VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

Virginia Commonwealth University Innovation Gateway hosts a special tech-centric One Million Cups Richmond program to coincide with the Virginia TechTober Initiative, a statewide celebration of Virginia’s high-tech sector.

The event takes place Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. at The Depot, 814 W. Broad St.

One Million Cups — established by the Kauffman Foundation to help cultivate startup communities — is a weekly meeting that takes place each Wednesday at 9 a.m. across the country. Richmond’s event, run by RVAWorks, is held at The Depot each week.

Typically, two local entrepreneurs present their ideas at the various locations to a group of businesspeople, mentors and advisers. The group then provides immediate feedback and insight. This week’s meeting will feature five startup companies that all have a technology angle:

·  Kickup, an on-demand support system for educational networks, transforming the way teachers seek, get and give help.

·  Maxx Potential, a unique apprenticeship program, which selectively identifies candidates and then provides coaching and on-the-job training in technical areas in which there is an unmet demand.

·  Mobelux, a designer/developer collective dedicated to making great mobile software.

·  Shockoe.com, a cross-platform mobile app development company specializing in native and mobile web apps, including integrating existing legacy systems with mobile technology.

·  Tenant Turner, a website that provides the fastest way for rental property owners and managers to find quality tenants.