It was a frigid morning in Fargo, with negative temperatures and penetrating winds, but the Plains Art Museum was full of passion and entrepreneurial spirit during the inaugural 1 Million Cups Fargo event. The one-hour program included community, startup discussion, and many cups of coffee warming attendees and spurring conversations.

Weekly 1 Million Cups Fargo events act as a platform for startups and entrepreneurs to pitch their ventures to community members and then participate in constructive dialogue focused on improving and enacting their organization goals. Today’s program featured David Batcheller, President and COO of Appareo Systems, LLC. His company specializes in innovative avionic assistance technologies from flight training to in-flight GPS systems. Among other accolades, Appareo’s ALERTS system for flight data monitoring has been recognized by Aviation Week & Space Technology as the Product Breakthrough of the Year.

Batcheller commented on numerous aspects of his company, including its values and commitment to local employee development. Appareo stresses the necessity of decreasing any brain drain effects by recruiting talented individuals and fostering their growth in the Fargo-Moorhead area. As a native of West Fargo, Batcheller expressed his desire to watch the transformation of the Fargo area as it grows into a mature entrepreneurial community, with hopes of eventually witnessing the establishment of many locally-based companies like his.

Many prominent community members, entrepreneurs, and students showed up for this introductory event. Ryan Raguse of Myriad Mobile, Jim Sweeny of Fargo Jet Center, and Dr. Susan Mathison of Catalyst Medical Center were just some of the fantastic participants who made today’s discussion truly fruitful. Many local entrepreneurs, as well as some Concordia College students, also added to the Plains Art Museum’s communal morning atmosphere.

1 Million Cups Fargo is sponsored by Danielson Legal, LLC. Next week’s session will feature Sarah English and her team at Beach Interactive, a Fargo-based educational gaming company behind The Abettor’s Letters, an interactive video game that teaches a French language curriculum as players progress through it. The conversation starts on Wednesday, January 29, at 9:00am. Sign up here to attend or to pitch a business at a future 1 Million Cups Fargo event.