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Entrepreneurs gather in Ottawa for free networking event · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Entrepreneurs Gather in Ottawa for Free Networking Event. Written by
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  Speaker 1: Shaw Local News Network. This article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlit. More than
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  Speaker 1: 65 entrepreneurs gathered in July for the Starved Rock region's
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  Speaker 1: first Startup Social. On Wednesday, September 9th, they'll have another
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  Speaker 1: chance to connect. The Fall Startup Social, free and open
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  Speaker 1: to founders, small business owners, and community partners. runs from
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  Speaker 1: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 9th at the Lone
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  Speaker 1: Buffalo in downtown Ottawa. Organizer Connor Kofoid said the event
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  Speaker 1: fills a gap in the region's entrepreneurial landscape. Our region
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  Speaker 1: relies heavily on entrepreneurs and small businesses, but the people
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  Speaker 1: building those businesses have not always had consistent opportunities to
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  Speaker 1: connect with one another, Kofoid said. You should not have
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  Speaker 1: to go to Chicago or another large city to find
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  Speaker 1: a strong entrepreneurial community. We have talented people building meaningful
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  Speaker 1: businesses right here, and this event gives them a place
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  Speaker 1: to meet, learn from one another, and feel part of
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  Speaker 1: something larger. The July event drew entrepreneurs from Princeton, Mendota, Peru, LaSalle, LaSalle,
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  Speaker 1: Spring Valley, Strader, Ottawa, and Utica, a sign of regional
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  Speaker 1: demand for cross-community networking. Wednesday's event will feature five entrepreneurs
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  Speaker 1: sharing their stories. Sofia Pienta, founder of Sugar Demon Specialty
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  Speaker 1: Bakery in LaSalle, grew her business from a home kitchen
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  Speaker 1: to a downtown storefront that opened in 2025. Stephanie and
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  Speaker 1: Sean Arteaga, who have built multiple businesses in downtown Mendota,
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  Speaker 1: operate The Coffee Barn, Main 3 Market, and other local ventures.
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  Speaker 1: Pamela Cronkright, co-founder of Jeremiah Joe Coffee, opened her first
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  Speaker 1: downtown Ottawa location more than 20 years ago and has
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  Speaker 1: since expanded to Peru and a new Utica location that
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  Speaker 1: opened this summer. Martina Matthews, founder of Mischat GPT 101,
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  Speaker 1: helps small businesses and professionals use artificial intelligence to advance
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  Speaker 1: their work. She works with the Polsky Exchange's Small Business
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  Speaker 1: Development Center. Kofoid said the startup socials aim to build
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  Speaker 1: what strong entrepreneurial regions are built on, connections. The event
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  Speaker 1: is presented by Kofoid in partnership with the Ottawa Downtown Association.