It’s not every day that you get to invest in local startups, but a business incubator is hosting an event that will offer the CSRA community the opportunity to fund the business ventures of budding entrepreneurs.
On Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., theClubhou.se located at 100 Grace Hopper Lane in Augusta will host a Beer & Bytes Crowdfunding Demo Day, which will allow seven new business owners to pitch their companies to attendees and possibly receive funding to help them grow those companies. All the owners have recently completed theClubhou.se’s nine-month entrepreneurial training certificate program, Make Startups.
Tickets for the event cost $15 each, and each attendee will receive three “Startup Funding Bucks,” that they will use to vote for their favorite organizations, which include a mobile events company, a cybersecurity business, and a nonprofit that serves first responders. Once the votes are tallied, theClubhou.se will issue checks to the business owners based on the number of Startup Funding Bucks they received.
Delivering effective pitches is one of the major skills learned in Make Startups, according to the company’s Director of Impact and program instructor, Michael Newton Jr.
“Almost every class, we give them the opportunity to pitch,” Newton said. “That’s how it is in the business world; you’re continually introducing yourself.”
He said students are often nervous about selling their business ideas to others.
“Studies have shown people fear public speaking more than they fear death,” Newton said.
But it’s a necessary skill that can help them gain both investment capital and new employees. To help students develop their skills, theClubhou.se has developed an online tool that allows them to enter their pitches and receive instant feedback.
“The goal is you want to be able to pitch in 60 seconds or less,” he said.
The event will also include food provided by Georgia Alexander, owner of Soca Vegan Kitchen in Augusta, who recently graduated from the program.
“We try to provide opportunities for our graduates,” Newton said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/beer-bytes-crowdfunding-demo-day-tickets-622569581377?fbclid=IwAR3dFjKNGAY0XQi47uyRKwsLQm8BBn6Ra7O2h-s1ysPsasY_D1tTmW0NiKU.
