1909

Eat, drink and be merry with us once again for our annual holiday party on the patio of O'Sheas! $25 | Includes your 1st drink & plenty of light bites! Fun starts at 5pm and don't forget to bring a gift ($20 max) to participate in a White Elephant Exchange / Yankee Swap! Tunes by DJ Lovelee (aka Blanche!) Grab your ticket now: https://ow.ly/BVwI50U9ytO

Last night's Founder Speaker Series featuring Diane Hessan, moderated by 1909 Member Brian Schmitt (CEO of surefoot), was both insightful and inspiring. Diane shared her journey as a pioneering female entrepreneur in Boston, launching C Space (formerly Communispace) and growing it to 250 clients across 12 countries before selling to Omnicom in 2011. She spoke about the importance of integrity and transparency in her leadership, the emotional challenge of seeing her company's identity shift post-sale, and her experience with Startup Institute and serving on the boards of Panera Bread, etc. Trust us when we say, we all left wanting so much more! Don't miss our final event in the series on 11/19 featuring the Co-Founders of Nightcap - Michael Benarde & Shirah Benarde RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eJYsvQam

Join us tomorrow for our 2nd to last Founder Speaker Series of 2024! A series of fireside chats designed to educate and inspire early-stage entrepreneurs, agency founders, and small business owners aiming for growth. Diane Hessan is a trailblazer in market research, founding C Space (formerly Communispace), the first company to leverage social media to gather consumer insights. Under her leadership, C Space grew to 700 employees, serving major brands like Disney, Google, and Procter & Gamble, before being sold to Omnicom for a substantial nine-figure sum. Diane went on to launch Salient Ventures, an advisory and investment firm accelerating tech startups, and she serves on the boards of Panera Brands, Eastern Bank, and Mass Challenge, among others. Moderated by 1909 Member and CEO of surefoot, Brian Schmitt Secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/eitekimZ

What an unforgettable night! Huge thanks to our incredible sponsors who helped make our 4th Annual Gala a powerful success in supporting local Entrepreneurs and Innovators! Because of your generosity and the support from all our guests, we’ll be able to award scholarships to dozens of deserving early-stage founders and small business owners. This funding provides critical resources they need to launch, grow, and sustain their dreams right here in Palm Beach County. Here's to fueling the future of local innovation! 35 Mules CIBC US Deco Builders Neer Venture Partners J.P. Morgan Private Bank Alicia Cannon Mullen ROBRADY design PATHOS Palm Beach Atlantic University CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH INC Whole Story Studio Evan Perry Award, AINS, SBCS EisnerAmper Keiser University bundleIQ BitRealty ? CITY Furniture AKA Hotels+Hotel Residences (West Palm) Diana Barrett

What an unforgettable night at our annual 1909 Gala! Held at the stunning Pelican Club in Jupiter, we gathered in celebration and support of Palm Beach County’s incredible community of early-stage entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative freelancers. The excitement was through the roof, especially during our live auction, where we surpassed previous years’ records! Guests enjoyed a beautiful evening with live music and our favorite magician, Karl Koppertop Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor, 35 Mules, and all of our generous Gala sponsors! Thanks to Jay Zeager for leading an exciting and very successful auction and call to heart! Congratulations to Meghan McKenna who was awarded 1909's first official scholarship! And lastly, a few big shoutouts to: – Our incredible volunteers (Anita Patel, David Traupman, Tajana Bjellos, Spencer Besant, Monica Fish, Thomas Cowern, Jocelyn Brinlee and Drew Williams) who ensured a smooth event. – Our team (Blanche Coté, Linda Andrews, Malika L., Monique Kandou Fabio, Shana Ostrovitz and Danielle Casey) – Our board of directors (Bill Shepherd, Phillip Jackson, Emily Starkey, January Romero Reissman, Nicholas Mohnacky, Ryan Poole, Michelle Bakels, Shelley Rosen, Evan Perry Award, AINS, SBCS) Here’s to another year of supporting the dreams and ambitions that make our community thrive! Photos by Koda Creative (Ryan Moran) & Palm Beach Photo Booth

Last week’s Gala VIP Social was an incredible evening of camaraderie and support! We were thrilled to gather with so many local leaders and business owners who are championing the future of entrepreneurship in Palm Beach County. A huge thanks to AKA Hotels+Hotel Residences for sponsoring the beautiful venue and to Munyons Paw Paw for keeping us refreshed. Special shoutout to our Development Director, Monique Kandou Fabio, for hosting the evening! We are truly grateful for all our sponsors and donors who make it possible to uplift the next generation of innovators. Thank you all for your support and dedication! Jordan Rowan Marco Ricci Mack Bernard Arturo Flores III Paul Tripaldi Shane Savage Ahmad Mayes Hayden Hutchison Juan Pagán Caroline McGinley Shelley Rosen Shana Ostrovitz Meghan McKenna Marlon Bermudez Julie Walthers Clara Julia

We’re beyond excited to announce that Emily Starkey, Wealth Advisor at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, is joining the 1909 Board! Her expertise in advising entrepreneurs and deep connections in the entrepreneurial ecosystem are going to elevate how we serve our community. At 1909, we’re all about being the go-to resource for founders—helping them grow, thrive, and eventually exit their businesses. Emily’s leadership in launching a Professional Advisory Council will provide our founders with direct access to essential support and guidance, accelerating their success. Welcome to the team, Emily! We’re ready to take things to the next level together.

A full-circle success story at 1909! We’re all about empowering early-stage entrepreneurs to grow, thrive, and eventually make an impact on our community and beyond. One of the standout examples of this is SustainaBase, a company that has been with us since the beginning and just reached an incredible milestone: they were recently acquired by ISS-Corporate, a global leader in corporate sustainability solutions. Read article: https://lnkd.in/exyxwBWT

Join us for the next 1909 Founder Speaker Series event on?Tuesday 10/8 at 5:30pm, featuring Shirah Benarde and Michael Benarde, Co-Founders of Nightcap. Featured on Shark Tank in 2021 and Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024. Nightcap has collaborated with over 150 universities to combat drink spiking with their innovative hair scrunchies, which are also sold in Forever 21 stores.?Moderated by Jessica Krupa, 1909 Member and Founder of Panty Promise. $25 (free for 1909 Members) Light bites + Beverages Included RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eJYsvQam

1909 has officially been awarded our largest grant to date; a game-changing $250K! After a year and a half of relentless effort, countless meetings, and what felt like mission impossible, this funding will allow us to expand our programming beyond the Accelerator stage, filling a critical gap in Palm Beach County. No longer will businesses need to leave our market or face closure due to a lack of support. We’re building the future right here! A huge thank you to Commissioner Gregg Weiss for initiating this incredible support and believing in the power of our entrepreneurial community. "1909 has emerged as a beacon of innovation and entrepreneurship in Palm Beach County. By providing mentorship, resources, and a collaborative community, 1909 is empowering the next generation of business leaders and creators. Their work is vital in diversifying our local economy and positioning Palm Beach County as a hub for cutting-edge ideas and businesses. I am convinced that the ripple effects of their efforts will be felt in our community for years to come, and that’s why I’m delighted that we were able to support them with these funds." - Greg Weiss And thanks to our Palm Beach County Commissioners Mack Bernard, Marci Woodward, Maria Sachs, Sara Baxter, Michael A. Barnett Esq. —your votes of support mean the world to us. Thank you to Rebecca DeLaRosa for championing this effort along side our leadership team and for your continued support over the years. This is more than just a win for 1909. It’s a win for every entrepreneur, creator, and small business in our community. We’re shaping Palm Beach County into a hub of innovation, and the ripple effects of this grant will be felt for years to come.