SAVE THE DATE
iSPI Tech Talk, May 18th Innovate Springfield is proud to partner with INB to present an iSPI Tech Talk: Emerging Technologies in Finance, Securities, and Modernized Government. Look for your invitation in your inbox soon! iSPI Tech Talks is a series we’re curating to bring together thought leaders in the tech, startup, and entrepreneurial spaces. Stay tuned! |
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iSPI Welcomes New Community Manager, Sarah Eck Innovate Springfield is a community of curious minds exploring new ideas, examining challenges, and creating solutions. We quickly realized we needed someone to help manage our growing community. Sarah Eck joined iSPI in April and has quickly become an integral part of the iSPI family! |
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Sarah brings with her 4 years of experience at ICASA (Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault) where she managed events and programming. She's been a fantastic addition to the team and in addition to serving as the official iSPI greeter, welcome wagon, member manager, and salonnière extraordinaire, she is also a phenomenal baker and chalk artist! (Those last two were unexpected bonuses.) |
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iSPI Investor Pitch Event On March 30th, nearly 60 investors, potential investors, guests of iSPI, and entrepreneurs gathered at Innovate Springfield to learn investment basics and hear three iSPI members pitch for private investment. The audience heard from Eric Broughton, Founder and CEO of FitTube; Barnabas Helmy, Founder and CEO of SmashToast - makers of the Puck; and Dr. Josh Renken, founder and CEO of Health Assurance, as they pitched for funding. |
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Sangamon CEO at Business Connections The Sangamon CEO students will showcase their businesses at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Business Connections trade show. Stop by the Prairie Capitol Convention Center on Thursday, April 20th from 1:00 - 5:00 PM to learn more about the businesses they have been developing all year. |
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But wait-- there's more! You could also win a hover board from Innovate Springfield incubator graduate ManSeeManWant.com by visiting all the CEO booths. The CEO students also talked about their trade show plans with WMAY's Greg Bishop. Click here to give it a listen. |
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Sangamon CEO Students Set to Graduate, New Crop of Future Entrepreneurs Ushered In On May 19th, the Sangamon CEO Class of 2017 will graduate at a breakfast ceremony organized by the students at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center from 7:30 - 9:00 AM. You're invited to celebrate with us! Please register at: sangamonceo.com/graduation We recieved nearly 80 applications for the Sangamon CEO Class of 2018! The Sangamon CEO Steering Committee is excited to announce that the program will operate with two full classes in 2018 and the selection committee had a tough job narrowing the numbers down. Big thanks to those who helped spread the word and encouraged the students in your lives to apply to this great program. Students who have been accepted to the Class of 2018 are expected to be notified later this month. Expect big things from next year's class! |
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Social Innovation Program featured in UIS Center for State Policy & Leadership Annual Report The "Sangamon Success" report and Innovate Springfield's Social Innovation Program were recently highlighted in the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership's Annual Report and Convocation breakfast. Click here to check out the report, and keep up with the latest news from the Center by liking their new Facebook page. |
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April Workshop: Lean Pivots Thursday, April 27, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. |
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A pivot is a structured course correction that an entrepreneur decides to take with their business. There are many different types of pivots, each designed to test the viability of a different hypothesis about your product or business model. In this workshop, you will learn how to determine when to pivot and the many different ways your business can pivot. |
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Welcome New Members! Innovate Springfield has added some new names to its chalkboard, bringing our total number of members up to 15. We are proud to welcome: |
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What We're Into This Month |
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Springfield March for Science At iSPI, we <img height="22" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5e9922_bbb9a23c29c9407f8a31e2fc45adead6.png_256" width="22"> science. After all, science and innovation go together like a water molecule and... well, another water molecule (#polarized). You'll likely see one or more iSPI staff at this event. Plus they are literally walking to the front door of our office. Saturday, April 22, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Visit the facebook page to learn more. |
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Last Winter Farmers Market |
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It's your last chance to stock up on early spring veggies by some of our favorite famer entrepreneurs until the summer market! Take advantage at the last winter farmers market of the year. |
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Saturday, April 22 Third Presbyterian Church 1030 N 7th St, Springfield, IL 62702 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Hit it up before marching for science! |
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What We're Listening To Did you know we have an official iSPI Radio collaborative Spotify playlist? It's an eclectic mix of old, new, funk, pop, rock-- just about everything that has, at one time or another, struck our fancy. Feel free to listen to what we listen to and add your favorite jams. We'd love to hear them, and you never know-- maybe you'll hear your picks playing in the co-working spaces next time you're at iSPI. |
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What We're Reading Sorry for the delayed response... Sorry it's taken so long for me to get back to you... We've all said it. Read why the New York Magazine says we need to stop apologizing for this in our emails. |
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