Tag Archives: Innovation

Beer & Napkins Brewside Chat Ft, Joey Loman, Founder of SynergyMill

We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible Joe Loman, a true renaissance man, to our Brewside Chat. Joe’s unique vision and hands-on experience with Makers Spaces and fostering innovation ecosystems are not to be missed. He’ll share his insights on Napkins to Prototype, an approach that takes raw ideas from brainstorming sessions to tangible startups in the ecosystem.

As a key figure in the Greenville entrepreneurial scene, Joe has been pivotal in shaping our idea community. His work with TEDxGVL and his founding of SynergyMill, a creative haven for innovators, tinkerers, and budding entrepreneurs, have made him a local champion of collaborative spaces. Now, in partnership with Beer and Napkins, Joe is pushing boundaries, taking ideas from the “third places” (pubs, cafes, community spaces) and transforming them into prototypes. Through this Napkins to Prototype initiative, he’s lighting the path from casual conversation to startup creation.

Get ready to dive into Joe’s journey of building connections and empowering creativity across the Upstate! Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or simply curious, this is a chance to connect, learn, and be inspired.

About the Idea Forger Community
We are part of the Beer and Napkins Communities of Growth, where we unite people from all walks of life to generate, nurture, and share groundbreaking ideas. Our Meetups provide a collaborative space for brainstorming and grassroots innovation, from early-stage concepts to cutting-edge technologies. Plus, we offer access to a supportive network of creatives, thinkers, and entrepreneurs.

Don’t miss this opportunity to spark your next big idea!
Join us at Fireforge Crafted Beer for an inspiring night of conversation, connection, and creativity. We can’t wait to see you there!

Welcome to the Idea Forger Community! We are a part of the Beer and Napkins Communities of Growth. We aim to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to generate innovative and exceptional ideas that benefit everyone. Whether it’s a startup concept or an application of new technologies, our Meetups encourage informal brainstorming sessions and support grassroots innovation. Additionally, we provide access to a network of talented individuals and the startup ecosystem.

We invite you to join our Monthly Meetup at Fireforge Crafted Beer. This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded creatives and engage in supportive conversations to help you thrive and grow as an innovator.

Brewing Ideas for the Future

Experiencing collective in-person events has always been the catalyst of the Beer and Napkins Community. One of our last live events was in January 2020, presciently titled The VUCA Sessions: Navigating and Embracing Chaos; little did we know of the things we were to experience in the last few years. Of course, we pivoted and adapted to technology like many other communities. Our intimate VUCA group discussions help us thrive amidst such an isolating dynamic. This adaption and evolution of the use of emerging approaches to enhance our experiences will be ongoing. However, the spirit of camaraderie, the clinking of mugs, the tactile exercise of scribbling on a napkin will not be forgotten and permeates everything we do. AI is an exciting metaphor for using technology to support the creative spirit. Artificial Intelligence will continue to infuse in all we do. For example, a friend of mine, Dave Gray, introduced me to MidJourney AI, where AI-generated art is produced with descriptive words and phrases. As an artist, we can either adopt or reject creatively. I have adopted and used this to support my artistic endeavors (See AI art produced with sketching in pubs as some keywords). The same thought can be applied to Beer and Napkins, using technology to enhance the community experience. We are excited about the possibilities.

As we move onward, the Beer and Napkins community will continue to brew ideas for the Future, virtually or in person. We will leverage our third places, technology, and talent network to support idea development within our community and beyond.

Phil McCreight, Founder

Beer and Napkins Supports Furman University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Scholarships available for their new GVL Starts Entrepreneurship Program

Beer and Napkins is excited to be supporting Furman University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship GVL Starts. For a program overview, please visit https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/programs/gvl-starts/ or for more information, contact [email protected]

The Institute will give a 50% scholarship to the first 5 who apply (so it would only be $149). Just enter “50% Beer and Napkins Scholarship” in question 18/last question of the application. For application, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVLSTARTS

Y2MAKE: Creating our Future Through Advanced Manufacturing

Y Manufacturing?

We are in the midst of a manufacturing renaissance, especially in the Southeast. The Upstate has a seasoned workforce, however with the increase of new technologies and approaches to manufacturing including additive and robotics, the requisite skills needed in science and engineering have also increased. How do improve this knowledge gap? How do we get more interested in manufacturing especially the Y and Z generations? How do we tap into the large number of engineers in SC to help?

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