Activate New Mexico

Transforming Startups in New Mexico

Welcome Michelle Albro as Senior Program Manager for ActivateNM!

Welcome Michelle Albro to our ActivateNM team!

Here’s Michelle in her own words:

I am truly honored to be a part of the CNM Ingenuity ActivateNM team. As I learn more and more about CNM Ingenuity and ActivateNM, I am energized by the team’s passion of mentoring and supporting the Albuquerque community’s small business and startups.  ActivateNM is delivering amazing programs that bridge founders to experienced mentors, interested investors, and valuable knowledge and skills, elevating their businesses and, in turn, supporting local economic development.

To share a little about Michelle: for the past ~3.5 years she oversaw the Career & Professional Development programs at UNM’s Anderson School of Management. Prior to that she was a UNM business manager for several years. She also worked for Xerox Corporation for around 15 years, with 10+ years in management. 

Michelle has a master’s degree in Adult Education and Professional Development and a Bachelors in Business Management.

While at Anderson she worked alongside Stacy Sacco and Anderson’s Small Business Institute; she’s looking forward to being fully engaged in the tech start-up and small business scene. 

She’s looking forward to meeting members of the community around ActivateNM and learning more as we work on growing and enhancing ActivateNM and CNM Ingenuity’s Small Business and Startup programs.

April Workshop: Legal Issues & Cofounders

April 28, 2021. One area we’ve seen time and again that startups need better sophistication around is building out their cofounding team in a way that sets them up for success in the long term.

This workshop will provide overall guidance as well as practical tools for startup founders and business owners seeking to build a stronger team for their venture. The workshop will cover:

  • Approaches to onboarding a cofounder, appropriately leveraging founding documents and contracts;
  • Common pitfalls/mistakes in cofounding arrangements and how to avoid them; and
  • How to determine equity splits and set up a clean capitalization table (“cap table”).

The workshop will end with an overview of specific tools that founders can use to prepare effectively when getting ready to work with a startup attorney, so as to maximize effectiveness of this important relationship from the get-go.

Learn more and buy tickets.

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash

March 2021 Startup Digest

Founders, Mentors,  

We are getting into the flow of training. Founders are signing up for membership and pairing up with mentors in coaching relationships. Last month, we had a very successful workshop with mentor John Bell on agile startup marketing.

We are slowly updating the language on our website to better reflect that we are a community of practice for startup founders and mentors. We also have an investment track accelerator looking to launch in June. We are expanding our partnership with NM Angels to combine startup office hours for early staged entrepreneurs and companies.

For the next few months, our aim is to automate the collaboration systems to allow more facilitation to happen between founders and mentors. We are Activate New Mexico identifying and supporting startup founders and mentors to be active participants in the growing startup economy in New Mexico. If you are working on these types of initiatives, please contact us to collaborate on events and training.

STARTUP EVENTS 

For upcoming ActivateNM event see the calendar at https://activatenm.com/events/

CNM Ingenuity Small Business and Startup Info Session (about programs and resources your business can leverage)

Tuesday, March 9, 2021
4:00pm-5:00pm Mountain Time (US and Canada)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/131490215775/

NM Startup Office Hours + Social (hear from members, connect with mentors)

Friday, March 19, 2021
1:00pm-3:00pm Mountain Time (US and Canada)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nm-startup-office-hours-social-tickets-131628922651

Training Workshops

ActivateNM Monthly Workshop

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON
https://activatenm.com/startup-experimentation-workshop/

SUPPORT NM STARTUPS

MBS Report needs website feedback

Request: Visit and experience MBSReport.com then please take a few minutes to fill out their feedback form here.

CONTACT US

If you would like to submit news or requests to our startup digest, please contact us.

ActivateNM is part of CNM Ingenuity, a network of workforce training and resources for small businesses and startups. Learn more at https://cnmingenuity.org/program/small-business-and-startups/

Staying Close to Customers Workshop

Staying Close to Customers from Start to Scale 

The notion of ‘staying close to customers’ is not as simple as it sounds. While physical proximity to customers can be helpful, the real objective is to understand your customers and their pains, motivations, context, etc. Staying close to your customers pre-launch requires interacting with and learning from individuals you anticipate being your customers. Later stage companies may already have customers, but that does not necessarily mean they understand them. Companies can interact with customers every day and fail to recognize how and why they chose their product or service. This workshop will teach you customer research strategies, how to decide where to focus, and why it’s so important, no matter what stage your business is at. 

When: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 10:00 AM to Noon Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Where: Online via Zoom, Interactive Activities

GET TICKETS HERE

What you will learn

  • The value of continuous customer research 
  • What it looks like at varied business stages 
  • A framework for deciding where to focus 

What you leave with:

An initial customer hypothesis and plan to test it

How to Prepare for the Workshop

This is an online learning workshop. You will need to have a camera and microphone to participate via Zoom. In addition, you will need a pen and paper for activities. Most importantly come prepared to engaged with others and have fun working on your business.

About the workshop mentor

Trisha Terhar, Director of Research & Market Intelligence at Visit Albuquerque

Researcher, analyst, strategist, and storyteller. I help organizations learn from their customers. My favorite moment in a customer interview is the first hint that they have strong feelings about something. It’s often subtle and requires a follow up question, but can lead to incredibly rich feedback.

A former ABQid Director, I developed a passion for customer research during my time with the organization (2014-18). I built on my experience by earning an MBA at UNM’s Anderson School of Management and now work as a Director of Research & Market Intelligence in the tourism industry. 

Register Early to Save

GET TICKETS HERE

Agile Branding & Marketing Workshop for Startups

Agile Branding & Marketing for Startups: A new way to define your brand, create and execute a marketing program that’s right-sized for your B2B, B2C or B2whatever business. This session prepares you for a digital-first program that can help you at all stages of a startup – product and service development, customer acquisition, growing customer value and retention and achieving scale.  

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Where: Online via Zoom, Interactive

GET TICKETS HERE

What you will learn

  • What are the qualities of your brand that differentiate and clearly, consistently communicate value?
  • How will you engage your customers and win their business?
  • How does your marketing and sales plan align to the customer journey and what are the “jobs-to-be-done?”
  • What are the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that tell you if you are winning or losing?
  • How can you take a more agile approach to marketing to better respond to customer and marketplace changes?

How to Prepare for the Workshop

This is an online learning workshop. You will need to have a camera and microphone to participate via Zoom. In addition, you will need a pen and paper for activities. Most importantly come prepared to engaged with others and have fun working on your business.

About the trainer

John H. Bell, President & Chief Strategist at NextNow Digital

John brings the best lessons of more than 25 years innovating via digital practices.  He has delivered next-gen digital marketing strategy and programs to the best-known, global brands including The Ford Motor Company, Nestle, American Express, Unilever and Travelers Insurance. He lives in Albuquerque New Mexico where he serves on the board of Presbyterian Health Plans, the premier health insurer in the state.

About NextNow Digital

NextNow Digital designs digital change and marketing programs. They design digital-first marketing and customer experience programs, build digital capabilities for businesses who need to become more digital to compete.  

Register Early to Save

GET TICKETS HERE

February 2021 Startup Digest

Founders, Mentors,  

We are off to a great start in 2021. Many startups joining the online community to connect with the mentor network and other founders in and around New Mexico. Last month’s Startup Office Hours were largest yet and applications to the NM Investor Roundtable were plentiful thanks to our growing partnership with the NM Angels. Finally, we had a wonderful first training workshop about getting our entrepreneurial mindset prepped for the year. In 2021, we need more founders and talent to team up and build new initiatives and companies in New Mexico. If you are working on these types of initiatives, please contact us.

NEWS

6 Startups have been selected for the February NM Investor Roundtable

Variety of different industries represented. Check them out here.

Six Companies Selected for February 12 NM Investor Roundtable

Agile Marketing Workshop

Startup Marketing Workshop is schedule for Wednesday, February 24th. See Training Workshop below.

Speaker Series to kick off in March

We are looking to highlight founders and partner organizations for these events. If you have ideas on founders and orgs doing great work that does not get highlighted enough, please let us know. 

STARTUP EVENTS 

https://activatenm.com/events/

CNM Ingenuity Small Business and Startup Info Session (about programs and resources)

Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021

 4:00pm-5:00pm Mountain Time (US and Canada)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/131490215775/

NM Startup Office Hours + Social (hear from members, connect with mentors)

Friday, Feb 19, 2021

 1:00pm-3:00pm Mountain Time (US and Canada)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nm-startup-office-hours-social-tickets-131628922651

Training Workshops

ActivateNM Monthly Workshop

Wednesday, Feb  24, 2021, 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Agile Marketing Workshop for Startups

ETSY FOR MAKERS 5-PART WORKSHOP

MARCH 4 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

https://www.fusemakerspace.org/workshops-and-events/etsy-for-makers-5-part-workshop-2/

MENTOR SHOUT OUT

I would like to take a moment to send our sincere moment of appreciation for mentor Rick Shor. Over the last three-plus years, he has been actively volunteering his time to help entrepreneurs and startups move forward in New Mexico. Thank you for your work helping startups grow in New Mexico.

CONTACT US

If you would like to submit news or requests to our startup digest, please contact us.

If you are a startup and would like to inquire about participation in the community, please feel free to book a time directly with Dan Heron at: https://calendly.com/dheron/letsmeet

ActivateNM is part of CNM Ingenuity, a network of workforce training and resources for small businesses and startups. Learn more at https://cnmingenuity.org/program/small-business-and-startups/

Six Companies Selected for February 12 NM Investor Roundtable

The NM Investor Roundtable is an opportunity for startups to connect with angel investors for advice on how they can grow their ventures in New Mexico.

On February 12, 6 companies will meet with 20+ investors to seek advice and build relationships that will help grow their companies in and beyond New Mexico. 

  1. Fishki Provisions – Easy-to-prepare Southwestern comfort food
  2. InBizWorks – An online learning and teaching platform to help entrepreneurs launch and grow new businesses and streamline how service providers engage with them.
  3. The Neighborhood Score – The eHarmony for finding your perfect neighborhood
  4. PWRLab – Helping runners, organizations, and sports brands to achieve optimal levels of performance through connected data, experiences, and sports science.
  5. Rerouted – An online marketplace to streamline buying, selling & donating used outdoor gear.
  6. Stokli – An online, membership-based general store where small producers keep 100% of the retail price and consumers have increased access to regional dry goods.

Ongoing applications are accepted for future roundtables, if you are a startup in or around New Mexico, please consider applying for NM Investor Roundtable for consideration.

January 2021 – ActivateNM Startup Digest

Founders, Mentors,  

Happy New Year to you all. Looking forward to collaborating and growing the startup ecosystem this year. CNM Ingenuity (the org that manages ActivateNM) lining up new speaker series, regular training workshops, partnering on the next NM Investor Roundtable, monthly office hours, and info sessions. 

We are also working on updating some of our online platforms including an online learning platform, membership management, and an updated mentor menu online. 

NEWS

Q1 Investor Roundtable Deadline to Apply is Jan 26 

The next roundtable is scheduled for mid-February in partnership with ABQid and NM Angels. Please let mentor TJ and Drew are working towards angel investment and would like to start getting ready for the next one.  If you are a startup, learn how to apply here on our Investor Roundtable page.

New Training Workshops Coming

We are putting together monthly training workshops for members and the wider community. We will cover a variety of startup topics from financial modeling to marketing strategy. The first will be on Entrepreneur Mindset on Jan 27th.

New Speaker Series Coming

We are looking to highlight founders and partner organizations for these events. If you have ideas on founders and orgs doing great work that does not get highlighted enough, please let us know. 

EVENTS 

CNM Ingenuity Small Business and Startup Info Session (about programs and resources)

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

 4:00pm-5:00pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/131490215775/

NM Startup Office Hours + Social (hear from members, connect with mentors)

Friday, January 15, 2021

 1:00pm-3:00pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nm-startup-office-hours-social-tickets-131628922651

Entrepreneur Mindset Workshop with Coach Ken Jackson

When: Jan 27, 2021, 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Entrepreneur Mindset Workshop – Jan 2021

For more events, see the events calendar at https://activatenm.com/events/

If you would like to submit news or requests to our startup digest, please Slack Dan or email at dheron@cnm.edu

If you are a startup and would like to inquire about participation in the community, please feel free to book a time directly on my calendar.

https://calendly.com/dheron/letsmeet

Entrepreneur Mindset Workshop – Jan 2021

Image provided by speaker

How to create an entrepreneurial mindset for a successful future

When: Jan 27, 2021 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Where: Online via Zoom

GET TICKETS HERE

About the workshop

In this session, you will learn various techniques to set your mind right for a new entrepreneur venture in 2021. It may be your first business venture or a pivot from the year before. Coach Ken Jackson will walk you through several frameworks for an entrepreneurial mindset walking away from the session with a plan of action.

  • Identify the proper Mindset
  • Infinite v.s. Finite
  • The Success Zone
  • §Identifying Proper Association For Success
  • The value of Discovering your WHY.os
  • Create Your Action Plan For Success

How to Prepare for the Workshop

This is an online learning workshop. You will need to have a camera and microphone to participate via Zoom. In addition, you will need a pen and paper for activities. Most importantly come prepared to engaged with others and have fun working on your business.

About the trainer, Ken Jackson

About KJ Effect

My WHY is to find a better way to help people and businesses achieve their goals. How I do this is by challenging the mindset What I do is contribute life and business experiences to have a positive impact that lead to results. WHY – Better Way, HOW – Challenge, WHAT – Contribute

My mission: “To inspire people to turn their dreams in to achievements and to motivate them into action so they may realize their potential on a personal and professional level.”

Learn more at http://thekjeffect.com/

Register Early to Save

GET TICKETS HERE

December’s #StartupRetool webinar: When is it time to sell the business?

December 10, 2020 – 11:00 am to Noon (Mountain Time)

RSVP HERE

paper and pen and calculator
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

In our last #StartupRetool session, we will hear from two perspectives, an investment banker and an entrepreneur, about when is it time to sell a business. There are many reasons why you might sell your business, but just because you decided you want to sell the business doesn’t always mean there is an opportunity to sell it. We hear there are market conditions needed to be in place in order to sell a business. Is the biz even worth selling or better off just closing down? What is the mindset you need to have in order to make a successful acquisition? How does it feel as a founder to let go and transfer the thing they created? How did they know it was time?

We will hear both an investment banker who helps sell businesses to investors and a startup entrepreneur who has sold their small business in New Mexico. Tips, strategies, and real stories will be presented to help guide local small businesses considering this process if the opportunity arises.

Highlighted Speakers

Kevin McDonald, Partner, McDonald Lehner

 McDonald Lehner is an advisory firm that specializes in mergers and acquisitions of privately-owned companies in North and South America. In the past 20 years, the firm has facilitated more than 35 such transactions.

Alonso Indacochea, Product Manager at Reconnect and Founder at Jogo

 Dedicated, passionate learner. Educator. Project manager. I love building things. Currently building technology to fight incarceration, recidivism, and addiction. 

AGENDA

11:00 am – Welcome and Introductions
11:10 am – Presenters and Q/A
11:55 am – Info about Resource Provider and Call to Action
12:00 pm – Presentations End, Informal Optional Networking After

Highlighted Resource Provider

ingenuity cnm
CNM Ingenuity – Small Business and Startups unit focuses on providing training and resources led by entrepreneurship. ActivateNM is powered by CNM Ingenuity

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT HERE

About this series

The World Has Changed, Time to Retool Your Business

During this period of adjustment to working remotely, ActivateNM powered by CNM Ingenuity is hosting a #StartupRetool series for small businesses and startups in New Mexico to digitize their businesses.

In this series, highlighted local entrepreneurs and resource providers will share strategies and platforms to retool small businesses. If you are a small business or startup, this is an event that will help you learn how to grow and engage with customers online.

These sessions are recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel. To see previous sessions, check out our Startup Retool playlist.

Any questions or interested in collaborating on an event, please contact us.