Daily’s Place amphitheater will be turned into “Idea City,” according to One Spark organizers.
As WJCT News first reported in September, One Spark has been rescheduled for Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7.
In an email Thursday, organizers said a new category, called “LifeSpark,” will be among this year’s highlights. It will feature gadgets, services, food, art, and music ideas.
A “Spark Tank” component will put contestants in front of a panel of judges to take their projects to the next level. One Spark creators can apply through March 4.
One Spark has run into a series of setbacks since it was first started in 2015.
Money problems forced organizers to cancel One Spark last spring. Then, it was rescheduled for October on a smaller scale. But it was postponed again because of Hurricane Irma.
One Spark started as one of the country’s first festivals formed around crowdfunding and startup culture. Hundreds of entrepreneurs or “creators” packed Hemming Park to try and win favor with potential investors.
But costs ballooned and accusations of financial mismanagement flew, resulting in a dramatically shorter event in 2016 and ultimately no One Spark event in 2017.
For 2018, the One Spark team expects to have more than 140 creators and entrepreneurs taking park along with live music, craft beer, food and more.
Innovators interested in taking part in this year’s One Spark can sign up on the organization’s website.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
Michelle Corum can be reached at mcorum@wjct.org, 904-358-6308 or on Twitter at @MCorumonME.
