Happy New Year! As we close out 2016 and close in on our first full year of operation, like many people, I'm feeling reflective. Innovate Springfield was one of the boldest economic development initiatives to launch from Springfield in 2016 and I feel honored to be at the helm. I am filled with a tremendous amount of gratitude to our founding partners. The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln (CFLL) was the driving force behind Innovate Springfield and, as our parent organization, has been foundational to our startup success. I will never be able to thank enough CFLL President and CEO, John Stremsterfer, and his stellar staff for their countless hours of support. We are also grateful for seed funding from The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Q5 Initiative, which greatly accelerated the the launch of our programs. Our founding board members have provided leadership and direction as we have navigated uncharted territory in Springfield. I'm thankful, specifically, to our founding board chair, Bruce Sommer, for having the vision to bring a business and social innovation incubator to Springfield and the tenacity to stay the course. 2016 was the build phase of Innovate Springfield and 2017 looks to be the growth phase. Our membership roster includes 16 members representing 12 businesses or organizations, 7 of which recieve incubation. We plan to hire a Community Manager to join our small but mighty team. We will complete our strategic plan that will map out our priorities for the year which include financial and operational growth, cultivating the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and spuring economic and social development in the Springfield region. Cheers to all of you who have been our champions and here's to a prosperous 2017! Katie Davison Innovate Springfield Executive Director |
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CEO vs Sharks Success More than 175 students, business owners, and community members attended Sangamon CEO's second annual CEO vs Sharks on December 10th. Twenty-nine CEO students pitched 13 businesses to the sharks, and Tomatoes and Blankets were selected byt the sharks as the business concept that was most creative and viable among the 13 businesses. The event was featured in the State Journal Register and News Channel 20. |
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We're Hiring! We are a community of curious minds exploring new ideas, examining challenges, and creating solutions. We are looking for someone to help manage our community. If you are hyper-organized and solution-driven, you should reach out and show us why you would be a great Community Manager for iSPI. Visit the job description and apply here |
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February Workshop 1: Idea Generation Thursday, February 9th, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. |
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Where do ideas come from? How does a spark turn into a flame? How do you know when you are on to something? How do you refine the idea? These are some questions we will explore in the workshop Idea Generation with a panel of artists and industry “idea experts” on Thursday, February 8 from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register for this workshop and view our upcoming schedule of workshops by visiting our website. |
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Innovate Springfield Kicks-Starts Social Innovation Program Nadia Gronkowski iSPI Social Innovation Program Coordinator |
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In October 2016, I was thrilled to join the Innovate Springfield team to lead its Social Innovation Program. Since then, many have asked: what is social innovation, and how will it benefit the Springfield community? Social innovation is a field that produces new, more effective, more creative solutions to social problems. It is distinct from social entrepreneurship... Continue Reading |
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Check out the Sangamon Success Report, and stay tuned for updates on the Social Innovation Program in each iSPI monthly newsletter. |
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The Rise of Clickwrap Agreements & How They Affect All New Businesses Chuck Davis and David Henessey Attorneys, Brown, Hay & Stephens |
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Whenever we make purchases online, download apps, or even create a fantasy football team, we agree to contracts. By clicking yes/ok/accept in a site or app, you agree to enforceable contractual terms known as a clickwrap agreement. When creating a website or app, it’s easy to for entrepreneurs to overlook these contractual agreements, but they are important to consider... Continue Reading |
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Brown, Hay & Stephens holds office hours for members at Innovate Springfield on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
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Bravo! Congratulations to Barnabas Helmy who attend CES in Las Vegas to showcase the Puck, the gadget that lets you control your home from your phone. CES is the premier consumer technology trade show that takes place in Las Vegas every year. Learn more about the Puck here. |
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Parlez-vous francais? Are you ready to take a once in a lifetime trip to the City of Lights? iSPI member Speakeasy Language House is hosting a trip to Paris in June. Learn more about the trip here. |
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