Russell Wallace, CPA of Wallace Accounting and Advisory will be teaching this Lunch + Learn, covering information on small business taxes and financial reporting. Russell will speak on some of the essential things small business owners need to know in regards to staying current and ensuring accuracy on these crucial subjects.
