Photo above: The McAllen Chamber was recognized for its work with the One Million Cups and the Kauffman FastTrac programs. Pictured, from left are Olatunji Ajani, Executive Director for the Kauffman Foundation’s 1 Million Cups & FastTrac programs and Amy De la Hoz, Economic Development Coordinator at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
McAllen, McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups, Kauffman FastTrac, Elizabeth Suarez, Jorge Sanchez, entrepreneurship, small business, economic development
Staff Report
McAllen TX - The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has been recognized by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for its leadership with 1 Million Cups and Kauffman FastTrac, two flagship entrepreneurship programs operating in the McAllen community.
Elizabeth Suarez, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“Thank you to the Kauffman Foundation for this recognition and for providing knowledge and connection in communities like ours,” Suarez said. “We look forward to continuing this work and creating even more opportunities for entrepreneurs to succeed.”
The Chamber has hosted 1 Million Cups every month since launching the program on April 11, 2018. The free weekly program connects entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, business leaders, and fellow founders for feedback and collaboration. This year the Chamber also completed its eighth Kauffman FastTrac cohort, providing more than 60 entrepreneurs with hands-on business education in customer discovery, business planning, financial management, marketing, and growth strategies, culminating in Demo Day.
Jorge Sanchez, senior vice president of small business and innovation for the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and Kauffman Regional Network Lead for the West region, said the recognition reflects the entrepreneurs who drive the programs.
“1 Million Cups and FastTrac give our entrepreneurs a place to test their ideas, get honest feedback, and build the relationships that carry them into their next stage of growth,” Sanchez said. “This recognition from the Kauffman Foundation reflects the entrepreneurs who show up every month ready to build, and we’re proud to keep creating that space for them.”
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship, with approximately $2.45 billion in assets under management.
For more information, contact the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at (956) 682-2871.
Source - McAllen Chamber of Commerce