2011 Year in Review
TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN was the year 100 Urban Entrepreneurs transformed itself from a brash startup into a nationally prominent nonprofit foundation. Throughout those 12 months, though, our focus stayed consistent: We canvassed the country to find the most talented, promising urban entrepreneurs, regardless of industry. Then we funded them (with $10,000 startup grants) and gave them free business education (through our eight-week mentoring program staffed by numerous experts across all business disciplines).
We expanded our partnerships, broadened our network of entrepreneurs and increased our ground presence in a number of cities across the country, Atlanta in particular. Now we’re determined to make 2012 the year of the entrepreneur — and we can’t do it without you. To make a fully tax-deductible donation to 100 Urban Entrepreneurs, click here. If you’re interested in helping mentor a young urban entrepreneur from our program, click here. Want to sign up for 100UE’s biweekly newsletter? E-mail brian@100UE.org.
What were some of the highlights of 2011 for 100UE? Read on.
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Social Media
We significantly increased our presence on Facebook and Twitter, and added chapters in Atlanta, Detroit and North Carolina’s Research Triangle, among others. Want to stay fully apprised of all things entrepreneurial in 2012? Join our networks!
Timeline
• January 2011: Grammy-winning superproducer Bryan-Michael Cox, newly elected to the 100UE advisory board, discusses urban entrepreneurship
• February: Diddy, hip-hop titan and entrepreneur extraordinaire, donates $100,000 to 100UE
• March: 100UE cofounders Magnus Greaves and Lucas Riggins talk to BlackGivesBack.com about the importance of helping urban entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground
• April: 100UE chairman Dan Carriere and cofounder Lucas Riggins discuss 100UE’s live “Never Stop Pitching!” business-pitch events on TV in Washington D.C. here and here
• May: CNN highlights 100UE and asks, “what makes a perfect business pitch?”
• June: The Atlanta Voice notes that 100UE “makes business dreams come to life”
• July: The White House and the City of Atlanta join 100UE to highlight the virtues of urban entrepreneurship, in Atlanta and nationwide
• August: Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed welcomes actor/director Tyler Perry and 100UE to the Atlanta Urban Entrepreneurship Forum
• September: Says Inc. magazine: “Let’s create 100 startups!” 100UE cofounders Greaves and Riggins show them how
• October: 100UE fundee highlight: Birmingham, Alabama–based Hayah Mineral Cosmetics, featured in Black Enterprise, show how they’re committed to the promotion of black-owned businesses nationwide
• November: In a first step that will be repeated many, many times, 100UE of Atlanta holds its inaugural meetup in Georgia’s capital, the unquestioned heart of urban entrepreneurship in America
• December: Thought leaders from throughout the South hold a small-business planning session at 100UE’s latest Atlanta symposium
Partners
In 2011, 100UE expanded its major partnerships, which now include:
• The White House
• Black Enterprise
• The City of Atlanta
• Clark Atlanta University
• The Atlanta Development Authority
• The National Urban League
Live Events
In 2011, 100UE hosted eight live “Never Stop Pitching!” 60-Second Business-Pitch events in seven different cities — including five in one two-week stretch over the summer — bringing 16 new companies (see below) into our funding-and-mentoring program!
• April 21: Washington, D.C.
• May 22: Atlanta
• July 20: New Orleans
• July 29: Atlanta
• July 30: Boston
• August 1: New York
• August 8: Philadelphia
• September 27: Akron, Ohio
New Fundees
(Listed in chronological order based on when they were accepted into 100UE’s program)
• Easy as Pie
• Size 12
• Oasis Organics
• The Frock Shop
• The Website Shop
• The Honey Bunch Kids
• Body Quest Ice Cream
• Cool Fruit Sensations
• Ujamaa Deals
• Genesis Magazine
• My Crowning Jewel
• GZpoints
• Sole Discretion
• Wash Cycle Laundry
• OurBuckeyeHub.com
• Andreas DeKar Winery
