'Startup Kids' movie could ignite your inner entrepreneur

Dan Proczko is passionate about the potential of startups and he wants others to share that. He also has been looking for an event that could bridge what some see as a gap locally between established industry and new industry.

 

Proczko, who has three companies of his own, says one of the ideas behind showing the movie is to encourage the type of business growth seen in incubators in Ann Arbor and other cities across Michigan. "We need people to invest in ideas and startups in Kalamazoo the way they do all across the state."    

 

So he found a way to bring the documentary "The Startup Kids" to Kalamazoo. The film was created by two Icelandic entrepreneurs who wanted to motivate young people to become entrepreneurs, too. They took a video camera through the United States and Europe to interview founders of startups.

 

They talked to Zach Klein, founder of Vimeo; Alexander Ljung, founder of Soundcloud; Brian Wong, founder of Kiip; and Jessica Mah, founder of Indinero, among others.

 

"The reason for showing the movie is to inspire anyone and everyone that they can do it themselves. Many of us work at jobs that we like but aren't our passion," says Proczko. "This movie is about those who followed their passions an made it real. The truth is anyone can do it. Kalamazoo has the resources and knowledge to help from those who have done it before, to funding, to skilled workers. Come see this movie, be inspired and live your passion!"

 

Blue Granite, Haworth School of Business, Newmind Group, Maestro, Startup Zoo, Tekna, and Proczko's Apt2Labs are partnering for the event on Thursday, April 4. There will be a time networking at 5:30 p.m. The directors of the documentary will answer questions via the Internet. And previews -- video interviews by local entreprenuears -- will be seen before the screening that begins at 7 p.m. A mixer will follow.

 

There are 250 seats, standing room for 70 to 100 people, and Proczko expects space to go quickly. Go here to get a ticket. (They're free.)