Our story

I (Melanie Lenci) started Kick-Ass Entrepreneurs (KAE) entrepreneur Story Time events in Santa Fe (KAESF) back in January 2018. As an entrepreneur new to the city, I began bopping around to different networking events and was blown away by the abundance of local entrepreneurial talent. I was so fascinated by their stories that I started Kick-Ass Entrepreneurs as a Meetup group and Facebook page and launched monthly-ish, 2-hour, after-business hours Story Time events to share that experience with others. I figured if people liked it, they’d come, if not, I’d stop doing it. Well, in 5 years KAESF has grown to 790+ Meetup members and events consistently attended by 25-65 local fans of entrepreneurship each month.

Through the power of storytelling, KAE grew in popularity in a way I’d never imagined. Once Story Time events started to get a little buzz, then ecosystem partners, like local city gov officials and entrepreneur program-related personnel started showing up and joining in the fun. Each event now feels a little like a party, but people are actually meeting and connecting in a way that doesn’t often happen in an office or a conference room. It’s amazing to see local entrepreneurs use their stories to naturally attract fans and higher-ups who see the value in coming back time and again.

 And while the terms entrepreneur ecosystems, ecosystem partners and social capital are lingo economic development (ED)-based orgs love to see, it boils down to these story-focused events serving as a super-casual, fun way to bring entrepreneurs and the locals who love to support ‘em together.

oodles of Thanks

I have to give special thanks to a few folks who’ve helped KAE get to where it is today. Marie Longserre with the Santa Fe Business Incubator (SFBI) for sponsoring KAE’s first year of Meetup fees. Start-up and economic development guru Sean O’Shea, with HatchForm, who encouraged me from the start and continues to be the best support a girl could ask for.

Also ginormous thanks to our local Sponsors, including the City of Santa Fe’s Office of Economic Development (OED), Victor Johnson with Santa Fe IP and Debbie Ramirez with Rodey Law Firm. We couldn’t do it without you!.

A million thanks to the amazing KAESF members who give their time to join our group’s monthly Volunteer Time at The Food Depot, something I started at the beginning of 2020 and was thrilled that others were willing to show up for.

And let’s not forget the amazing community of Santa Fe, which continues to come out in support of their local business heroes, the venues who welcome our KAE crowds and the entrepreneurs-turned-storytellers who volunteer their time to share their stories. None of this would be possible without you. Thank YOU!!