Staff Report
Published July 11, 2012

The Midlands Center for Entrepreneurial and Technological Innovation, or CETI, will hold a how-to session July 18 for entrepreneurs considering starting companies.

The event, called Kickstarter, will be held at 300 Senate St., Columbia, at 6 p.m.

Kickstarter aims to give attendees exposure to people with firsthand experience. The event will feature Columbia entrepreneurs Natalie Brown and Philippe Herndon.

In 2007, Brown and her troupe Delirium Tribal Bellydance Co. teamed up with Columbia-based performers to form Alternacirque. The group focuses on  the collaboration of alternative art forms. Alternacirque is in its fourth full season, and consists of a cast of dancers, fire performers, hula-hoopers, actors, poets, stilt walkers and guest artists from across the country.

Herndon is the founder of Caroline Guitar Co. He is a former touring musician and graduate of the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He and his team at Caroline Guitar Co. handcraft guitar effect pedals.

Kickstarter is a free networking opportunity. There will be light hors d'ouevres and a cash bar. Register here.

The event is part of the new Start Innovation Series, which invites aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to connect, learn and grow their ventures.