Entrepreneur Night provides networking for start-ups

Historic City News received an invitation to attend a “MeetUp” group last Tuesday called “Entrepreneur Night”, specifically focused on residents from St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia counties. It is a once-a-month drink-and-appetizers pow-wow that visited St Augustine bringing together entrepreneurial types looking to meet like-minded individuals in the startup scene.

The group was launched September 2011 by Ky Ekinci who operates Office Divvy, a Palm Coast communal workspace, and two local colleagues involved in the startup scene. They rotate the meeting locations throughout the neighboring counties to support businesses that are startups.

“This is an event that has always been for – and about – the grassroots,” Ekinci said. “Entrepreneurs exist in larger cities like Jacksonville; but, with remote connectivity, they can flourish on the fringes of those urban areas. Unfortunately, when they escape the trappings of corporate America, many of these innovative types bang their heads against a wall because they find a lack of a mature community that is truly plugged into innovation.”

Amongst those attending this month’s meeting, held at the Ice Plant on Riberia Street in Lincolnville, 25-year-old Jon Armstrong who operates InboundUX; an app development company located in Flagler Beach catering toward startups and solo entrepreneurs. Armstrong and his soon-to-be-wife, Ashley Klebusch, took a leap of faith and began his own firm; three years later, with more than 20 employees, he reports they are doing well. “Most of our clients we meet through events like this or online, usually through social media marketing,” said Armstrong.

Others, like Norman Kent, take part in the networking atmosphere just to rub shoulders with other creative types in the local area. Kent, of Palm Coast, is a freelance cinematographer and photographer who has worked on action sequences for big-name Hollywood film productions. “I just happen to live in a kind of sleepy area, but it is really building up more.” said Kent. “I like to come to these things for the creative element, whether it’s in business or otherwise.”