See what Hartford has to offer
local entrepreneurs.
Grow your business today!
  • Home
  • Events
  • Archives
  • Startups
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • FAQs
official_facebook official_twitter official_rss

CT Lifestyle

HomeArchive "CT Lifestyle"

Plenty to Do in Connecticut
Food and drink entrepreneurs and arts and culture organizations are key players in Connecticut’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Share your story with us.

CT Lifestyle Posts


Hartford Flavor Company Founders Share Updates

April 06 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Hartford, Hartford CT, Hartford Flavor Company, startup, startup success

Where Are They Now? Follow Up with Hartford Flavor Company Co-Founders Lelaneia and Tom Dubay

Innovation Destination Hartford spoke with Hartford Flavor Company Creatrix & Infusionary Lelaneia Dubay in November 2015. Since then the startup has been on an upward trajectory with growth and success. One thing has remained certain: The company has remained committed to making a name in Hartford. IDH recently checked in with Hartford Flavor for an update.

Hartford Flavor Company co-founders Lelaneia and Tom Dubay.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: What’s new?

HARTFORD FLAVOR COMPANY: We have seen further growth in our Wild Moon Liqueurs product within restaurants and retail stores across Connecticut and the other states where we are distributed (also Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida, and California) as well as in our tasting room here in Hartford.

Wild Moon has won awards at international spirits competitions and is receiving more and more industry recognition.

Hartford Flavor Company Chief Executive Officer Tom envisioned and is President of the Connecticut Spirits Trail (think wine trail). He’s working to get the word out across the state and across the spirits industry countrywide that Connecticut makes great spirits. The idea is that the Connecticut Spirits Trail will help raise all boats across the state’s distillers.

Within our own growth at Hartford Flavor, we have increased the size of our team in terms of production, tasting room operations, and marketing. We have a relatively small but mighty team that is very knowledgeable and passionate about our mission.

IDH: Have you experienced any major pivots since we featured your story?

We’ve opened larger markets both near and far—Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida, and California. We’re getting ready to launch in Colorado in another month or so with the country’s second-largest distributor, which has operations in more than 20 states. We hope to grow across the nation with them over the next few years.

We’ve been able to focus on sales efforts in our new markets because we have an outstanding new production manager. This enables Lelaneia, as creator of the product, to get out into the trade in our new markets and tell our story.

IDH: Have you been involved with any entrepreneurial organizations of events in the region?

HARTFORD FLAVOR: Tom was on the initial steering committee for the Innovation Places group that submitted an application to the CTNext grant contest for Hartford/East Hartford. Hartford/East Hartford was one of the winning applications and is now in its early stages of implementation. The focal points in the application were InsurTech, medical innovation, and advanced manufacturing. Initial successes are happening—most notably within the InsurTech sector.

We also helped Upward Hartford at its grand opening party at the Stilts Building in May 2017, where we ran the cocktail program. That was quite an event and showed Hartford can certainly put on a great party!

In April 2016, Lelaneia and Tom appeared on the Pulse of the Region, a weekly broadcast by the MetroHartford Alliance. The topic, The Spirit of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, featured Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price and Back East Brewing Company co-founder Tony Karlowicz.

IDH: How are you building a customer base?

HARTFORD FLAVOR: We focus a lot on doing tasting tables at events across the state and in our other states of distribution. We continue to work within the Connecticut community at fundraisers and special events at venues across the entire state and by hosting events in our tasting room/production space.

We put a lot of focus on our tasting room/tours each weekend, where we have public hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and by hosting public and private events in our space. Of course, social media and digital marketing are very important as well.

IDH: Where do you see the entrepreneurial landscape heading?

HARTFORD FLAVOR: We see increasing entrepreneurial activity—both in terms of new startups and startups moving into growth phase and, perhaps more importantly, we see an increase within the public at large acknowledging these trends.

A couple of years ago, there was less startup focus, but with new ventures creating more excitement we are meeting more and more people who are recognizing the trend. It’s heartening to see folks who live outside Hartford acknowledge what is going on now.

IDH: Tell us about the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in Connecticut.

HARTFORD FLAVOR: It is extremely important. Connecticut has always been a place where innovation happened (we’ve always been at the top or near the top in patents per capita), whether it was in small companies or within Fortune 500/1000 settings.

Innovation has and continues to be more important than ever to create a healthy economy. The speed of change continues to get faster across most industries, so of course the ability to innovate becomes more important than ever before.

We’ve seen firsthand that innovation alone is great, but it really needs to be accompanied by the ability to effectively tell your company’s or product’s story. Effective storytelling not only helps to increase sales revenue, but it also helps to attract investment needed to grow.

As much as we need innovators, we think storytelling capabilities have to become stronger as well. It would be great if marketing/PR/advertising firms could get involved with entrepreneurs to help storytelling match our innovation capabilities. Innovation Destination Hartford been doing a great job with this!

IDH: Aside from funding, what do you need most to move your company forward?

HARTFORD FLAVOR: We need to get into new states and we have a plan to do so over the next few years. This will make Wild Moon a national brand with the possibility of exporting as well. We think the United Kingdom and Europe will be great markets for us one day. It really all comes down to sales and marketing, so lots of travel is in our future.

When we envisioned our initial business plan, we thought Wild Moon would let us see the majority of the United States and then perhaps other countries—and that now seems more definite than probable.

At some point, we’ll need to expand our production space. So, it seems like it will all come down to time, effort, and money.

IDH: What’s next?

HARTFORD FLAVOR: Our Colorado launch is really important, so we’ll focus a lot on that to show our distribution partner that Wild Moon will be successful across the United States. We’ll grow our sales team in the distant markets and need to run a more far-flung operation. But, at the same time, we will make sure we don’t take our eye of the ball in terms of our home state and our commitment to be an asset to the local community.

Find out more about Harford Flavor Company

READ: Hartford Flavor Company: Hartford’s Own Distillery
VISIT: hartfordflavor.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

More
1243 0

Relic Brewing Shares Updates About the Startup

March 29 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: breweries, business growth, Connecticut, CT brewery, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, small business, startup

Relic Brewing recently opened a new taproom at its location in Plainville, CT. (Photo courtesy Christine Dangelo)

Innovation Destination Hartford met with Relic Brewing Owner and Head Brewer Mark Sigman in April 2016 (read the interview: Entrepreneur Brewer: Relic Brewing). Since its launch in 2012, Relic has been brewing a variety of craft beers and “keeping pace with the industry,” which, as Mark noted back in 2016, is how to be successful.

Another inroad to success: The brewery recently added a taproom whisky bar where customers can order 0.5-oz or 1-oz pours from more than 800 spirits. Rotating whisky, mezcal, tequila, rum, or gin flights will also be available

“Since August we’ve been accumulating a truly world-class collection of fine and rare spirits to complement our beer, and we’re thrilled to finally get the word out so that people can come and experience this for themselves,” said Mark.

In addition to providing a variety of craft beers, Relic has accumulated a large collection of fine and rare spirits.

“What we’ve created is unlike anything we know of in the country and we truly believe is at the forefront of what’s new in the increasingly popular craft food and beverage scene. Our customers have so far been shocked, delighted, and returning for more—more flavors, more education, and best of all, more fun,” he added.

What makes Relic innovative? According to brewery, it’s the staff’s passion and depth of knowledge. And the fact that customers can experience the tasting in an informal setting. Relic’s innovation is the combination of approachability, affordability, and expertise paired with craft beer, the brewery noted.

Find out more about Relic Brewing

READ: Innovation Destination Hartford interview with Relic Brewing Founder Mark Sigman
VISIT: www.relicbeer.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

More
1030 0

CT Wellness Entrepreneurs

March 20 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneurs, Greater Hartford, Hartford, innovation, mindfulness, wellness

Connecticut entrepreneurs have launched a variety of successful wellness businesses to help the community relax, recover, rejuvenate, and reflect.

Felicia Jordan is Founder of Live Like a Lotus, a Hartford-based yoga and life coaching startup.

From yoga to and energy healing to innovative techniques in physical therapy and massage therapy, there are plenty of opportunities to engage local small businesses.

Here, seven entrepreneurs share how they turned their visions into successful Hartford-area businesses.

INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS & PHYSICAL THERAPY

“We’re really trying to be a resource to the community. We’re all in the mindset of: What can we do to help people get better?”
— Ayelet Connell, President

READ: Connecticut Entrepreneur Launches Wellness Center Focused on Community
VISIT: integrativewellnessandpt.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @IntWellPT

LIVE LIKE A LOTUS

“I always knew I wanted to do something that inspired others, enabled them to recognize the importance of being mindful, and ultimately helped them become the best versions of themselves.”
— Felicia Jordan, Founder

READ: Hartford-Based Startup Offers Yoga and Life Coaching
VISIT: www.livelikealotus.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram livelikealotusllc

SOLSTICE STRATEGY PARTNERS

“As much as people attempt to compartmentalize their lives, everything interconnects. You have your life at work, your life at home, and your relationship with yourself. Most people neglect one or two areas. When this happens, you are sub-optimized. Balancing your energy across all three requires awareness and the desire to live life more peacefully and easily.”
— Delanea Davis, Co-Founder

READ: Startup Combines Leadership Skills and Energy Healing
VISIT: www.solsticestrategypartners.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and  Twitter @SolsticeSP

VASU TRIBE

“We’re cross-pollinating with like-minded entrepreneurs and small business owners whose businesses are driven by passion and creativity. There’s a lot of cross promotion. We all support each other.”
— Natalie Wheeler, Co-Founder

READ: Women-Owned, Hartford-Based Yoga and Spa
VISIT: vasutribe.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram vasutribe

CONNECTICUT PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALISTS

Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists Founder David Bostic uses the Redcord tools on a client. “Redcord is a highly innovative approach and one of the tools I used to create my practice,” he explains.

“The Redcord Professional Workstation, which is a suspension-based corrective exercise system…is a highly innovative approach and one of the tools I used to create my practice. It’s just one of many our services that makes us unique and gives us our competitive edge.”
— David Bostic, Founder

READ: Successful Physical Therapy Startup With 3 Locations in Connecticut
VISIT: ctpts.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @callmyPT

TEN MINUTE TAI CHI

“Connecticut has a very educated and socially conscious population. The quality of life is high and resources are plentiful. This is a great place to do business.”
— Jeff Steinberg, Co-Founder

READ: Innovative B2B Company Helps Launch Connecticut Startup
VISIT: www.tenminutetaichi.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @tenminutetaichi

TAINTED INC.

“We’re forming true collaborations with local gyms, boutique fitness centers, healing centers, and individual artisans who we can bring in to offer a variety of workshops and classes."
— Andrea Cortez, Founder

READ: Tainted Shares Updates About the Startup
VISIT: tntdinc.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram taintedinc

Stay tuned for an upcoming feature story with Lisa Butler, LMT, RYT, Founder of Wellness Foundations, LLC a Connecticut startup that provides massage therapy, cupping therapy, yoga, and meditation.

More
626 0

CT Craft Brewery Numbers Are Up

February 28 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Alvarium Beer Company, beer, breweries, brewery, Connecticut, craft beer, craft breweries, craft brewery, CT, Firefly Hollow Brewing, Greater Hartford, launching a brewery, Relic Brewing, startup

This piece by Angie DeRosa originally appeared in The Bristol Press February 26, 2018.

When Firefly Hollow Brewing Co. opened in October 2013 they were only the second brewery in the central region of the state. Relic Brewing in Plainville opened just the year before.

Mark Sigman is Founder of Relic Brewing in Plainville, CT. (Photo courtesy Innovation Destination Hartford)

At that time there were approximately 12 to 15 breweries that were active in the state from 2012-2013, according to Dana Bourque, headbrewer at Firefly Hollow and president of the Connecticut Brewers Guild.

That soon quickly changed when state legislature amended the liquor laws in 2012 to allow breweries to serve beer on their premises. Prior to the new law, breweries could only give tastings and were required to obtain a liquor license in order to have a taproom.

“After that there was this cascade of breweries that started to open,” Bourque said.

According to 2016 data from the Brewers Association, the craft beer industry in Connecticut contributed $718 million to the economy. In 2016 there were 49 breweries that produced a combined 129,825 barrels of craft beer per year.

Today, there are currently 65 breweries operating throughout the state and another 49 breweries are either in the planning and construction phases or set to open shortly.

Why is craft beer so popular? Bourque thinks it’s quite simple.

“First of all craft beer is tasty. It’s also a lot of fun I think for people to be able to connect to something that is happening locally for them,” he said.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

While many craft breweries are located in major travel destinations like Denver, San Diego, Chicago, and Boston, it’s reviving small urban cities and forgotten industrial towns.

The Associated Press in 2013 reported that the arrival of a craft brewery in urban cities were often a telltale sign a neighborhood is changing.

“From New England to the West Coast, new businesses bubbled up around breweries, drawing young people and creating a vibrant community where families could plant roots and small businesses could thrive,” Tali Arbel AP business writer wrote.

This is evident in multiple towns in Connecticut, including most notably, Bridgeport. For a number of years Bridgeport struggled with poverty and crime, even becoming national news when it declared bankruptcy before the turn of the 21st century.

Within the last several years the city has been able to turn itself around through redevelopment projects and more recently a craft brewery.

Brewport Brewing Co. opened in 2016 in a former newspaper distribution warehouse right off I-95 and is now the second largest brewery in the state—Two Roads Brewery in neighboring Stratford is the largest.

“The more establishments like this that start to pop up around the more it’s going to brighten up (the area),” Bourque said.

Due to the high costs of operating a brewery, brewers often seek inexpensive industrial spaces in close proximity to urban centers and residential districts. Proximity to major highways and routes are other factors breweries take into consideration.

“I think a huge part of it is breweries aren’t in big urban centers that are well developed already because cost of doing business in breweries is already really high so brewers are looking for these tucked away little spots where we can do our thing,” Bourque said.

Alvarium Beer Company co-founders Brian Bugnacki (left), Mike Larson (right), and Chris DeGasero (seated). (Photo courtesy Innovation Destination Hartford)

Alvarium Beer Co. told The Herald in June they chose their location at John Downey Drive in New Britain because it was centrally located near the Berlin Turnpike and Route 9 as well as other breweries in nearby towns Bristol, Rocky Hill, and Middletown.

Skygazer Brewing Co., a new brewery coming soon to 36 Triano Drive in Southington, chose that spot because it is centralized and has easy access from the highway in all directions, according to its websites.

In the book “Untapped: Exploring the Cultural Dimensions of Craft Beer,” Geoff Boeing, a co-author of a chapter, found that many cities have changed zoning codes and offer subsidies to make it easier to establish craft breweries.

In July, Southington Town Council approved a revision to its tax abatement policies to clear up language to enable breweries to take full advantage of coming into town.

New Britain’s Zoning Board of Appeals granted requests for variances and a special exception to four city zoning ordinances last year for Five Churches Brewery coming soon to 193 Arch Street.

INCREASES TOURISM

When looking to establish a new brewery, owners intentionally cluster nearby other breweries, according to a recent study published in The Professional Geographer.

The collaborative environment and artisan nature of the industry creates “brewery districts,” which attracts more foot traffic and visitors who are looking to try a variety of beers.

“You see almost some craft beer pub crawls on a trail,” Bourque said. “There’s this incentive to move and see a lot of different folks.”

In 2015, MarketWatch—a financial information website—ranked Hartford/New Haven as one of 10 cities that love craft beer the most. Other cities included Portland (Oregon), Cleveland and Washington, D.C.

“Since we’ve opened we’ve been getting people from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and all over the country that come in,” Bourque said.

He said people who grew up in the area, but moved away before the brewery was in business will often stop in when they return home to visit family.

As new breweries are constantly being added in the state, some that have been around for a while are not expanding to keep up with demand.

Last October Two Roads Brewing Company announced it will be opening a second location—Area Two Experimental Brewing—adjacent to their main facility set to open in fall of this year. Earlier this month Stony Creek Brewery of Branford announced it will be opening a fully operational brewpub set to open in the summer at Foxwoods casino.

But it’s not just breweries that are contributing to the craze, more and more bars and restaurants specializing in local brews and beer festivals and gardens are popping up too.

On Friday the New Britain Museum of American Art held its fifth annual “Craft Sippin’ in New Britain” beer festival.

Last year the New Britain Bees stadium held a Beers in the Park event on a warm summer day before a game in August, and the city hosted the third Hops for Hope Beer Festival in September to raise money for the Smith-Magenis Syndrome Research Foundation.

The Hop Knot, a bar specializing in craft beers and pretzels, opened its second location in Southington. Its first location is in Middletown.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The craft beer industry is unlike any other industry out there. Rather than competing with one another, local breweries share same goals of wanting to bring people together with delicious beer and improve the state’s economy.

“There are enough beer lovers to go around that we’re not trying to steal customers away from anybody else,” Austin Japs, headbrewer and partner at Five Churches, said.

Already established breweries also work with up and coming breweries to help fuel questions, concerns and anything else they might need.

“(The industry) is more of camaraderie than anything else,” Mike Barillaro, partner at Five Churches said.

As Five Churches was getting off the ground they received help from friends who work at different breweries across the state as well as nearby Alvarium Beer Co. who answered any questions the first-time brewery owners might have had.

“We got a lot of ‘anything you need, just let us know’ kind of thing. Not many other industries have that,” Barillaro said.

It’s not just a community atmosphere for the brewers, but also for the customers.

Breweries offer an endless array of events including live music, yoga classes, paint nights, networking opportunities, beer collaborations and tap takeovers with other breweries, stand-up comedy, game nights, charity fundraisers and more.

People are able to come together to take a break from social media and any stresses of everyday life and are able to experience more than just beer at these breweries.

“I think people are really starting to accept breweries now-a-days as more, in a sense like a community center. It’s a place where people are getting together,” Bourque said.

Learn more about breweries throughout Greater Hartford in the Innovation Destination Hartford article:
CT Fosters Startup Brewery Scene

More
1725 0

Local Entrepreneurs Discuss Passion, Commitment and Love

February 14 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: A Little Bird Told Me., business owners, Connecticut, CT, entrepreneurs, Greater Hartford, Hartford area, Hartford Baking Company, startups, West Hartford

Love is in the air! West Hartford business owners Katharine Ortiz and Scott Kluger recently announced their engagement. (Photo courtesy Winter Caplanson)

Katharine Ortiz, Founder of A Little Bird Told Me and Scott Kluger, Founder of Hartford Baking Company discovered their love of entrepreneurship—and each other. The West Hartford business owners recently announced their engagement.

Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price met with Scott in March 2016, when he discussed his journey from Wall Street to bread baking. Since then, Hartford Baking Company opened a second location on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center.

In the process of meeting Scott, Nan met and interviewed Kat, who was working on growing her company at the time.

Nan caught up with Kat and Scott to discuss the roles passion, commitment, and love play in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

NAN PRICE: How did you two meet?

SCOTT KLUGER: We were introduced by a college friend of mine in August 2015. Kat was just starting her own business and I was looking for someone to do marketing. We started dating soon after we met.

NAN: In terms of your relationship, can you talk about some advantages to both of you being business owners?

KAT: There’s a tremendous amount of encouragement and understanding within our relationship. It’s nice to have a partner who can provide feedback and general support. Like me, Scott also embraces risk and challenge—and he knows what it’s like. He provides a good sounding board.

SCOTT: Right, I’ve gone through all that—the failures, the pivots. My business is further along; Kat’s is in the earlier stages.

I didn’t have a basis of comparison when I was starting out. I had to learn as I went. I told her the first two to four years you may feel like you’re going to quit. For me, it was stressful but an important learning experience. I try and give her that wisdom I gained. I offer a voice of reason.

Also, the flexibility in our relationship is nice. We’re both busy, but we’re also at a stage where we can decide our own hours, which gives us some freedom to “get out of the office” and travel, which we enjoy.

NAN: Entrepreneurs often use the word passion to describe the work they do.

SCOTT: You should be passionate about what you’re doing. Kat and I are both lucky to do something we enjoy. You can do something you love to do and go out of business, so you have to find that balance between doing what you love and doing what your customers want.

KAT: The passion drives you—that’s why you do it. If you don’t have the passion, you’ll get discouraged and may end up quitting.

My business is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. I dream about it. It’s all-consuming—in the best possible way.

NAN: Let’s talk about commitment. You two are both committed to making a social impact in the community.

KAT: For me, it’s about collaborating and making connections—connecting local charities with restaurants, finding silent auction items, finding notable local people to MC charity events. You can do a lot of little things and make a real impact.

Also, I’m on board of Camp Courant, an organization that provides free summer programs to kids from Hartford. I can directly see the impact I make. Everything is going right back into the community. Kids’ lives are improved by this type of commitment.

SCOTT: Hartford Baking Company has a commitment to creating zero waste. We try not to throw anything away. We’ve been donating bread to homeless shelters for years. We also participated in several successful fundraisers this year to benefit the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others. It’s easy to empower others to give back—we just donate a portion of the day’s profits to the charity of choice.

KAT: I’ll add, in terms of giving back, we’re planning on announcing his-and-hers charities for our wedding registry.

Entrepreneurs Katharine Ortiz, Founder of A Little Bird Told Me and Scott Kluger, Founder of Hartford Baking Company are committed to making a social impact in the Hartford area. (Photo courtesy Jeffrey Kluger)

NAN: What do you love most about the work you do?

SCOTT: For me, it’s about creativity and being able to showcase things people haven’t seen before, whether it’s a new coffee beverage, baked goods, or other culinary ideas.

KAT: I love that I’m able to help people like Scott get the recognition that they deserve. I work with a lot of Hartford-area restaurants and non-profits, and it can be challenging for them to get press coverage and media attention. I enjoy helping with that coordination.

NAN: Aside from the engagement, what’s new for each of your businesses—and what’s on the horizon?

SCOTT: We’re adding more events, such as Hot Chocolate Month in February at both cafes. We launched our first wine dinner on February 10; those will be ongoing. We’re also going to launch catering from both cafes. In March we plan to begin offering classes—everything from how to bake bread at home to how to use stale bread you already have in your kitchen. And we’ll be celebrating our one-year anniversary at the Farmington Avenue location on March 22.

In the future, we’re looking into possibilities for opening additional locations. And we’re always looking to grow. In 2013, we got a grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development that enabled us to increase our staff. We went from 12 employees to 50.

KAT: Little Bird is growing in all the right ways. We now have a full-time photographer on staff to deal with the sheer demand for photography that keeps us creative and on brand with our clients’ messaging. Being able to create unique and custom content that shouts out on social media at an affordable rate has always been a sweet spot of ours.

We’re continuing our work with the fast-growing digital sector, especially honing in on organic influencer marketing. We’ve been focused on these tactics since day one, and the demand for them has only increased. So, it’s nice to be hitting stride very comfortably with our current product offerings. We are also increasing the niche business line we support from restaurants and fashion retail to the world of B2B marketing. And we are thrilled to be partnered with another local business, Fathom, for content support and experiential marketing.

SCOTT: I’m motivated to think about growth and freedom to continue doing what I know and love. I’m also keeping my options open for the next opportunity on the horizon. Enough is never good enough. There will always be another challenge to overcome, and who knows what businesses I’ll start in the future? It’s quite exciting.

Learn more about Hartford Baking Company

READ: Hartford Baking Company: Entrepreneurial Success In Hartford County
VISIT: hartfordbaking.com
FOLLOW: Facebook New Park and Facebook West Hartford Center, Instagram hartfordbaking, and Twitter @HartfordBaking

Learn more about A Little Bird Told Me 

READ: Social Media Startup Enhances Greater Hartford’s Arts, Restaurant and Community Scene
VISIT: alittlebirdtoldmect.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram birdsocialmedia

 

More
1627 7

Startup Brings Fitness/Dance Workouts to Wethersfield, CT

February 08 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, early-stage business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, Greater Hartford, Hartford area, how to start a business in Connecticut, reSET, reSET accelerator, social impact, startup, startups, Wethersfield

CNG Fit, LLC Founder Brandi Kilbourne (second from left) says she launched her startup as “a fun and effective way to engage in fitness through dance.”

FitPartyMe a CNG Fit, LLC brand, is one of many innovative startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

CNG Fit Founder and CEO Brandi Kilbourne told Innovation Destination Hartford about the importance of making connections when launching a startup.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

BRANDI KILBOURNE: The concept of FitPartyMe was born back in 2013. Allow me to set the stage: I was a professional commercial hip-hop dancer in New York City and twerk dance classes were all the rage. A childhood friend of mine from New Orleans approached me with the idea to start teaching twerk fitness classes. Twerking is a dance staple in the South (where I grew up), making me somewhat of an expert! I loved the idea of teaching a dance style I’d grown up, on but really wanted to take it a step further. We eventually parted ways and I began working on what is now FitPartyMe.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

BRANDI: While developing this program, in trials, I began to recognize certain patterns of attrition in those who had fitness goals but, for whatever reason, couldn’t stick with a program. I was intrigued by how I could best design a program that seamlessly blended dance and fitness in a way that was welcoming and fun yet yielded real results.

I went on to obtain a certification in personal training from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and developed FitPartyMe, a fun, approachable, affordable, convenient, and effective way to engage in fitness through dance.

FitPartyMe started off with pop-up classes in New York and Connecticut a year and a half ago.

CNG Fit, LLC Founder Brandi Kilbourne instructs a FitPartyMe class.

It developed into FitPartyMe a CNG Fit, LLC brand, which is a membership-based community that gives members affordable access to live dance/dance fitness classes at our FitPartyMe gyms, online dance fitness programs, and nationwide pop-up dance fitness parties (which often include musical talent, health/wellness seminars, and exhibitors).

As of January 2018, we have a facility in Wethersfield, CT, where clients can come to our classes on a weekly basis.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

BRANDI: As a newbie entrepreneur with a tiny staff, I needed all the help I could possibly get. I needed to be in an environment where everyone is making their startup machines work. I needed to be connected with those who know more than I do about how to keep a startup machine running. The reSET Accelerator program was the answer.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

BRANDI: We donate 10% of our profits to a charity or non-profit every fiscal year. Additionally, we offer certain donation-based programs/classes, like our “Dance Lab,” where 100% of the class fees are accepted as donation and go directly to a local charity of choice (chosen by the class participants).

As we expand, we plan to partner with civilian re-entry programs on a nationwide level for military veterans and recently incarcerated individuals that will train and employ them in certain CNG Fit LLC departments.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

BRANDI: Our biggest challenge has been getting our market customer through the doors and exposed to our product.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

BRANDI: The most important resource for us to move forward right now is funding and working capital. FitPartyMe is currently operating a beta product version. To get the program to the next level, we’ll need more working capital/investments.

IDH: Any advice for other startups?

BRANDI: If something isn’t working, pivot.

Learn more about CNG Fit, LLC and FitPartyMe

VISIT: www.fitpartyme.com
FOLLOW: Twitter @FitPartyMe

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

  • Bare Life – Food and Beverage Startup For Healthy Eating
  • CNG Fit, LLC – Startup Brings Fitness/Dance Workouts to Wethersfield, CT
  • FieldOwler — Startup Provides Risk Management Software for Businesses
  • florapothecarie — Startup Launches Natural Beauty Line
  • Project Ray – Startup Makes Smartphones Accessible for the Visually Impaired
  • SKYWIREme – Startup Provides Messaging Solutions for Nonprofits and Growing Businesses
  • Two Happy Homes – CT Company Provides Co=Parenting Tools

 

More
1193 0

Food and Beverage Startup for Healthy Eating

January 22 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: early-stage business, East Hartford, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, Greater Hartford, Hartford area, how to start a business in Connecticut, reSET, reSET accelerator, social impact, startup, startups

Bare Life Founder Ali Lazowski is one of 22 startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator.

Ali Lazowski is Founder of West Hartford-based Bare Life, which is one of many startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Ali discussed some of her startup challenges and her experience with the accelerator.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

ALI LAZOWSKI: Cancer and chronic illness actually started Bare Life, not quite the typical startup plan. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012 as well as Lyme Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I had been very ill for a while. Those diagnoses pushed me to adopt cleaner and healthier diet (gluten free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and organic).

At the time, I just thought I was making hot cocoa and other recipes I loved; there really was no plan beyond feeding myself. In talking with people in my community, I realized a lot of people also wanted access to healthy food that didn’t taste like cardboard. Even though these have been the most challenging years of my life—and the challenge is not over—finding something I love to do, feel passionate about, and can possibly help other people has made it all worth it.

I launched Bare Life in October 2017.

IDH: Tell us about the startup and what makes it innovative.

Bare Life’s first product is an innovative instant hot cocoa, that’s organic, non-GMO, dairy free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, kosher, paleo, and vegan.

ALI: Bare Life is an allergen- and irritant-free brand, based in West Hartford, CT. Our mission is make crave-worthy, body-friendly foods convenient for people coping with chronic illness. Our first product is a unique instant hot cocoa, that’s organic, non-GMO, dairy free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, kosher, paleo, and vegan. We also have Sweets and Thanksgiving cookbooks coming out later this year.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

ALI: Why wouldn’t you want to be involved with reSET? Their team is so supportive, collaborative, and engaging, every time I talk to a team member it’s clear they just want to help us succeed. It’s truly a special place.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

ALI: It is very important to me to help people coping with chronic illnesses. Having a chronic illness is unbelievably hard. I am fortunate to have wonderfully supportive family and friends who help make my journey a bit easier. But I know not everyone has that.

If Bare Life can make food choices easier, help people feel less alone through our support groups, or create flexible employment opportunities, that would be an amazingly wonderful thing to me.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

ALI: I think my biggest challenge with Bare Life has been what started the company—my chronic illnesses. A startup requires a lot of energy, you’re working all the time and there are no days off. Balancing startup life and my health is no easy feat, and I am definitely not good at it yet. But as I continue to build my great team around me I know we can overcome this challenge.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

ALI: With a startup I think it’s always two things: financing and strategic advice or partnerships. We just completed our crowdfunding campaign and we raised about $10,000. We didn’t hit our big funding goal, but that allowed us to move forward with no margin for error. Mistakes are also always part of a startup. That’s where strategic advice or partnerships come in, like reSET. Hopefully I can learn from other people’s experiences and avoid repeating some of their mistakes.

IDH: What is the best advice you have given/received?

ALI: The best piece of advice I’ve received was from my father. I was at a crossroads and he told me to never make a choice, to stick with something, because the other choice seemed worse or harder. To always go with what felt right and that the rest would work itself out. So far, he’s been right.

Learn more about Bare Life

WEB: www.eatbarelife.com
FACEBOOK: /EatBareLife
INSTAGRAM: eatbareliefe
TWITTER: @eatbarelife

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

  • Bare Life – Food and Beverage Startup For Healthy Eating
  • CNG Fit, LLC – Startup Brings Fitness/Dance Workouts to Wethersfield, CT
  • FieldOwler — Startup Provides Risk Management Software for Businesses
  • florapothecarie — Startup Launches Natural Beauty Line
  • Project Ray – Startup Makes Smartphones Accessible for the Visually Impaired
  • SKYWIREme – Startup Provides Messaging Solutions for Nonprofits and Growing Businesses
  • Two Happy Homes – CT Company Provides Co=Parenting Tools
More
1822 10

Hartford-Based Coffee Startup Story and Soil

January 10 2018 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: coffee, community, Connecticut, entrepreneur, Hartford, social impact, startup

Michael Acosta is Founder of Hartford-Based Coffee Startup Story and Soil.

You could say Story and Soil Coffee Founder Michael Acosta lives and breathes coffee. The young entrepreneur was pursuing neuroscience at Trinity College when he became involved in the coffee scene. His coffee-related work experience began when he was a graduate assistant running The Underground Coffeehouse, which is a student-run shop on campus.

Michael spent some time traveling to shops around the United Stated and then working with coffee shops in Connecticut. “I found myself in a position where I became obsessed about coffee,” he admits. “I wanted to know everything about the supply chain and the culture and the more technical aspects of it. I made it my job to know as much as possible about the local coffee scene, as well as the national coffee scene—this is even before getting any formal training.”

FORMING A BUSINESS IDEA

“It’s always been a dream to have some sort of impact with the coffee industry,” says Michael.

Through a connection with J. René Coffee Roasters in West Hartford, he became involved with The Specialty Coffee Association of America. “That’s where I found a way to have an impact on coffee that involved events and community engagement” says Michael. “I wanted to take a more approachable and service-orientated approach to specialty coffee, which was something I feel has been missing within industry in general, but particularly within Connecticut.”

Michael traveled to Colombia, where he says he had “a fairly transformative experience.” When he returned, he knew he wanted to do something locally in his last year at Trinity.

Michael’s first startup venture was N2 Coffee, which he founded with business partners Jesus Gomez and Ted Do beck.

“When we launched N2 Coffee, it was the first mobile nitro cold brew in Connecticut,” he notes. “We started N2 as a way to pop up at fun events and bring coffee to people in an approachable way that added to the experience. The idea was to use coffee as conduit to combine media, art, events, and community engagement.”

RESET IMPACT ACCELERATOR EXPERIENCE

To help get the startup off the ground, Michael tapped into more of his connections, namely with Christopher Mazziotto [former Program Director at reSET), who he had known for a while.

Michael Acosta pitching his idea for N2 Coffee at reSET.

“I approached Chris with my idea for N2 a year before I even executed,” recalls Michael. “I told him about cold brew and how it was becoming interesting. A year later, cold brew and nitro brew were popping up in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and available in cans. Chris took note of that and told me I should participate in the reSET Impact Accelerator.”

Michael is grateful for the suggestion. “It was a great experience,” he notes.

“I was able to put together a 40-page, a 25-page, and a 15-page business plan. It helped to put everything on paper, take all my observations, and create projections. I also enjoy public speaking, giving presentations, and communicating my business model,” he adds.

Michael’s original idea was to have short-run bottling of cold brew to expand the N2 brand and create a presence on grocery store shelves. “I had never really wanted to open up a coffee shop if I couldn’t do something interesting—this all happened very serendipitously,” he admits.

“I found myself in a position with N2 where I knew I needed to pivot—it’s why I signed up for the Accelerator. I needed to find a way to have more of an impact, get more revenue, and have a more sustainable business model. I needed to see what was possible and whether I was just spinning my wheels,” Michael explains.

“I remember telling Chris: I don’t see N2 having the same social impact as the coffee shop I’m working on can have. So, I started switching my focus completely onto opening a coffee shop,” he says. “I had originally signed up for the Accelerator as N2. My initial pitch was for N2. The last pitch I did was for Story and Soil.”

FUNDING THE STARTUP

Michael worked with the team at reSET to help secure a Small Business Administration loan from Farmington bank.

“There’s a lot of coffee industry growth within Connecticut. Within the last six years, more than 20 stores have opened. Of those stores, a handful are hyper-specialty, like we are. So, there is still no proof of concept,” Michael explains. “It was surprising that Farmington Bank took this chance. It was awesome because that let us get to the point where we could outright buy a lot of our equipment. We also used the funding for licensing and doing the build out.”

Other forms of funding came from angel investors and family members. “We have no investors,” says Michael. “We have sole ownership of the business, so we got away unscathed.”

FINDING A PLACE IN HARTFORD

Story and Soil opened its doors on Capital Avenue in Hartford in July 2017.

Story and Soil opened its doors on Capital Avenue in Hartford in July 27, 2017. With regard to location, Michael says, “It just made sense. If a coffee shop is going to go anywhere within Frog Hollow, it’s going to go here.”

Sarah McCoy, one of three partners including Michael McCoy, approached Michael at a local farmer’s market and introduced the idea of the space on Capital Avenue. “The building owners were interested in seeing a coffee shop come in because they knew the value it would add to the neighborhood,” Michael notes.

“I needed to pivot in some way. I saw an opportunity and jumped on it,” says Michael. “I went with my gut feeling. I think I had enough passion combined with the experience I have within the coffee industry, so that gut feeling was an interesting intuition.”

He adds, “It felt right. And it was something where I knew I could make a difference. There’s an opportunity here. We’re all anticipating the momentum that’s already been happening within the whole food scene in Hartford.”

Getting the word out about Story and Soil wasn’t too much of a stretch, since Michael had already made connections through N2 Coffee. “I had this contingency that was interested in N2, which encouraged them be interested in this coffee shop. It was an active effort.

Story and Soil popped up at different markets and events, including The KNOW Good Market, which is run by Breakfast Lunch & Dinner.

Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price interviewed Story and Soil Coffee Founder Michael Acosta on a busy morning at the café (inset, table at right). Locals sat on the adjoining stoop enjoying their coffee beverages and the autumn weather. (Photo courtesy Ali Oshinskie)

“I saw the value of being on the front lines and being able to tell our story. I had taken the lean model of: I’m going to do my research, see whether there’s a market for this, and see what the reactions are. I had done five years of that, so I had a good understanding,” he says.

AN INNOVATIVE COFFEE SHOP EXPERIENCE

One of Michael’s goals is to have Story and Soil be a staple within the neighborhood.

“We want to offer something unique—whether that’s with experience or by curating a space that’s welcoming,” he says. “What makes Story and Soil different is the approach we’re taking—we want to reflect the community we are in. We want to do more than just serve a cup of coffee. We want to be able to connect people and make an impact through media and events and by bringing people together.”

FUTURE GROWTH

“If you’re intentional from the very beginning about your growth and what you value as a business, you can make it a sustainable place for your employees to grow as well. It’s very much an inward/outward focus. That’s always been valuable to us, emphasizes Michael.”

“We want to keep the team we have now. We want to allow our team to grow with us and give them more leadership opportunities and opportunities for growth to ideally make this a sustainable career for a lot of us,” he adds.

Learn more about Story and Soil Coffee

VISIT: www.storyandsoilcoffee.com
FOLLOW: Facebook /storyandsoil and Instagram @storyandsoilcoffee

More
1499 2

Thomas Hooker Brewery Finds a Home in Hartford

December 28 2017 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: beer, brewery, Connecticut, Connecticut beer scene, CT, CT beer, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Hartford, small business, Thomas Hooker

Thomas Hooker Brewery opened a tap room and pilot brewery in Hartford, CT.

Serial entrepreneur Curt Cameron launched and sold a startup and owned, operated, and sold two larger stores before becoming owner of Thomas Hooker Brewery. Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price spoke to Curt about his entrepreneurial experience and how and why the brewery recently created a presence in Hartford.

NAN PRICE: Have you always wanted to own your own business?

CURT CAMERON: Not so much a brewery. I always laugh because most people who start breweries have a love of home brewing. And that is not me.

NP: That is funny—most of the craft brewery startup owners I’ve met began by homebrewing.

CC: My desire was more to build a brand than it was to brew. I don’t brew beer. I’ve always hired people to do that. I enjoy more the business component of things.

NP: So, how did you end up owning a brewery?

CC: My degrees are in business and computer science. After school, I worked at a software company where I did well. I left making lots of money to make almost no money. A friend and I started a landscaping company, which we grew nicely. I ran it and sold it off. Afterward, I traveled for a bit and then got back into the software business.

When my son was born, I was traveling three days a week, which was not very conducive to being a new dad. So, in 2001 I opened my first liquor store, which was fairly large. And then I opened another bigger store. That industry helped me realize the craft brewing world was really taking off.

Eventually, I sold the wine stores took another year off. I was looking at different opportunities and one of the attorneys I had worked with asked me what I knew about Thomas Hooker beer. I remember saying: It’s a good brand, but they don’t do much with it. He asked if I thought they’d want to sell it. I said: I don’t know, but let’s go ask

He and I approached the owners and they agreed to sell us the brewery and made it very easy for us. We took it over in 2006.

Beers on tap at the Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt in Hartford, CT.

NP: Give us a little history. When was the brewery actually founded?

CC: It was founded in 1996 as the Trout Brook Brew Pub. In 2003, the second owners rebranded it to the Thomas Hooker Brewery. Thomas Hooker ale was their best-selling beer, so they renamed the company.

The brewery was in Hartford when we took over. It was originally located in the old Spaghetti Warehouse building on Bartholomew Avenue in Parkville.

When we took over ownership, we know we didn’t want to be a restaurant. With an eye toward production brewing, we found a building in Bloomfield that fit our needs and moved the brewery out of Hartford to Bloomfield. So essentially this brewery started in Hartford then we moved it out mostly for real estate purposes.

NP: Why did Thomas Hooker Brewery decide it was important to come back to Hartford and have a presence in the city?

CC: We’ve always said we’d love to get back to Hartford. I even tried coming to the Colt building before we moved out to Bloomfield. But, at that time it wasn’t nearly as far along as is now, and we were looking more for production space.

Before the ballpark was built, we were going to buy a big piece of land right off I-91. That never panned out. Then we were going to go to the Hartford Times building, but the University of Connecticut ended up in that space. We looked at a couple other locations, but the planets didn’t align.

And then eventually the managing partner here at the Colt building asked if I wanted to look at a space. It was at the North Armory and I wasn’t interested in it. He said he had one other space that had been a nursery school. When he showed it to me, I thought: This is the place. It’s got a patio, great windows, and production space. I can work with this.

NP: When did you open in Hartford?

CC: We officially opened the taproom and small batch pilot brewery July 20, 2017.

NP: Thomas Hooker is one of the first breweries in Connecticut—and you continue to innovate.

CC: When we started I think we were the fourth craft brewery in Connecticut. It’s funny how you find inspiration. I remember when I first took the company over I was in a restaurant where I knew they didn’t have our beer on tap. I would always ask anyway: I see you don’t have any Thomas Hooker on tap, do you ever think about bringing it in?

I remember there was an older lady at the bar who asked where that beer was made. I told her it was made in Hartford, and she said: If it’s made in Hartford, it can’t be any good.

That conversation always stuck with me. It’s been a little bit of motivation. I wanted to prove that good things can come from Hartford. So, we continue to build and grow the brand and then obviously the market has sort of grown up around us.

If anything, our big challenge is that we are not the new guys anymore. How do you stay relevant and exciting? I think it’s by creating not only great product but having a great facility, like being located in the Colt building.

NP: You mentioned you were the fourth craft brewery. What are your thoughts about the growing brewery scene in Connecticut?

CC: There’s the good and then the not so good. Obviously, not too many people would want to be in an industry that all the sudden has 10 times the competitors enter the market within a couple of years. So that can be challenging.

The great part is that when I started, it seemed the general feeling was that Connecticut didn’t have any good beers. Now, I love the fact that Connecticut craft brews are getting the recognition they are due.

We’ve got some phenomenal breweries here in Connecticut. With any industry that has a whole bunch of competitors start up in a short period of time, there’s going to be a fallout. There are going to be some winners and there are going to be some losers. What we’ve got going for us is we’re pretty much paid for and we’ve been doing this for a while, so I think we’ve got a little more knowledge than a lot of startups.

Our biggest challenge is staying relevant—and we need to do that by constantly innovating. Gone are the days of making one beer and having everybody just buy it. You’ve got to change, innovate. That’s one of the things we’re really focusing on. And one of the reasons we opened at Colt. It’s a test facility for us. This is where we’ll pilot brew products. That’s the other thing we love about this facility—it’s got a great little pilot system.

Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt remains innovative by pilot testing 100-gallon batches of beer.

NP: So, you’re testing different beers at Colt then you can take them back to the brewery in Bloomfield to make larger batches?

CC: Exactly. We brew 100-gallon batches at Colt. What we brew in Bloomfield is essentially 14,000 12-ounce beers. You don’t want to be doing too many test batches at that size. What we’re doing in Hartford is great. We brew 100 gallons and let the public taste them and give us thumbs up or thumbs down. The beers we really like we can fine-tune and then brew on a production level.

NP: Let’s talk about distribution.

CC: We’ve kind of come full circle. At one point, we were in seven or eight states. I had to ask myself: With the explosion of the number of brands, why would Thomas Hooker be relevant in Florida?

It used to be that we were a smaller subset of brands and people would ask for the beer. But if you don’t have a physical presence to really tell your story, and you don’t have the marketing to do advertising, how does your story really resonate with the consumer? It doesn’t.

Over time, after I expanded to all these states, I slowly started to pull back. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just asking for your brand back. If you give your brand to somebody, they can get rid of it at any time, and they can also decide to keep it in perpetuity. Some wholesalers can make things challenging. Rather than letting you go to a competitor, they would rather sit your beer on a shelf, so you don’t become competition.

So, I wait for what I call “the equity event”—if a distributor gets bought or merged, that’s one time I can get my brand back. I’ve pulled the brand back from Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. I pulled out those states because I thought the wholesalers were doing marginal jobs with our product. And, frankly, we are at capacity in Connecticut and we love our Connecticut wholesalers.

We’re only distributed in the southern part of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Philadelphia corridor. Believe it or not, our largest growth market right now is Norway. We’ve built a partnership with a Norwegian distributor who specializes in importing American specialty food products and beer for the Norwegian and European markets. We send container after container of beer to Norway now.

NP: Aside from that, it’s really working for you to have mainly a Connecticut focus.

CC: Yes. I call it doing deep rather than wide. We’re distributed by the Budweiser network in Connecticut. They’re wonderful partners to us. We have a couple sales reps in Connecticut. We stay focused right here, and thankfully we’re able to sell all our product in a smaller footprint.

NP: Where do you see the company in the next few years?

CC: I’m not completely sure. A lot of it is going to be market-driven. I think the challenge we run into is not knowing what this market is going to do.

Our plan is to expand our production capabilities to satisfy our current demand. We have already purchased a 30,000 square-foot building next to the brewery, which gives us plenty of expansion room. I’m sort of proceeding with caution because of the fickleness of this market.

NP: Any advice for those thinking of opening a craft brewery?

CC: My advice for anyone looking to get into this business today: Unless you’ve got millions of dollars to build a huge production facility, stay small and open a tasting room. Build your brand and knowledge of the industry on a smaller scale before spending millions on a large-production facility.

Find out more about Thomas Hooker Brewery

VISIT:
hookerbeer.com
hookerbeer.com/colt

FOLLOW:
Facebook /hookerbeer and /hookerbeercolt
Instagram @hookerbeer
Twitter @hookerbeer

More
898 0

Entrepreneur Launches Startup Brewery: Boondoggle Beers

December 08 2017 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: beer, brewery, Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, small business, startup

Boondoggle Beers Founder Micah Kerr served tastings of his Departure Citra Pale Ale beer at Manchester Wine and Liquors.

Website Curator Nan Price Innovation Destination Hartford spoke to Boondoggle Beers Founder Micah Kerr about the process of launching a startup brewery in Connecticut and his plans to create a presence in Hartford.

NAN PRICE: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

MICAH KERR: That’s a fascinating question for me to answer I’ve always felt that I was entrepreneurial, but I’ve also always been frozen by fear of failure. So, I haven’t really done anything in an entrepreneurial sense—until now.

I’ve worked in the corporate world for many years and I learned that it really wasn’t right for me, even though I did obtain certain level of success. It was probably the worst thing for me, because I should’ve just embraced my entrepreneurial side and done something years ago! But alas, here I am. I felt it was time to do something; time to be happier. I was 39 when I made the choice to really go for this.

NP: Why did you decide to open a craft brewery?

MK: I’ve been a fan of craft beer since the mid-90s. Those were the beers I was first buying, and my friends and I brewed beer in our dorm. As the industry grew and became more visible, I flirted with the idea of opening a craft brewery. I thought about it more seriously about eight years ago. And then I realized: If I don’t do this now, I’ll regret it forever.

NP: When exactly did you launch?

MK: Officially, I got my state permit August 29 this year. That allows me to sell product.

NP: How was that process of obtaining the permit?

MK: It was daunting. There is so much regulation, and with alcohol even more so. The entire process took three years. Granted, a lot of that was on me for trying to maintain a full-time job during that time.

I think if you have some financial resources, it’s probably not too bad. But for a layperson like me, I didn’t have the ability, the bandwidth, and maybe even the education to pore through the documents required and fill everything out promptly and accurately, so it took a while.

NP: Would you say that’s been the biggest startup challenge?

MK: Yes, because any other major challenge I’ve had has been more on the personal side. Also, the challenge of not having enough capital is something I think every startup deals with.

NP: A lot of entrepreneurs—especially first-time entrepreneurs—experience some sort of pivot. What about you?

MK: My whole business plan changed eight times. As a first-time entrepreneur, I had no expectations. I just rolled with it. Naïveté is amazing, right?

I take the mentality of: Attack what’s in front of you. I’m still doing that now that I’m open. I’m doing that more than ever. Some things I’m not 100% certain what I need to do, so I’ll figure them out later. There may be repercussions, and if there are, I’ll deal with them then.

Obviously this is a practice that needs to change for my long-term success, and I am working on it, but I think in these earliest of days it’s necessary to be more reactionary than calculated.

NP: Many craft brewery stories start with a homebrewing experience, like yours. At what point did you realize that what you were brewing was marketable?

MK: I don’t know if I ever had the “a-ha moment.” I hate to sound terribly confident, but I knew what I was making was good. More importantly, with something like beer, it’s also knowing you’ve differentiated yourself from the market in some degree.

NP: And how have you differentiated? What makes your product unique or innovative?

MK: In homebrewing eight years ago, I was making some beers that are appreciated now. For example, my double honey IPA. I’ve been making the same recipe for years as a homebrewer and now people are drinking it and they like it.

As far as being innovative, I guess it’s just a matter of trying to keep up with some of the newer trends. And, obviously, it’s not about hobby, it’s about a business. So, you have to earn revenue at some point.

NP: Let’s talk about location. You don’t have a physical presence yet?

MK: Correct. The way the whole craft beer industry works is, typically people have a tasting room where they’re brewing beer, because by state law you’re allowed to do X, Y, and Z. But, you’ve got all these town restrictions as well.

As I was figuring out how I wanted to move forward, I had to accept that in Wethersfield, which is where I live and I was going to be operating, it wasn’t going to work for me to have a tasting room. And that’s fine. For me, the tasting room has a very good chance of becoming a distraction to a brewery.

NP: How so?

MK: A tasting room may provide good margins that enable you to earn revenue in the early months as you’re getting going; however, it can also keep you from getting your brand out—as in distributing.

Many breweries that have been around for a few years are just now starting to move beer off premise. For what I want to do, it’s more important that I get off premise, establish myself as a brand in the region, establish sales, and then use that stronger position to open a tasting room right where I want it.

NP: And you’re thinking of Hartford, correct?

MK: Yes, I’d like to be right in Hartford. It’s expensive. A lot of breweries end up opening in an industrial site because it’s zoned correctly and more afforable. But I want something that I think is long term. I really feel like beer is experience-based.

I want to bring my customers to Hartford. I love the city and I believe in its success. I want to be part of that. I want to bring a concept that doesn’t exist right now, and I want to do it on my terms.

NP: So, you would basically have two locations – one where you’re brewing and one where you’re serving.

MK: Right. It’s actually more traditional to do it that way.

NP: How have you getting the word out about the brewery.

MK: At this stage in the game, I found the social media platforms are obviously the most economical.

NP: Some breweries build up a social media presence before they even open.

MK: I didn’t do that. I have a very strict policy in my life: It’s fail privately. I’ve had so many setbacks and so many issues leading up to the opening of this business, there’s no way I was going to be that guy all over social media and at every event bragging: Hey, try my amazing beer!

Every three months I had to say we had a setback. It meant that when I did open, I realized: Oh my gosh! I’m opening! And then there was a bit of a scramble.

Honestly, my brand presence is very small at this moment. I’ve done a small amount of advertising on Facebook to see how that works.

I’ve also been at a couple beer fests. When you go to a beer fest, you’re donating the beer. You’re also giving up a lot of time and then several hundred dollars of product when you have scant revenue. But it helps to get your name out there. For example, Small State Great Beer had 3,000 people.

And then I’ve gone door-to-door to what feels like every bar and restaurant in the state to see if they want to try any new beer. That’s what spreads the brand—it’s social media connected with access.

Also, beer drinkers can use apps like Untapped to see that see my beer is now on draught at The Social Bar in New London or Engine Room in Mystic. They can see the rating of, which is what other beer drinkers think of it. So, they may try it, or they may not. And then they can add their feedback. That kind of stuff becomes really valuable.

NP: Let’s talk about distribution.

MK: I did my first can release at the end of October. It was very exciting. Boondoggle is in four package stores, which is intentional. My goal is to be in about a dozen and make them essentially known locations I work with, so people can come to those 12 package stores to get my beer rather than having to go to one tasting room.

NP: Do you plan to keep the distribution local or will you eventually expand to other states?

MK: I do plan to expand. I’m from New York, originally. I have friends who own restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Eastern Long Island. My intention is to be able to sell beer in about six months or so on Eastern Long Island. But honestly, I’m more focused on getting my feet under me. If my feet get under me, then it’s about contacting distributors and making it happen.

NP: As far as having those friends in the industry, was that helpful to you as you were launching?

MK: Absolutely. And it still is helpful to me every day. The craft beer industry in that regard is amazing. I like the general friendliness and helpfulness of people in the industry. We help each other out as people, but there is competition. As more and more craft breweries pop up, all the sudden I’m competing for tap lines with someone who’s been in business for five years.

Competition is inevitable. It’s a business, when it’s all said and done. As the industry is growing at a slower rate than the number of competitors, it is likely to get a bit tighter for craft brewers. There will be fallout. I hope that the generally open and pleasant attitude of fellow brewers doesn’t change.

NP: As you said competition is inevitable, but it must be helpful to know you’re not going it alone.

MK: Yes, if you’ve got a question there’s someone who will answer it for you. The trick is probably knowing who and when to ask, because I think most people are willing to share the information. I know I am, I just don’t know how much information I have to share yet!

Learn more about Boondoggle by visiting www.boondogglebeers.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram @boondogglebeers and Twitter @BoondoggleBeers.

More
1272 0

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9

Get Started


  Find Resources   Browse Startups   View Events   Book a Mentor

Get Engaged


Do you have a Hartford success story? Are you a budding startup or a successful entrepreneur eager to share your experiences? Contact us today and tell your story!

  Contact Us   Get Our Newsletter
ctstartup-logo
The CTStartup Podcast provides an inside perspective on the Connecticut startup ecosystem from the people working in it.

  Listen Now

Categories

  • Accelerators (3)
  • Accolades (13)
  • At the CT Table (29)
  • Awards (78)
  • Blog (80)
  • Books (29)
  • Change Makers (1)
  • Co-Working (2)
  • CT Legends (17)
  • CT Lifestyle (52)
  • Entrepreneurial Insights (89)
  • Events (6)
  • Featured (4)
  • Higher Education (53)
  • IDH Global (16)
  • Incubators (7)
  • Initiatives (120)
  • Innovation (78)
  • InsurTech (4)
  • Meetups (2)
  • Mentors (4)
  • Pitch Competition (1)
  • Programs (10)
  • Resources (11)
  • Social Impact Startups (2)
  • Social Impact Startups (8)
  • Startups (134)
  • Tech (10)
  • Uncategorized (2)
  • Where Are They Now? (10)
  • Women In Business (53)

Get Started

  Find Resources   Browse Startups   View Events   Book a Mentor

Get Engaged

Do you have a Hartford success story? Are you a budding startup or a successful entrepreneur eager to share your experiences? Contact us today and tell your story!

  Contact Us   Get Our Newsletter

CT Startup Podcast

The CTStartup Podcast provides an inside perspective on the Connecticut startup ecosystem from the people working in it.

  Listen Now

About IDH

Innovation Destination: Hartford is designed to showcase and serve the Greater Hartford region’s entrepreneurial community.

Check out new Connecticut-area startups, entrepreneurs, events and the various players that make up our entrepreneurial community. You’ll find the resources you’ll need to start and grow your business and discover why the Hartford region is a great place to live, work and make an impact!

Copyright © 2015-2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy
Developed by Novus Insight, Inc.
    Sign up for our Newsletter