Breakfast Bites on Feb. 11: Show Me the Money

The Breakfast Bites panel on February 11 will discuss crowd-funding strategies for small businesses. Breakfast Bites is a quarterly business development event by the Georgetown Main Street Program.

The February 11 panel will include three professionals, each with a unique perspective on crowd-funding for small businesses. Mark Thomas, economic development director for the City of Georgetown, will serve as moderator. Panelists include these business professionals:

Hall Martin is the founder and CEO of Texas Entrepreneur Networks, the largest crowd-funding portal in Texas. To date the TEN Funding Program has helped entrepreneurs raise more than $141 million for startup and growth companies. Martin also is the creator of WilcoFundingPortal.com, a local crowd-funding resource.

Karen Soeffker is the owner of All Things Kids with locations in Georgetown and at The Domain in Austin. Karen and Christian Soeffker are in the process of expanding their business to new locations and are looking for investors and partners via non-traditional financing to help them grow rapidly.

Bradley Farrell is the creator of StitZii, a new product to absorb grease, fats, oils, and carbohydrates from prepared foods like pizza. Farrell has received crowd-funding for StitZii through WilcoFundingPortal.com.

The event on Wednesday, February 11 is from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m. in the Hewlett Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street. Breakfast snacks, coffee, and drinks will be provided. Networking starts at 8 a.m.

Attendees should pre-register by contacting Shelly Hargrove, Main Street manager, by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9 at shelly.hargrove@georgetown.org or (512) 930-2027. Main Street is a program of the City of Georgetown Downtown and Community Services Department.