The community organization’s monthly meetings are an inclusive place for start-up founders, business owners, investors, entrepreneurs, and those interested in supporting local businesses in Midland to connect and support each other all the while enjoying free coffee and breakfast goods.
“I think any city trying to foster new creative growth needs a program like this,” Brookelyn Dickson, the marketing director for Decor Drop, said. “It helps encourage businesses to grow, creates jobs and pushes community members to not be afraid to innovate from where they are right now.”
Decor Drop is one of the 14 businesses that have gotten the chance to present at Founders Blend since its creation in April 2023.
The organization centers on the motto, “Blending minds and building businesses.”
“It is a great place to meet and connect with other entrepreneurs and learn from other business owners whether it be their pains or accomplishments,” Dickson said. “We benefitted from ideas shared with us to help solve some hurdles we are facing, and we also were able to get our name out to our community of entrepreneurs who love to share new business concepts with our community.”
During each Founders Blend meeting, two local businesses share their company’s story. The presentations are followed by a facilitated Q&A session with the audience and emcee.
“I found that everyone was really involved and interested,” Cody Reeves, New Angle Capital business owner and a former Founders Blend presenter, said. “Not just in my presentation, but in the one ahead of me too.”
Reeves said while it is great exposure for the businesses presenting the actual meetings are what hold the most value.
“It shows that there really are people not only interested in owning their own businesses but actually working to educate themselves and create a network of peers to help them move forward,” Reeves said.
The need for an entrepreneurial community group like Founders Blend emerged during Midland Development Corp.’s Business Retention and Expansion visits with local businesses. Since then, Founders Blend has been executed in true Midland fashion, through invaluable community collaboration. The Midland Development Corp., Second Story Coworking, the University of Texas Permian Basin, the Midland Chamber of Commerce, BAM Consulting, Forty Wolves Marketing, Anzwers Marketing, Filmhunter Media and Midland College have been working together each month to foster the large entrepreneurial spirit here in Midland.
“It’s a circle that will continue to feed and thrive as long as people are showing up and referring, hence creating a network effect,” Dickson said.
To reach all parts of the community, Founders Blend Midland rotates where its monthly meetings are hosted every few months. Recurring locations include Second Story Coworking, UT Permian Basin’s CEED Building, and Midland College’s newly renovated Jack E. Brown Conference Hall.
“Not everyone can make every location work with their schedule so providing multiple opportunities around our communities allows others to attend that might not make it otherwise,” Dickson said.
Founders Blend monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. The next Founders Blend is Wednesday, December 13th on the Midland College campus at the Jack E. Brown Conference Hall. If you’re interested in volunteering, sponsoring a meeting, or presenting your local business visit us.
Source: https://www.mrt.com/business/article/founders-blend-organization-helps-small-18547653.php
- https://foundersblend.com/