Thrive 2014

"Thrive"
Wednesday, Sept. 17
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Thrive is a crowdfunding initiative to generate capital for Kanawha Valley-based businesses with five employees or fewer.

The event will occur on Sept. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The location is TBD.

How does it work?  

A blind panel will then select 10 entrepreneurs to be featured as part of the 2014 edition of "Thrive."

Once accepted, "Thrive" will help the entrepreneurs produce 60-second pitch videos to promote their business and need for crowd funds. The selected entrepreneurs will be trained to use their videos to maximize crowd capital.

Pitch videos will be released on Sept. 1 for public viewing. Entrepreneurs will attend the event on Sept. 17 where they will be available to answer questions to community attendees.

Where does the capital come from?

As a community member, you have the power to invest and shape the businesses YOU want in your community.

To attend and participate in the event, community members will pay $20 ($21.50 if you pay online) a ticket. In return, they will get to partake in food and beverages, but more importantly, they get to vote for the entrepreneur or small business they want to support.

At the end of the night, the entrepreneur with the most votes will receive $20 times the number of attendees as cash capital to invest in their business.

That is…

$20 x 50 attendees = $1,000
$20 x 100 attendees = $2,000
$20 x 150 attendees = $3,000

Thrive is an initiative of the Charleston Area Alliance.

The Sept. 17 event will be a featured attraction in the "Work " element of Generation Charleston's Urban Living Event.

$20 will directly support the entrepreneur. The extra $1.50 covers online processing fees. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $20. Cash preferable.