Coffee. Community. Crowdsourced Feedback.

Fresh Start Mornings is a program offered through the Fresh Start Cherokee initiative of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development.

our mission

Cherokee County is passionate about entrepreneurial education for our next generation and providing support for innovators and startups. From kids to CEOs, our community is the perfect fresh air, high growth incubator of dreams. Forget the commute. Dig, grind, and hatch your startup close to home.

Interested in learning more about Fresh Start Mornings? Join our mailing list!

Fresh Start Morning events are free and open to the public. Events have one of two formats: educational discussions relevant to startups and scaling businesses or startup business owners sharing their journey as a small business owner and challenges they are facing in growing their business. Presenters can be either in the concept phase seeking feedback or have been in business for 5 years or less. After each presentation, the audience of peer entrepreneurs will ask questions and provide insight.

Fresh Start Mornings are considered a safe-place for entrepreneurs to gain feedback, learn, and make valuable connections.

Join Us!

2024 Fresh STart Mornings meeting schedule

Apr. 3 – NO MEETING, Cherokee County School break

Apr. 17 – Greg Morris with J. Galt, @ Reformation Brewery Canton

May 1 – Kaleigh Newby: Business Consulting & Corporate Training, @ The Circuit Woodstock

May 15 – Kathryn Cruz with Bomb Babes, @ Reformation Brewery Canton

Jun. 5 – APPLY TODAY, @ The Circuit Woodstock

Jun. 19 – APPLY TODAY, @ Reformation Brewery Canton

Jul. 3 – NO MEETING, Holiday

Jul. 17 – APPLY TODAY, @ Reformation Brewery Canton

Aug. 7 – APPLY TODAY, @ The Circuit Woodstock

Aug. 21 – APPLY TODAY, @ Reformation Brewery Canton

Sep. 4 – APPLY TODAY, @ The Circuit Woodstock

9am Networking, 9:15 Program Begins

1st Wednesday of the month @ The Circuit (1 Innovation Way, Woodstock GA 30188)
3rd Wednesday of the month @ Reformation Brewery Canton (225 Reformation Pkwy, Suite 500 Canton, GA 30114)

Get involved

Fresh Start Mornings is a grassroots program led by a community of volunteer organizers interested in fostering Cherokee county’s entrepreneurial community through education and connections. If you are enthusiastic about helping others grow, have a specific skill set you would like to share, or simply want to be engaged in the e’ship community, please consider being apart of our organizing team! For more information on how to get involved, email Program Manager Lee Freeman-Smith at lsmith@cherokeega.org.

FAQs

Q: Who can present?

Cherokee County business owners
Entrepreneurs, Founders, Co-Founders
Startups less than 5 Years
Innovative Business Concepts
Business owners seeking solutions

Q: How do I apply?

Application link is located at the bottom of this page

Q: What formats do presentations come in?

Events have one of two formats: educational panel discussions relevant to startups or entrepreneurs presenting their business and seeking crowd-sourced feedback and solutions to their current challenges.

Q: When and where does Fresh Start Mornings meet?

Fresh Start Mornings meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise noted.

The meeting location alternates between the Circuit Woodstock on the first Wed. and Reformation Brewery Canton on the third Wed.

Present your Business

At each event, entrepreneurs present their business to the local community and learn how the community can support their business in its growth. Your local Fresh Start Mornings community gives you the opportunity to refine your elevator pitch to a diverse audience, access training programs, and engage with a network for support.