1MC Playbook community v6
Community ORGANIZER PLAYBOOK
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY The 1 Million Cups (1MC) Playbook is made up of several modules and is designed to serve as a “how-to” for you and your team. It will be your guidebook for making decisions, building your program and handling difficult situations. This module will provide tips for generating awareness of your program and engaging your local entrepreneurship community. Materials to help publicize your events are also available under the Resources tab of your dashboard. The Playbook will be regularly refined by the Kauffman Foundation in collaboration with 1MC organizers. It only takes a few committed community members to help educate an entrepreneur, so don’t worry if your audience is small. 1MC develops organically in most communities when the audience provides quality feedback and thoughtful support to entrepreneurs. Here are few ways to kick start your growth and to keep a steady flow of new members over time.
Publicize 1 Million Cups • Use the promotional materials in the online dashboard under the Resources tab, including editable fliers, branding guidelines and other • Reach out to local and regional news outlets (newspaper, radio, television) • Tweet two to three times a day • Create a Facebook event page • Add 1MC to local event listings (community calendars found at such organizations as your chamber of commerce)
Engage Your Entrepreneurship Community • Use your personal network to reach entrepreneurs and other key players • Ask presenters to return as audience members or guest panelists • Ask current attendees to invite new people • Reach out to groups who also support or provide services to entrepreneurs: Accelerators and incubators Colleges, universities and local school districts The mayor’s office, city officials and the chamber of commerce • Attend startup events in your area that attract entrepreneurs or small-business owners • Cross-promote 1MC with related events, such as Global Entrepreneurship Week or another group’s startup event; encourage attendees to come to both
Have more questions? Contact 1MC headquarters at [email protected]
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COMMUNITY
Mix It Up a Little If your audience is waning or you just need to jazz things up a bit, here are a few ideas from other organizers that can help rejuvenate your community. • Host a job/intern board Allow companies and startups in your community to stand up and announce openings they are trying to fill • Develop promotions Institute a 1MC Mug Club: Give a 1MC travel mug to any participant who attends 10 times or brings someone new Give away 1MC T-shirts, stickers, etc. Consider getting sponsors for swag • Host 1 Million Cups College Day Have a week dedicated to college students. Use it as an opportunity to educate students about the startup community in their area. Arrange a Q&A with local companies before or after. You can even encourage the audience to represent their favorite college that day. • Recruit expert panels You may come to a point where the audience asks fewer meaningful, thought-provoking questions or your community has matured and can become a little more structured. Try inviting two to three “expert” panelists each week who are knowledgeable about the weekly presenters’ industries and ask the panel members to start the Q&A. We have found that expert panelist can demonstrate for the audience how to ask good questions, add more value to the company presenting that day and bring a slightly different spin to each week’s event. • Hold themed weeks Themed weeks can bring in audience members who might not typically attend. It also can add some excitement for the community as a whole. Possible themes include: - Highlighting different parts of one industry (for example, two startups that target agriculture) - Women-owned businesses - College-student startups
Have more questions? Contact 1MC headquarters at [email protected]
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COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY The 1 Million Cups (1MC) Playbook is made up of several modules and is designed to serve as a “how-to” for you and your team. It will be your guidebook for making decisions, building your program and handling difficult situations. This module will provide tips for generating awareness of your program and engaging your local entrepreneurship community. Materials to help publicize your events are also available under the Resources tab of your dashboard. The Playbook will be regularly refined by the Kauffman Foundation in collaboration with 1MC organizers. It only takes a few committed community members to help educate an entrepreneur, so don’t worry if your audience is small. 1MC develops organically in most communities when the audience provides quality feedback and thoughtful support to entrepreneurs. Here are few ways to kick start your growth and to keep a steady flow of new members over time.
Publicize 1 Million Cups • Use the promotional materials in the online dashboard under the Resources tab, including editable fliers, branding guidelines and other • Reach out to local and regional news outlets (newspaper, radio, television) • Tweet two to three times a day • Create a Facebook event page • Add 1MC to local event listings (community calendars found at such organizations as your chamber of commerce)
Engage Your Entrepreneurship Community • Use your personal network to reach entrepreneurs and other key players • Ask presenters to return as audience members or guest panelists • Ask current attendees to invite new people • Reach out to groups who also support or provide services to entrepreneurs: Accelerators and incubators Colleges, universities and local school districts The mayor’s office, city officials and the chamber of commerce • Attend startup events in your area that attract entrepreneurs or small-business owners • Cross-promote 1MC with related events, such as Global Entrepreneurship Week or another group’s startup event; encourage attendees to come to both
Have more questions? Contact 1MC headquarters at [email protected]
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COMMUNITY
Mix It Up a Little If your audience is waning or you just need to jazz things up a bit, here are a few ideas from other organizers that can help rejuvenate your community. • Host a job/intern board Allow companies and startups in your community to stand up and announce openings they are trying to fill • Develop promotions Institute a 1MC Mug Club: Give a 1MC travel mug to any participant who attends 10 times or brings someone new Give away 1MC T-shirts, stickers, etc. Consider getting sponsors for swag • Host 1 Million Cups College Day Have a week dedicated to college students. Use it as an opportunity to educate students about the startup community in their area. Arrange a Q&A with local companies before or after. You can even encourage the audience to represent their favorite college that day. • Recruit expert panels You may come to a point where the audience asks fewer meaningful, thought-provoking questions or your community has matured and can become a little more structured. Try inviting two to three “expert” panelists each week who are knowledgeable about the weekly presenters’ industries and ask the panel members to start the Q&A. We have found that expert panelist can demonstrate for the audience how to ask good questions, add more value to the company presenting that day and bring a slightly different spin to each week’s event. • Hold themed weeks Themed weeks can bring in audience members who might not typically attend. It also can add some excitement for the community as a whole. Possible themes include: - Highlighting different parts of one industry (for example, two startups that target agriculture) - Women-owned businesses - College-student startups
Have more questions? Contact 1MC headquarters at [email protected]
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