American Underground

?? Booking Your Next Meeting Just Got Easier! Need a space for your next workshop, training, or team meeting? Check out our ?NEWEST? classroom-style meeting room! Designed to comfortably seat 30-45 people, this room is equipped with a whiteboard & TV for all your collaboration needs. ?? ALSO, now booking a meeting or conference room is easier than ever!?You can now reserve meeting & conference rooms directly from our website! Browse all our available spaces, check out the options, and book the perfect fit with just a few clicks. Whether you're hosting a brainstorming session, a speaker series, or an offsite meeting, we’ve got a space for you! ?? See more: https://lnkd.in/egMdp_fv

?? Big News at AU – Dedicated Desks Are Available! ?? Looking for a workspace that’s yours and yours alone? We’ve got you covered! Our dedicated desk spaces offer a personal workstation in the heart of Downtown Durham. Whether you're a solo-preneur, part of a small team, or just looking for a workspace to call your own, we've got the perfect setup for you! ? What you get: ?? Your own desk, chair & storage—no more wandering for a spot! ?? Breathtaking views of Downtown Durham ?? ?? High-speed Wi-Fi (because slow internet is not an option) ?? Unlimited coffee and tea to fuel your genius ? ?? Free meeting room reservations, no credits ?? Access to office hours & a thriving coworking community ?? ??? Claim your desk today—schedule a tour and find your new work home! ?? https://lnkd.in/gDaexcST

At American Underground, we believe in the power of fostering innovation and creating spaces where entrepreneurs can thrive. We were so proud to partner with 2ndF in late January to host the Achievers Program, an initiative focused on scaling high-growth Black-led businesses and driving Black wealth creation. For a week, these outstanding founders immersed themselves in mentorship, peer collaboration, and strategy-building sessions designed to position their businesses for long-term success. Their energy, innovation, and resilience were genuinely inspiring. Thank you to Bill Spruill, and the entire 2ndF team for making this experience possible. And congratulations to all the Achievers—your work is pushing industries forward, and we can’t wait to see your continued success! Check out some moments from this impactful week. ? #AchieversProgram #BlackFounders #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #AmericanUnderground #2ndf

We are excited to shine a spotlight on some more of the faces behind the desks of AU and the incredible work they do??! Meet Sally Starrfield, MSA, SPHR Sally is an HR and educational consultant and an AU change-maker! She didn’t think she’d end up in the consulting space or have her own business, but after an impressive early career with Durham Public Schools and Duke, Sally has a lot to offer companies and families alike. She helps companies navigate complex systems—like HR and People Ops ??—and she helps families navigate the daunting college admissions process???? Sally gives a ton of credit to Tim Scales and especially Courtney High for why she was drawn to this particular community ??. When asked about her favorite AU resource, she replied with ease... programming. ?? “Courtney’s programming, her energy, the way she connects people is unreal!” Starrfield said enthusiastically. “I’ve been to other Juneteenth celebrations at universities, in other towns, even HBCUs— last year’s Code the Dream Juneteenth celebration at AU was the best one that I’ve ever been to, hands down.” Like others, Sally shared that coworking has fueled her business growth ??—from events and resource sharing to referrals. Not to mention, the 3 dogs she has at home don’t make the best coworkers ??????. Come out and see what our #coworking community in #DurhamNC is all about?? ?? Our next public event: A Startup Strategy Sprint with Matt Williamson! This FREE three-session workshop series will equip founders with tools and frameworks for growth ?? From defining your value prop and ICP to aligning your team and building a strategic plan, you’ll gain skills and tools to accelerate your business ?? Learn more and sign up here: ?https://lnkd.in/gVx7RtxV

?? Thank You, Lori Jones! ?? A huge thank you to Lori Jones, founder of Black?ology Coffee Company, for joining us for brunch and sharing her incredible entrepreneurial journey! From the story behind Blackology to the passion for making an impact through coffee, Lori truly spilled the beans (figuratively, of course!) in the best way. ??? We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her, and even more excited to enjoy Blackology Coffee around the space all month long in celebration of Black History Month.

?? New Workshop Alert at AU ?? Calling all founders! Ready to level up your startup strategy? Join veteran founder Matt Williamson with Prediktiv for the Startup Strategy Sprint – a FREE three-session workshop designed to give you the tools, frameworks, and strategic insights to accelerate your business. ?? What you’ll gain: ? Define your value prop & ideal customer ? Align your team & vision for success ? Build a scalable strategic plan You can sign up for individual sessions, but attending all three is where the magic happens! Plus, if you complete the full series in person, you’ll score a FREE 3-month All Access Coworking membership—giving you the workspace, connections, and perks to keep the momentum going. ?? Spots are limited—secure yours now!

Sharing some big AU community news… We’re beyond excited to announce that Laura Zabinski is officially stepping into the role of Executive Director at the AU?? Since joining us in 2019, Laura has done just about everything except maybe installing the light fixtures (but we wouldn’t put it past her). From leading operations through a pandemic to building game-changing programs and partnerships. Laura leads with warmth, wisdom, and a can-do attitude that makes us excited to see her shine in this new role ?? Of course, this moment is also bittersweet as we prepare to say goodbye to Tim Scales in this role. Tim has been the steady hand through almost everything imaginable - He’s celebrated the start of incredible companies, supported members through career changes, navigated AU during the pandemic, and even some unexpected building crises (RIP to AC shortages and the Great Flood of '22???). Tim’s leadership has been equal parts strategy, heart, and pure AU chaos - including moving 5,432 desks (give or take) across buildings and doing a high kick while challenging Google Fiber to a kickball match. Tim, your dedication has shaped the AU community in ways big and small. We’re beyond grateful. Thank you for ensuring the AU flame burns bright as you pass the torch (And for that time you casually rehomed a massive bull statue to AU front doors. Because, Durm. Obviously ?? ).You’ve left an incredible legacy; now we can’t wait to see the mark you leave beyond AU’s four walls ??

Happy to host the RDU Pavilion chapter meeting last night, led by Vince Beese!

Vote for AU member Austin Armstrong and his startup Syllaby! Click here and upvote Syllaby: https://lnkd.in/gJefATgn

Boosting the signal!