A weekly national program aimed at strengthening the local entrepreneurial community is coming to Wichita, and four Wichita State University staff are on the organizing committee.

The Kauffman Foundation’s 1 Million Cups is a weekly educational program based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and network over a million cups of coffee. The Wichita program is being organized by four Wichita State staffers and will be held at WSU Old Town. It is designed to educate, engage and connect entrepreneurs to the community.

The Wichita organization team for 1 Million Cups includes Mark Torline, director of WSU Ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurship; and Ennovar staff members Ryan Uptmor, executive director; Kenton Hansen, software development lab director; and Tonya Witherspoon, strategy officer. Additional organizing committee members are listed at http://www.1millioncups.com/wichita.

The first program will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. It will feature Fliphound, the largest online independent digital billboard network, and Atlas MD, one of the nation's fastest growing direct primary care practices.

These startups will present for six minutes, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session that always ends with the question: “What can we, as a community, do to support you?” 

“It’s designed to help startups and even established businesses solve problems, overcome failures and work through challenges,” said Witherspoon. “It’s a way to bring the community together to spur economic growth and innovation.” 

The weekly programs will be filmed by Wichita State’s Media Resources Center, posted on YouTube and aired on WSUTV Cox Channel 13. KMUW is a media sponsor, and WSU’s Ennovar and Community Engagement Institute are also contributing sponsors. 

The program will be each Wednesday at the same time and location and is free and open to the public. Doors open for networking at 8:30 a.m. and presentations run from 9-10 a.m.

Presenters are prepped to give a strong presentation through Kauffman Founders School Powerful Presentation Series and receive post-presentation feedback from an audience survey and the local organization group.

1 Million Cups is a program that has expanded from Kansas City to more than 80 cities around the United States in less than four years. Programs are led by more than 300 volunteers in 35-plus states, one U.S. territory and six time zones. It attracts an estimated national weekly attendance of more than 2,500 people. For more information or to apply to present visit www.1millioncups.com/wichita.