SEED SPOT from Anna F. Miller on Vimeo
There are so many great ideas that surface everyday and the reality is, many fade away without anyone knowing about it. Why? Because we all have this voice inside that makes us hesitate from fear of failure and finding the resources to help build the idea seems almost impossible. But lucky me, a good friend told me about Seed Spot and their goal to build a community of social entrepreneurs that will make a positive impact on the lives of those locally and globally. When I found out the deadline was approaching within a few days, I hesitated at first worried that my idea wasn’t complete enough (even though the mission is to help startups in their early stages), but with a little nudge from my friend and husband, I submitted my application anyways.
As of this past Friday, I was invited to be a part of their Community Program! This part-time journey will span from October 2012 to May 2013 and will put me in touch with mentors, allow me to work alongside like-minded ventures, provide classes and assistance to develop all the necessary components to making my project a reality and so much more! Because I’m a part of the Community Program, I am not guaranteed a spot in the Pitch Night event that could potentially provide valuable seed money for my venture, but there is another opportunity. One venture in the Community Program will be chosen by voting peers to participate in the Pitch Night, so needless to say, I am aiming to be the one selected.
So now I know you might be asking, “What food venture could Joanna be working on that falls into the realm of social entrepreneurism?” Good question! I will be working on a business plan for a “food studio,” a service that brings together food experts and businesses in the community to share their expertise while showcasing their product or service. It will offer cooking classes, food education courses, tastings and special events, but the ideas will be beyond “let’s cook Italian food”…it will incorporate more innovative and unique offerings like learning how to butcher and select the perfect cuts of meat, plate dishes, build tablescapes, photograph food, a chance to dine with cookbook authors (while enjoying food from their publication) and more.
By coordinating and offering this, I hope to create a place where locals will be able to explore Valley food offerings from the convenience of one location and become knowledgeable about foods they eat (therefore creating a healthier community) while businesses, entrepreneurs and local markets will gain direct contact to their audience, be able to promote their business and help Phoenix become a more local-supportive community.
Wow, that was a mouthful to explain. Of course, this is a lot to tackle with full-time school and work, but sometimes you’ve got to take chances and not pass up on great opportunities that can make you a better person and possibly achieve your goals. It’s time to stop dreaming and fearing and turn passion into reality. I look forward to being a part of this adventure, and I hope it’ll end with achieved goals, new friendships and my venture being a part of rebuilding the Washington Row entrepreneurial corridor. Wish me luck!
To learn more about Seed Spot, check out the video above.
[...] model canvas and it was exciting to take the first step in creating my business plan for my “food studio.” I keep on telling myself it’s not a dream anymore and to keep on track so if anything, at the end [...]