Networking Event at The MAIN

Hi, Open Coffee SCV friends!

Please join us on Thursday, May 18 at a Business Incubator networking event at The MAIN theatre. The goal of the event is to connect creative and tech startup entrepreneurs with established leaders in the business community. You are all invited.

I look forward to seeing you there!

What?

A networking event. Appetizers & Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by May 15, 2017.

Who?

• Creative & Tech startup entrepreneurs.
• Established business leaders
• Open Coffee SCV participants are expressly invited.

When?

Thursday May 18 at 6pm.

Where?

The Main, 24266 Main St., Newhall CA 91321
Here is the official invitation provided by The City:

Business Design – Models of Social Impact – at CalArts Hive

There’s another interesting event coming up Saturday, at the CalArts Hive. When we meet next Tuesday, those of us who made it there can fill in everyone else.

RSVP is requested.

Here’s the info provided by CalArts:

Models of Impact: “Social Impact”
Be immersed in the landscape of innovative business models that are driving organizations and entrepreneurs forward. Through this intense 2 hour session, participants will be introduced to the latest tools and design practices leveraged by leading “business designers” – practitioners who work with clients to invent impact and revenue-driven business models. With an emphasis on game-based learning, participants will be thrown into a deep-dive that will give practitioners and enthusiasts of all levels of experience a great framework for approaching real-world problems using business design. Workshop will culminate in each participant or small team working to design and pitch their own unique business concept.

Instructor: Matthew Manos
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2017; 10am-12noon
Location: CalArts campus, G202, Patty Disney Center for Life and Work (Generator Building)
Please Email careers@calarts.edu to let us know you’re coming.

Entrepreneurship Panel and Reception at CalArts

CalArts:

CalArts is one of the most amazing places in the Santa Clarita Valley, a world famous center and hub of art and artists, hidden in plain sight. Yet, unless you are lucky enough to be a member of the CalArts community, it’s entirely likely that you’ve never had the chance to see the campus first hand.

Next Wednesday, there will be a great opportunity to do so.

Invitation:

CalArts is inviting you, and the local entrepreneurship, startup, and business development communities to come on campus for a panel discussion featuring some successful artist-entrepreneurs.

The event is free, although RSVP is requested.

Panelists:

• David Braun, Founder, Open the Portal
• Harmony Jiroudek, Director of Academic Relations, Kadenze, Inc.
• Robbie Nock, Founder of Signpost and Museum Guide
• Leslie Scott, Founder and Creative Director, BODYART Dance
• Tina Tangalakis, Founder, Della LA

What to Expect:

The plan is to learn from the panel, participate in the Q & A, see the campus in person, and find out more about the CalArts HIVE.
Wine and cheese will be provided; it’s going to be a great evening!

What to Do:

Please RSVP.  When you arrive at the entrance, let the guard know you are there for the entrepreneurship event. Park in any normal parking space. Walk towards the building, and someone will be there to guide you. (By the way, you may wish to remember bring business cards.)

Details of When and Where:

Wednesday February 8, 2017 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.

California Institute of the Arts
Room G201 - Generator Building
24700 McBean Parkway
Santa Clarita CA, 91355

For questions, contact alumni@calarts.edu or 661-222-2742.

Where Startups have meetings in Santa Clarita

Many of the participants at Open Coffee Santa Clarita are pursuing home-based or “garage” businesses. It makes sense for a small startup, because many of us are bootstrapping, which means making due with tiny budgets. However, occasionally, the necessity arises for a different kind of space, especially for meetings with outsiders.

• For informal meetings or work in public places, local coffee shops are very popular. The owners are generally very happy for us to work at their locations as long as we buy their food and drinks, and are considerate of other patrons and their employees. Particularly popular among local entrepreneurs are Honu Coffee (where Open Coffee meets), The Corner Bakery, Peets, and Starbucks, which has several locations in the SCV. In fact, I’ve been to business meetings at all of these, at one time or another. It’s amazing how likely you are to run into a fellow entrepreneur at one of these locations.
• The Santa Clarita Public Library has meeting rooms that may be used by the community. Once again the degree to which we are welcome depends on how considerate we are of the library, staff, and other patrons. Talk to the library in advance to find out the procedure, any required paperwork, and to make a reservation.
• Co-working spaces provide more formal business environments. Compared to equivalent regular leased commercial space, they may be more expensive per square foot, but what you gain is tremendous flexibility. You only pay for the amount and kind of space you need, and can easily scale up or down whenever you need to. EngageSCV has a small shared space at a fantastic central location on Main St. in downtown Newhall. The Steamworks Center is planning a large project, but a space hasn’t yet been formalized. It will most likely be in the northwest part of Santa Clarita near the Industrial Park. If neighboring San Fernando Valley isn’t too far for you, you could check out OfficeSlice on Ventura Blvd. Pasadena is chock full of co-working spaces.
• The City of Santa Clarita has a beautiful business incubator in downtown Newhall; it’s a great place to really get work done. Unfortunately, it is only large enough to host a small handful of businesses. If you’re interested, sign up with The City to be notified when a space opens up, and be prepared for a competitive application process.
• The SBDC at the University Center at College of the Canyons has created a new free space for local startups to use, which they’re calling The Entrepreneurship Center.  It is available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, and on Friday from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.  Email sbdc@canyons.edu to reserve the space for a private meeting, at least a few days in advance.  An SBDC Parking Permit will be provided if you reserve the space.  You may want to avoid using this resource during the first few weeks of each academic semester, as the parking lot is quite busy.  While you’re at the SBDC, you may wish to sign up as an SBDC client as well (www.cocsbdc.org). This is also free, and includes invaluable support to startups, far beyond access to an occasional-use office space.

Tech Startup Networking Event at the Newhall Refinery

The City of Santa Clarita is organizing a Tech Startup Networking Event at the Newhall Refinery on Main St. this Thursday (20 October 2016 at 6pm).

It’s a great opportunity to meet members of our community whose schedules don’t always work for Tuesday morning coffee. The food & drink there is something to look forward to as well.

The event is one of the Innovate LA 2016 activities.

Those who are interested in attending are asked to please RSVP.

Meet Jeffrey Forrest, VP of Economic Development at COC

At tomorrow’s meeting (Tuesday 18 October 2016 at 8am at Honu Coffee on Lyons Ave.), we are looking forward to welcoming Jeffery Forrest, the new VP of Economic Development at College of the Canyons.

Why?

He wants to learn about us, who we are and what we are working on. He has experience with startups, accelerators and economic development and wants to offer his support and learn how he and COC can help us gain knowledge and access to the resources we need in order for our businesses to grow and be successful. Jeffrey is passionate, energetic and eager to help the startup community. Come ready to be solution-focused and share what resources and information can help you reach your next level.

Here’s an SCV News article from July 2016 when he was named VP.
Here’s the official webpage for the Economic Development Division at COC.

We’re looking forward to a great meeting!

Tech Day LA

Tech Day LA is coming up this Thursday, 22 October 2016. Some of our regular attendees have mentioned carpooling. If you’d like to be part of the carpool, please get in touch soon.

Incubator Networking Event

The Santa Clarita Business Incubator is hosting a networking event for local entrepreneurs next Thursday (18 August 2016). Everyone interested in startups is invited. However, if you plan to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday August 17.

We look forward to seeing you there!

First Meeting was today!

This morning we met at Honu Coffee, in downtown Newhall, for the inaugural meeting of an Open Coffee group for Santa Clarita. Eight enthusiastic people attended.

We introduced ourselves, and everybody had a chance to talk.

We found out about some topics that are of great interest to some of us, such as the prospect of bringing high speed internet to the SCV whether via fiber or some other means.

We briefly considered meeting monthly, but the overwhelming consensus was that we should meet weekly. Our plan going forward from today is to meet every Tuesday at 8:00 am at Honu Coffee. Everybody interested in the local startup community is welcome.