Launching in Q4 2019, the Mile High Vegan Network reaches over 50 members from across the United States, representing vegan consumer packaged goods, cafes & restaurants, and pop-up businesses.
The mission of the Mile High Vegan Network is simply within the name: going a mile high by connecting and scaling 5,280 vegan businesses worldwide. Founder Erik Amundson spent nearly three years coordinating and facilitating the virtual network through the unique niche industry. Erik worked hard to encompass a curated structure for the municipal sustainability professionals in a virtual setting. Erik shares what it means to bring such a virtual community together,
“I navigated the bureaucracy and red tape of municipal sustainability. I’ve facilitated and planned nearly 100 webinars to captivate audiences with real-world knowledge, coordinated strategic partnerships to accelerate a network of professionals, and managed dozens of events to bring members even closer together.”
The Mile High Vegan Network provides a community of local, start-up, and small vegan business owners and entrepreneurs to grow together. Every member receives exclusive access to a Community Forum that shares resources, ideas, and industry experts’ knowledge through training sessions and webinars. Members get discounted services with elite Technical Partners with full, any-time access to the member directory, webinar recordings, and other documents to help drive your business growth.
The Mile High Vegan Network wasn’t created in reaction to our world needing more virtual resources, though we face unprecedented times under COVID-19. But instead, their community continues to share key resources with each other as the group has done from the beginning. The MHVN adds to the wealth of knowledge with new members and strategic partners every day.
“In the end, the same people who were saying they wanted to solve the climate crisis were also putting animal flesh in their mouth. It was a disconnect for me. I decided to take the experience I had and apply it to the community I cared immensely about. Entrepreneurs, local business owners, and the vegan community.”
HAPPENING NOW, NOT SOON:
One example of a pain point for many vegan businesses is fundraising. Erik asked Unreal Deli if they would present to the Mile High Vegan Network about their experience with fundraising, pitching to investors, and how to succeed in the aftermath of a huge jump in the capital. Founder Jenny Goldfarb was thrilled, and the captivating webinar presentation can be seen here.
These webinars continue on a near-weekly basis with other successful and selfless vegan businesses who want to share their experience with other start-ups. Other topics covered are applicable to growing a business-like e-commerce, bolstering brand voice, advertising, and much more.
Unlike a Facebook or LinkedIn group, the Mile High Vegan Network Community Forum is much more targeted. The community has started more than 30 individual topics ranging from national distribution, food truck buildouts, packaging tips, and commercial kitchen advice. Those topics can be seen publicly here, but only members can ask their burning questions!
VETTED PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP WITH SCALE:
Eventually, growing businesses need to hand-off some of their responsibilities. The Mile High Vegan Network works with Technical Providers to do just that. These are the professional service providers and collaborators of our vegan community of business owners and entrepreneurs. Our trusted partners include VEGWORLD Magazine, Veg Threads, Asavi Marketing, and Sprinkles Creative. When businesses are ready to have direction with their social media management, marketing, or advertising work they can feel they have someone to trust. The vetting has been done for them!
WHERE THE NETWORK’S HEADING:
Erik shares what’s in store for the Mile High Vegan Network’s expansion.
“There are a handful of plans already on the drawing board. We’re already positioning the network with other partner organizations to expand our offerings. We’ll be working with Big Idea Ventures to provide a virtual micro-accelerator program for our members who are ready to take their idea to the next level. We’ve been in contact with a few fundraising and VCs to assist our members not necessarily funding, but advice and pitch reviews. Something like a mock Shark Tank of sorts. In-person regional events and mastermind groups are also on the way once we increase our membership and have the data to back up our programming focus.”
More details about Mile High Network and how to join here: https://www.milehighvegannetwork.com/membership
