Santa Clarita has been named the newest location of 1 Million Cups, a national program to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs.

Founded by the Kauffman Foundation, the program is based on the notion that entrepreneurs network and discover solutions over a million cups of coffee.

Business owners, innovators, funders and other interested community members are invited to attend 1 Million Cups Santa Clarita each Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. beginning on Weds., Nov. 8.

The free, weekly gathering will take place at Steamwork Center, located at 28368 Constellation Road, Suite 360 in Santa Clarita 91355.

To RSVP, please click “Going” on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1565261986874508/.

“We’re fortunate to have a 1 Million Cups chapter in Santa Clarita,” said Tania Mulry, CEO of Santa Clarita co-working space Steamwork Center, host of the event. “I’m thrilled to be a part of Santa Clarita’s growing community of entrepreneurs and grateful to the Kauffman Foundation for recognizing the spirit and drive in our community.”

1 Million Cups takes place in more than 150 communities across the nation, helping to foster startup communities on a grassroots level. The program’s model is consistent in each city: Every Wednesday morning, two early-stage startups present their companies to an audience of mentors, advisers and other entrepreneurs. Each founder presents for six minutes, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the audience.

The inaugural 1 Million Cups event in Santa Clarita will feature presentations by J.C. Burnett, CEO of LoadChief.com, a software which connects reputable courier companies with credentialed, independent delivery drivers, as well as Jennifer Mitchell Bussio, CEO of Deo Volente Construction, a general contractor focused on custom residential projects.

In each 1 Million Cups city, local entrepreneurs drive the program as community organizers. Volunteering for leadership roles in Santa Clarita are:

Tania Mulry, CEO of Steamwork Center

Lesa Evans, Startup Consultant

April Enriquez, CEO of WordPop PR

Kyle Duffy, CEO of Optimus Computing

Eras Noel, III, CEO of End Product Development

Lisa Silva, CEO of LMS Remote Office Services

Karla Monterrosa, Public Policy Professional

Joshua Bernstein, Website Development Consultant

Saniyeh Adham, College of the Canyons Student

To learn more about the program, visit the national website at www.1millioncups.com.

To learn more about 1 Million Cups Santa Clarita or to apply to present at an upcoming event, please visit http://1millioncups.com/santaclarita.

About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful. The Kauffman Foundation is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and uses its $2 billion in assets to collaboratively help people be self-sufficient, productive citizens. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect with us at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

About Steamwork Center
Founded in Santa Clarita, CA in 2017, Steamwork Center is a resource hub, event venue and workspace for entrepreneurs in Santa Clarita. Steamwork offers coworking, private office space, event space, an extensive talent network and business coaching to empower entrepreneurs and support their growth. For more information, visit SteamworkCenter.com and connect with us at twitter.com/steamworkcenter and facebook.com/steamworkcenter, or on Instagram @steamworkcenter.