The Big Bend Enterprise Development (BBED) Week Business Exchange brought this year’s theme, “Big Ideas, Big Bend, Big Impact,” to life by connecting entrepreneurs, small businesses, community leaders, and resource partners in an environment designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth. The event offered attendees a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, build valuable […]
Makers Make Their Mark at Startup Week
By TOM FLANIGAN • NOV 14, 2017
This is Startup Week in Tallahassee. The observance is intended to promote more entrepreneurship and business creativity.

Capital City makers explained their businesses at the TCC Downtown Innovation Center.
Credit Tom Flanigan
One of the occasion’s first events took place on Monday (11/13) morning and focused on local small businesses that actually make things. A Capital City mother/daughter team was talking about the popular household do-it-yourself videos they upload to YouTube before a small but entranced audience. David Brightbill, who created the Making Awesome hi-tech workshop, was facilitator for the Makers Town Hall at Tallahassee Community College’s Downtown Innovation Center.
“We’re asking each person to come and tell us what’s good about being a maker and small business person in Tallahassee and what’s missing from our eco-system. We’re already getting some interesting ideas about that. We’re especially honored to have Al Latimer here from the (Tallahassee-Leon County) Office of Economic Vitality to listen to the makers. We hope it’s the beginning of a dialogue between the small makers and government. That’s what we’re doing here today.”
Startup Week events continue at various venues around town through this Friday.