Asheville is a city brimming with vibrant creativity and exciting entrepreneurial energy. A number of recurring events throughout the year aim to capture and nurture that spirit, inspiring participants to find creativity and new ideas by sharing experiences.

1 Million Cups

1 Million Cups is an event for local entrepreneurs and creatives to meet and present their startups to Asheville’s thriving peer network. The event, based on the notion that great ideas are discussed over a million cups of coffee, takes place Wednesday mornings in Asheville (as well as in cities all across the country). 

During each event, which is free and open to everyone, entrepreneurs have six minutes to present their company or business idea (from newly formed up to five years old) to a room full of community members. For the next 20 minutes, the audience asks questions, provides helpful feedback, and shares similar experiences or support.

Every 1 Million Cups event concludes with a question posed to the entrepreneur: “What can we as a community do to help you?” This cultivates the intention that 1 Million Cups chapters are created by the community, for the community.

Go to www.1millioncups.com/asheville for more information.

PechaKucha Nights

PechaKucha Nights, which occur quarterly in Asheville, feature a simple presentation format where the speaker shows 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically, and the presenter speaks along to each of the images. The informal and fun evening gatherings – which are held worldwide – draw people from all walks of life to share their ideas, works, thoughts, holiday snaps, just about anything, in the PechaKucha 20x20 format.

Anyone can present at PechaKucha Nights; the key to a great presentation is to present something you love. Most people use PechaKucha Nights to present their latest creative projects or work, share a passion, or simply showcase a unique hobby.

Deeming the event a “real” social network, the organizers aim to provide a creatively nurturing and inspiring environment. For more information or to buy tickets for the next PechaKucha Nights, visit www.pechakucha.com/cities/asheville.

CreativeMornings

Invoking the mantra “Everyone is welcome. Everyone is creative,” CreativeMornings is a free, monthly breakfast lecture series that spotlights a local contributor to Asheville’s creative community. Each event includes a 20-minute talk, plus the opportunity to mingle over coffee with others in Asheville’s creative community.

Started in 2008 in New York City out of a desire for an ongoing, accessible event for the creative community, the concept was simple: breakfast and a short talk one Friday morning a month. Since then, the event has caught on in cities around the world, including Asheville.

Every month, attendees gather in downtown Asheville to enjoy a rotation of inspiring local speakers from a range of backgrounds. From design legends to hometown heroes, speakers are selected each month based on a global theme. Registration is required, and the event fills up fast. Visit www.creativemornings.com/cities/avl to find out when the next CreativeMornings will be held, and when registration opens.

To learn more about living in Asheville and Real Estate in Asheville, contact Mosaic Realty owner Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com or call him anytime at 828-337-8190.

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