Many thanks to our founders for a successful Capital Matchmaker event!
January 28, 2021
On January 21st we hosted our bi-annual event that identifies high-growth businesses founded by Black, LatinX and Women entrepreneurs. This event was particularly exciting because we ran the virtual production from inside our new coworking, private office and event space. For us, this was a dream come true!
Before the pitch contest we were able to share a bit of history about how we got to where we are today. If you weren't there, you definitely need to check out this video! It highlights the historic and ongoing need in Chicago for diverse investments and how we've grown to be in a space where we can be the bridge for those investments.
After a thorough application process, we identified 3 founders to participate in our Capital Matchmaker program. For weeks we've been meeting with them and working on their business models, pitch decks, presentations, and strategies for development and growth. Each of these organizations worked hard to be here and deliver fantastic presentations.
The 3 founders that pitched are
JSleeve
,
Cyber PopUp
, and
ConnectCareHero.
All are in the early stages of business but have launched and are revenue-positive.
After a long session of deliberation by the judges, 1st prize was awarded to Cyber PopUp led by Christine Izuakor. 2nd place was awarded to JSleeve led by Jeremy Henderson, and 3rd place was ConnectCareHero led by Osvaldo Montelongo. To be clear, it was very close competition between them all!
While the prize money was one perk of our program, the follow up activities include opportunities to connect with and meet investors via Mox.E's network.
We look forward to watching each of these founders and their companies thrive! Hopefully soon the investments made in their companies will slowly turn the tide and increase the percentage of investment dollars the go to Black, LatinX and Women founders in Chicago.
Work From Home And An Enterprise Level Workplace!
January 27, 2021
We're all tired of working from home, aren't we?
Even for those of us who previously worked from home frequently we still had client meetings, coffee meet-ups, networking socials, and access to professional spaces to check into once in a while.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to work from home most of the time with the added benefit of working out of a professional workplace several times a month just to refocus and have some human connection from a distance?
Well, have we got good news for you! It IS possible!
We've heard the local feedback from South Loopers who have been pressed into only working from home due to circumstances and need a nearby outlet to work a few times a month.
When you come to Mox.E at 1449 S. Michigan you get these benefits:
-
Access to an open coworking office space several times a month nearby that's clean and safe
-
Ability to utilize our private phone booths and conference rooms
-
Access to our podcast booth
-
Supported by enterprise-level amenities (like fiber optic internet, cutting-edge video conferencing technology, touch-less smart access to building, and a world-class security system)
-
Access to our member-only workshops, networking, and business development programming
If you're in that Work From Home crowd, this may be the right solution for you.
1449's history, Record Row, and the continuation of black-owned business
January 27, 2021
When we were searching for a new space to operate out of, we had no idea what kind of building we would land on.
And this one is a true gold mine.
Prior to the 50's, black musicians and singers were not allowed to be seen or visible in any way in America's music scene. Their music was popular, but credit was stripped away.
So an entrepreneurial couple took things into their own hands. Vivian Carter and Jimmy Bracken took over 1449 S. Michigan and started a black-owned record label. VeeJay Records was born.
Prior to VeeJay, Vivian
was a popular disc jockey and Jimmy had a record store in Gary, Indiana. They borrowed $500 from a pawnbroker to launch their label in 1953 with the Spaniels and Jimmy Reed. Vivian Carter and Jimmy Bracken were the “Vee” and “Jay” in Vee-Jay Records.
At one time they were the largest black-owned record company in the world. The strip were they were located on South Michigan quickly turned into the historic Record Row where many other famous black-owned labels were also located.
VeeJay is renowned for its catalog of blues classics by Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Billy Boy Arnold, and many more, as well as doo-wop, soul, gospel and jazz gems, and pop hits by the Four Seasons and the Beatles. Vivian’s brother Calvin Carter produced many of the label’s hits.
Famously, they were actually the first label to sign on the Beatles when they came to the US after Capital Records passed up on the opportunity.
If you want to hear the fascinating history of VeeJays and Record Row, this documentary is well-worth your time.
Cradle of Rhythm and Blues
tells of the
the birth and emergence of the soul music industry in the late 1950s along the 12-block stretch of Chicago's South Michigan Avenue known as "Record Row."
https://youtu.be/d_M1AY8Pu7M
The fact that our building holds such rich history of black and women ownership makes it an excellent fit with Mox.E and our mission:
building a strong business-focused community that supports ethnic diversity and fosters the spirit of entrepreneurial collaboration for success.
Our Coffee's No Joke
January 27, 2021
A unique feature of our coworking space will be the fact that Overflow Coffee, a craft coffee shop, will be located just below us on the 1st level of our building.
An even MORE unique feature is that both Overflow and Mox.E are owned by the same company, Entrenuity. So the leadership team for both spaces are working, learning and training together to make the building as a whole vibrant and inviting.
We are all here for one purpose: to further the success of minority owned and led businesses.
About Overflow and our Coffee Director
Overflow Coffee is led by Entrenuity’s Director of Coffee Kari Pendleton. Kari has over 11 years experience in coffee spanning from Scotland to Chicago. Hospitality has always been Kari’s passion and serving in the coffee industry is such a natural expression for this self-proclaimed coffee nerd!
With hospitality being at Kari’s core, her hope and drive is that Overflow would exist to make space for those in our community to connect to each other and provide a place for that community to prosper. We love coffee and the people that it originated with; black, beautiful passionate people.
Being a black-owned shop in the South Loop of Chicago, we want to be a place that highlights our heritage and honors the craft of coffee. Overflow is a specialty, craft coffee shop that is set to re-open very soon!
Overflow Coffee is a space to prosper- to foster hope, creativity & community. It's a space where belonging is felt from the first greeting to the last sip.
Plan to come by-- you don't want to miss out!
What's up with "mox.E?"
January 27, 2021
You may be wondering about our name-- why is "moxie" misspelled, and what's up with the separated "E" at the end?
You may be wondering about our name-- why is "moxie" misspelled, and what's up with the separated "E" at the end?
To understand Mox.E you must looked at our past. Mox.E was birthed out of a 20-year history of Entrenuity, a non-profit working on the South and West sides of Chicago to create entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and adults. Typically that meant the team at Entrenuity would work inside of partner organizations and their locations like public schools, local community-development organizations, and churches.
Soon it became clear we needed to create our own home base, a place where founders and entrepreneurs can come to us and we can expand our mission to connect, coach, and capitalize.
Thus Mox.E was born. The word
moxie
means "force of character, determination, or nerve." That definitely defined our approach to life, our work, and our people! However, to point back to our roots with Entrenuity, we featured a capital "E" at the end of "Mox.E."
That way we'd never forget our roots. Mox.E will always exist to empower black, Latinx and women founders and give them a space to thrive.
To understand Mox.E you must looked at our past. Mox.E was birthed out of a 20-year history of Entrenuity, a non-profit working on the South and West sides of Chicago to create entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and adults. Typically that meant the team at Entrenuity would work inside of partner organizations and their locations like public schools, local community-development organizations, and churches.
Soon it became clear we needed to create our own home base, a place where founders and entrepreneurs can come to us and we can expand our mission to connect, coach, and capitalize.
Thus Mox.E was born. The word
moxie
means "force of character, determination, or nerve." That definitely defined our approach to life, our work, and our people! However, to point back to our roots with Entrenuity, we featured a capital "E" at the end of "Mox.E."
That way we'd never forget our roots. Mox.E will always exist to empower Black, Latinx and Women founders and give them a space to thrive.