Free networking and coworking opportunities available for public Nov. 18-24
Northwood University invites the community to a Nov. 18 ribbon cutting commemorating the NU Idea Center relaunch in downtown Midland, Michigan.
“As Midland’s university, we are grateful to partner with the Midland Business Alliance to celebrate recent improvements that further position the Idea Center as a hub for our entrepreneurial ecosystem,” stated Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president at Northwood University. “The Northwood Idea Center is committed to hosting programming and events that contribute to innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity.”
The ribbon cutting will kick off a series of events held throughout Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from Nov. 18 to 24.
“Our Global Entrepreneurship Week offerings reflect the center’s commitment to being a useful resource for artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, and each event will serve as a meaningful opportunity for students and community members to learn and network,” stated Patrick McElgunn, director of the NU Idea Center.
The Nov. 18 ribbon cutting event — which begins at 2 p.m. — will kick off Northwood University’s celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week and will include light refreshments. Throughout the week, the Idea Center will host various programming and events aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, including:
• Headshot Day (1 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18) — Professional headshots for Northwood students ($10 for members of the public)
• Test Your Startup Idea (3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 19) — Workshop to help refine and validate startup concepts ($10 for members of the public)
• Entrepreneurial Mixer (5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 19) — Networking and community building event for active and aspiring entrepreneurs (including students, faculty, and local business professionals)
• Build Your Brand Workshop (3 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20) — Workshop to develop personal and professional branding strategies
• Infrastructure of Entrepreneurship Panel (5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20) — Discussion about the unseen elements of successful businesses
• Elevator Pitch Competition (5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21) — Opportunity for students members to pitch a business idea to industry-experienced judges (community members are invited as spectators)
• Founders Friday Breakfast (8 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 22) — An event for current and aspiring founders across all industries to facilitate learning, support and networking among like-minded individuals
• Failing Forward with Founders (1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22) — A roundtable featuring insights from successful founders of Gas Money about the failures and obstacles they had to persevere through to create the brand that they’ve built today)
“The Idea Center is committed to hosting programming and events that contribute to innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity,” McElgunn stated. “Our Global Entrepreneurship Week offerings reflect that commitment, and each will serve as a meaningful opportunity for students and community members to learn and network.”
All Global Entrepreneurship Week events are free for students, faculty and staff. There is a $10 cost for members of the public to participate in the Headshot Day, Test Your Startup Idea, Build Your Brand Workshop, Entrepreneurship Panel, and Failing Forward with Founders events. To register for any of the Global Entrepreneurship Week programming, visit https://community.northwood.edu/e/global-entrepreneurship-week-2024/
“That week, we also will be offering free co-working from the Idea Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday,” McElgunn noted.
Co-working is essentially a shared office space where people from different companies can work together, network, and collaborate.
“The Idea Center has several co-working layouts, ranging from standard individual desks to standup desks and even multiple table configurations for more collaborative work,” McElgunn added. “Whether you are looking for a new space to knock out some remote work, a collaborative area to gather some co-workers for a brainstorming session, or you just want a change of scenery for the day, our free co-working that we’re offering during Global Entrepreneurship Week is a fantastic no-risk opportunity to give our space a try and immerse yourself in a vibrant new atmosphere.”
The Northwood Idea Center is located at 102 E. Main St. in downtown Midland, Michigan.
