Meet Hartford Native and Entrepreneur Natasha Harris

October 09 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Women In Business 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Hartford, small business, woman-owned business

NaBii Organics Founder Natasha Harris visits Elizabeth Park in Hartford. (Photo credit: Lee-Ann Moore)

Hartford native Natasha Harris is studying for her doctorate in business psychology, running her startup

NaBii Organics, and in the process of becoming a business consultant. Although she spent some time working in Korea, she returned to Hartford, where her roots are, to start a family and launch her business. Natasha spoke with MetroHartford Alliance Content Manager Nan Price about her Connecticut journey.

NAN PRICE: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

NATASHA HARRIS: Yes. I’ve always wanted to own my own business and have the flexibility that comes along with business ownership.

I think the way I lead, people tend to think I should have my own business. It’s not that I’m harsh as a leader, but I’m consistently learning and teaching along the way. When I worked in the nonprofit industry, I was always asked when I was going to open my own nonprofit. I knew if I opened something it would be for-profit with a philanthropic piece to it.

NAN: You launched NaBii Organics in 2018. Tell us about the startup process. Did you utilize any Connecticut business resources?

NATASHA: I had the idea back in 2015, when I was creating gifts for my baby shower. I started making products for coworkers and they got really excited about them. Everyone was encouraging me to start a business and sell the products. It was my husband who went ahead and registered the LLC and bought the domain name, which pushed me to get serious about starting the company.

As far as resources, I’m working with Entrepreneurial Center and Women’s Business Center at the University of Hartford to plan how I want to transition into having two separate businesses. NaBii is focused on health and wellness, but the other piece I’m really interested in is business psychology. I want to become a business consultant to help other people navigate the process of assessing where they are now, where they want to be, and how they’re going to get there.

NAN: That’s cool because you can use NaBii as a case study.

NATASHA: Exactly! And it’s been interesting because the focus of my dissertation is: How people use digital marketing to enhance their company or to attract consumers and if whether it’s working.

NAN: How have you been marketing and building clientele?

NATASHA: Well, I knew I needed help with social media, so I brought in my sister, who is getting her degree in digital marketing. She’s doing all the marketing, from email to social media.

As far as other marketing efforts, I’m also attending vending events throughout Connecticut. On a larger scale, I started looking into blip boards, which are rotating billboards where you can set your own budget and determine the time of your “blip.”

And, in addition to the NaBii website, I also have an Etsy website that reaches different consumers. For some reason, most of my Esty customers are from California. Possibly because they’re really focused on health and wellness out there.

NAN: You have a breadth of experience. You have a Master’s in International Relations, you’ve been an ESL instructor in Korea, and you’ve worked with several nonprofits here in Hartford. How does your experience factor into what you’re doing now?

NATASHA: Everything I’ve done has been related to business in some way, whether it’s communication, problem-solving, building an actual business, or studying about how businesses work.

I’m currently working toward my doctorate in business psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The idea to have a business consultancy grew from my interest in quality assurance, which is what I did prior to starting my own business. With quality assurance, you’re essentially analyzing your organization to a certain set of standards or guidelines to determine if you’re in compliance and whether you’re marketing properly.

I really enjoy learning those aspects of business that make you look at where you’re doing well and where you need improvement. It’s helped me in my own business, because I’ve been able to set guidelines or standards I want to adhere to, apply them to the business, and look at the areas I still need to focus on and improve on.

Learn more about NaBii Organics

VISIT: www.nabiiorganics.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

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Why Patents Matter to Small Businesses and Startups

August 01 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Blog 0 comments Tags: business advice, how to start a business, patents, small business, small business resources

Intellectual property (IP) law is a huge part of any business, whether you’re a local startup or an established international company.

That said, elements of IP law like patents are particularly important to those smaller and newer businesses. That’s critical for entrepreneurs to recognize before even getting started.

Whether you are new to IP law or already have a general idea, it’s necessary to look into patents before releasing an invention to market, even if you aren’t yet convinced your idea will be the next iPhone or Tesla.

Here is why patents matter to small businesses and startups, no matter what industry you are in.

WHAT IS A PATENT?

If you’re at the start of your entrepreneurial journey, you may still be a little foggy about what exactly patents are and how they can apply to your business and original invention.

Basically, a patent is the area of IP law that protects inventions. While trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets are also vital for protecting the other unique parts of a business or brand, patents are necessary to protect your core idea.

Upon receiving a patent, you are essentially granted a temporary monopoly. Depending on the patent type, this monopoly can last up to 20 years, giving you sufficient time and opportunity to thrive with your idea before competitors can dive in and imitate the idea.

Depending on the type of invention you have, there are also many different types of patents with different requirements. For instance, a design patent will cover the appearance of an invention (something important for things with a unique ornamental design) while utility patents cover the function (some inventors will want both for the same invention).

To ensure you’re clear on the details for your specific situation (whether you qualify for a patent, what patent type you should apply for, etc.), have a conversation with a patent attorney in your area. Many offer free consultations to help give you a general idea of where you stand and whether they would be a good fit to help you with the rest of the process.

WHY PATENTS MATTER

As mentioned, having exclusive rights to a new invention will help you establish yourself, your brand, and your product before you’re under pressure from other businesses that want to compete.

Because of this aggression in the market, lack of patent protection can make it very easy to be drowned out by competition that finds a way to sell your invention for a lower cost, provide it on a larger scale, or simply cut into your client base.

No matter what industry your idea falls into, this can be devastating and unfair, especially when so much work and creativity can go into a single idea.

On a larger scale, patents promote innovation since there is an incentive to come out with cutting-edge ideas and come out with them first. Without patents, many entrepreneurs can easily feel discouraged and the market will be dominated by big players with decades of experience and recognition.

Patents benefit both the seller and the consumer by protecting an inventor’s unique ideas while continuing to reward innovation that will improve the consumer experience.

IMPORTANCE TO SMALLER VENTURES

All that said, there is a specific degree of importance when it comes to startups, small businesses, and young, new entrepreneurs.

As mentioned, an idea without a patent can benefit the bigger, more experienced businesses since there’s nothing preventing them from copying an idea and using their influence, resources, and power to sell it on massive scales for low prices that startups won’t be able to compete with.

J.D. Houvener, a New York patent attorney, has a special attachment to new, upstarting entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy, and they are what helps to keep dreams alive! Independent, budding entrepreneurs represent a larger idea of innovation and success that is attainable for anyone with the talent and drive to achieve it,” he says. “That’s why I find it especially vital for small businesses and new entrepreneurs to obtain patenting rights; they deserve a chance to compete in an aggressive market and keep that dream alive.”

Even if patents seem financially unattainable for smaller ventures, it’s important to find a way to make them happen before bringing an idea to market.

PROTECT WITH A PATENT

Patents can protect so many different types of inventions, including apps, devices, recipes—and even plants.

No matter which categories your inventions fall under, it is important to ensure you protect them with a patent before bringing them to market. It’s astonishing how competitive and aggressive the market can be, and small businesses specifically need all the protection they can get to ensure they aren’t taken advantage of and driven out of the market.

About the Author
Freelance writer, editor, and social media strategist Katherine (Tori) Lutz is Content Manager at Student Tutor.

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Small Business Spotlight: Sweet Equations

July 17 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Women In Business 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, Greater Hartford, small business, startup, woman-owned business

Sweet Equations Owner Sade Owoye recently shared her experience as a Greater Hartford small business owner.

When and why did you start your business?

SADE OWOYE: I started my business in 2014. I am obsessed with candy, cakes, and basically all things sweet. One holiday season, I topped a slice of vanilla cake with a few chocolate-coated candies and realized that cake is even better with a touch of candy. My family loved the creation I made.

My brother posted it on his social media, and it took off. I started to receive orders for the cake he posted online. With inspiration and a bit of gusto, I started my business of designing delicious and decadent cakes topped with classic candies. I am a firm believer that cakes and dessert should be fun and comprised of the sweets that bring you joy!

How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?

SADE: I took cake decorating classes in my free time. I watched videos on how to make frosting and bake cakes. I also practiced a lot on my own.

For running the business, I took MBA classes at a local university as well as classes online about the fundamentals of business. I enjoy business and learning about all aspects of it.

How did you decide on the location for your business? Tell us about the neighborhood and what makes it unique.

SADE: The Hartford area has so much to offer the people living and working in the community. I saw there was an opportunity to open a specialty dessert shop in Farmington, as there was not one in the area, especially a store that specializes in candy cakes and provides cake decorating classes.

Hartford is a great community. Its residents and people who work in area are supportive. I received an outpouring of support and well wishes when I opened the first Sweet Equations retail location in 2018.

What is the best thing about living/working in Greater Hartford?

SADE: There are many great things to do in the area, and you don’t have to travel far to do them! There are beautiful parks and trails, delicious restaurants, fun festivals and concerts, professional groups, outdoor activities, and baseball games—and my list could go on and on.

How are you marketing and building a successful customer base?

SADE: I’m building a base by always putting our customers first and listening to what they want. At Sweet Equations, we’re always looking for feedback from our customers and we take action on the feedback we receive. We work to implement it into the business. We will change or pivot the business to collectively better serve our customers.

What key elements are necessary to start and run a successful business in Hartford?

SADE: I believe some key elements include:

Having an understanding of the fundamentals of operating a business
Being active in the Hartford community and having a support system
Leveraging digital as well as other platforms to market, promote, and generate awareness about your business in the community

Where do you see Hartford in the three to five years? And where do you see your role in the city’s progress?

SADE: I see Hartford as the economic engine of the state with more businesses and people moving back into the area in the next few years. As a business owner, my goal is to grow my business, which I believe could help the city’s progress. I hope to bring more jobs and opportunity to the Hartford area as Sweet Equations matures as a company.

Find out more about Sweet Equations

VISIT: www.sweetequations.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Hartford Startup Aims to Help Retailers Grow Online

July 10 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Startups 0 comments Tags: business consulting, entrepreneur, Hartford, small business, startup

“Hartford is a great city to house an eCommerce consulting firm like Plura Interactive,” says Founder Timothy Paskowski.

Plura Interactive Founder Timothy Paskowski spoke with Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price about his startup’s mission to help other companies do well—and do good.

NAN PRICE: Tell us about your business concept.

TIMOTHY PASKOWSKI: The concept is simple: We aim to help small- to medium-sized online stores realize their potential. We do this by bringing downmarket many of the technologies and practices used in large-scale operations, such as data science and digital marketing.

The premise is that our clients already have great products—they simply need the right tactics and tools to really bring them to market.

NAN: Have you had to pivot along the way as you were starting out?

TIMOTHY: At first, I knew we had great talent and experience, but I wasn’t sure how to best package everything into a solution that could deliver true value. I focused a lot on what each of our five business practices would do, but not who would benefit most from these services.

The broad-market approach failed to result in a value proposition we were comfortable with, so we went back to the drawing board and focused instead on the client. It wasn’t until we put our services in the context of their needs that we could construct an offering we were confident would deliver meaningful value.

NAN: How has your experience helped you in your entrepreneurial journey? What have you learned along the way?

TIMOTHY: Our company is new, but even early in the process I learned how important it is for entrepreneurs to remain both flexible and positive.

NAN: Who is your target market and how are you reaching that market?

TIMOTHY: We think we can best help brands that generate between $2 to $15 million in direct-to-consumer online sales. These companies might have a little seed capital but are often in a pre-fund situation where it’s important to be efficient up and down the value chain. It’s a large and naturally underserved market because most high-end consulting firms and digital agencies are too cost-prohibitive to consider.

To reach this market, we try to create useful content in a variety of different mediums. For example, we publish a monthly podcast called the PluraCast that features guests from all over the world who talk about marketing, advertising, and eCommerce. Aside from that, we also have entrepreneurial spotlights called Plura Presents, where we share stories from peer brands, and a vlog series called Driving Commerce, which has turned my car into a studio of sorts. The goal is to provide thought leadership in unique and informative ways.

NAN: What has been the biggest startup challenge?

TIMOTHY: It’s really important to me that Plura Interactive—no matter how big it gets—remains a value-driven business that creates a material positive impact on its customers, society, and the environment. It’s even written into our bylaws. With that in mind, the most critical and therefore challenging aspect of my job as Founder is orienting the team around our values to ensure that everything we do is in service or respect of the mission.

NAN: Why did you choose to locate the company here in Hartford?

TIMOTHY: Hartford is a great city to house an eCommerce consulting firm like Plura Interactive. Its proximity to both New York and Boston makes for efficient trips to the many clients and partners based in either of those cities, and local universities like Yale provide a world-class forum for thought leadership and networking.

vNAN: What’s next?

TIMOTHY: One of the things I’m most proud of is our work toward Pending Certified B Corporation status. It means a lot to me to join a community of people focused on using business as a force for good.

Aside from that, I’ve been working hard on developing partnerships with the other agencies and vendors our clients already use. For the longer-term, we’re also considering ways to capture the spirit of our mission and translate that into self-service tools that have the potential for wide-scale adoption.

Learn more about Plura Interactive

VISIT: www.plurainteractive.com
FOLLOW: LinkedIn | Twitter

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West Hartford-Based Small Business Heir Cash Now

July 05 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Startups 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, Hartford area, small business, West Hartford

“The challenge is growing the business and reaching new clients in a rapidly changing landscape,” says Heir Cash Now, LLC Manager Matthew Lakenbach, pictured with Legal and Marketing Assistant Monia Zgarni and Minnie the cat.

Matthew Lakenbach, Manager of Heir Cash Now, LLC, spoke to Innovation Destination Hartford about his experience transitioning out of the nonprofit world and launching a new business.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and how did the business launch?

MATTHEW LAKENBACH: My co-founder Chris Visher and I launched the business in 2017. He’s been in the inheritance advance industry for three decades. Chris was looking for a partner to start a new business and we decided to make a go of it.

IDH: Tell us a little about the services Heir Cash Now provides.

MATT: We advance money to heirs who are waiting for their inheritance, but they can’t access it because it’s held up in probate court. Typically, receiving an inheritance takes at least six months and can easily run to a year or more. Many heirs go through a very stressful time in which they not only lose a loved one but have to deal with financial uncertainty as well.

We help them out by advancing a portion of their inheritance right away, making a challenging time easier. An inheritance advance is actually a purchase in which the heir sells us a fixed dollar amount of their future expected inheritance in exchange for an immediate cash payment.

IDH: What’s the biggest challenge your company has faced as a startup?

MATT: Finding customers and staying ahead of the curve are critical. We were fortunate to start getting clients soon after launch. The challenge is growing the business and reaching new clients in a rapidly changing landscape. The internet has become a living, breathing thing, and we are creating content to expand our presence on the web and make it easier for people to find us.

I’ve also learned the importance of working with partners. I don’t have to be an expert at everything. By networking and building relationships with people in different fields, it’s possible to exchange knowledge without spending a fortune.

IDH: How has your background prepared you for your role as a business owner?

MATT: As it turned out, through my nonprofit background I’d acquired many skills I was able to transfer over to the new business. Everything I had done before came together in an unpredictable way.

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, I began my career as a writer and editor. My first job was at mysportsguru.com, a Fairfield, CT-based web startup. After that, I moved to Salt Lake City for an opportunity to work in the creative department of the Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

While in Utah, I did a program called the Landmark Forum that’s about living a life of freedom and full self-expression. I discovered a passion for making the world a peaceful place. After the Olympics, I applied for graduate programs and made my way to Washington, DC to do a master’s in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.

After graduating, I started a nonprofit called the Middle East Peace Civic Forum and organized interfaith programs in the DC area. This was a crash course in launching and managing a small organization. Then I joined Legacy International, an organization run by one of my board members, where I managed international exchange programs.

I was responsible for securing fellowship placements in Congressional offices and area nonprofits for international exchange participants and managing the programs. In that role, I was frequently calling or walking in cold to build relationships. That built up my comfort level with people I had never met.

In my current role, I’m frequently interacting with potential clients over the phone. Before I pick up the phone, I remind myself that this is not just a “prospect,” but a person with a unique story who is facing a difficult situation and could use some assistance.

Personally, it’s been an interesting transition from nonprofit to for-profit. Nonprofits are by their nature mission-driven and, in that world, I was motivated by my desire to build relationships across cultures. At Heir Cash Now, I felt it was important to align my personal mission of making a difference with the ultimate goal of any business, which is to earn a profit.

After several years working in nonprofits, doing work that makes a positive impact had become part of my DNA. I discovered I could be successful in business by integrating my commitment to helping people with the importance of the bottom line. After all, the more successful we are, the more people we can help. More and more businesses are discovering that.

It’s been extremely gratifying to hear our clients talk about how they felt known and appreciated during a difficult time, and that we provided them with a high level of service and were legitimately interested in their situation.

IDH: What’s the best thing about working in the Greater Hartford region?

MATT: Hartford is a lot more dynamic than it used to be. Things are happening in the evenings. People are living downtown. Across the area, there’s a lot of innovation in a range of fields. I’d like to see more partnership between business and some of the more underserved neighborhoods of Hartford. We all need to get involved in providing opportunities for everyone in our community. There’s a lot of opportunity out there.

Learn more about Heir Cash Now, LLC

VISIT: www.heircashnow.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

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Greater Hartford Brewery Supports Local Community and Businesses

July 02 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Brewery Legitimus, Connecticut breweries, CT brewery, CT craft beer, small business, startup brewery

Brewery Legitimus and Barden Farm are collaborating for a second year to offer a local Community Supported Agriculture Beer & Cheese (CSABC) share.

Where Are They Now? Update with Brewery Legitimus

Brewery Legitimus Co-Founders Chris and Christina Sayer spoke to Innovation Destination Hartford in January 2017, when they had recently opened their Greater Hartford brewery. (Read the interview: Startup Brewery Adds to New Hartford Community.)

Since then, the brewery has been working to build its clientele and support local businesses. Last year, Brewery Legitimus formed a collaboration with Barden Farm to offer a local Community Supported Agriculture Beer & Cheese (CSABC) share.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

“We’re trying to do as many partnerships with locally owned businesses as we can,” says Brewery Legitimus co-founder Christina Sayer.

“We were members of Barden Farm’s CSA prior to starting this partnership. We thought: Here are two family-owned businesses offering complementary things; wouldn’t other people like to have these things together? That’s how the CSABC was born,” she explains.

The CSABC will be available beginning July 11. Find out more about membership.

Brewery Legitimus is also working with Barden farm to plan a farm to table dinner to wrap up the end of the CSABC season. They brought in New Hartford-based Bridgestreet Libations & Temptations to keep the focus local to New Hartford. Tickets will be available to CSABC members first and then open to the public.

The brewery has collaborated with other local businesses, too, including hosting a beer and grilling dinner with Avon Prime Meats and yoga events with New Hartford-based Lam Yoga.

“These types of events lift up our town,” says Christina. “If we can highlight the businesses in our town while we’re highlighting our own, it works out well for everyone.”

The brewery is also supporting the Greater Hartford community with the launch a new beer release called “Tower for the People.” For every pint sold, $1 will benefit The Friends of Heublein Tower, which helps to maintain and restore the historic landmark in Simsbury.

BUSINESS GROWTH

Brewery Legitimus will soon launch a canning line, which will enable the brewery to sell their beer at local liquor stores and restaurants without draught lines.

“We were able to take advantage of a Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP) grant, which helped us purchase a portion of this canning line,” explains Christina. “We’re going to start small in our tap room, but we plan to cascade out to retail locations.”

A program of the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund, the MVP program is a partnership of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT).

Brewery Legitimus is also working on a major expansion, adding another 4700 ft.² to their location. The mixed-used space will be available for larger and private events. It will also enable the brewery to do wild fermentations and barrel aging, which requires a lot more production space.

“We live in a great area with tons of nearby activities and supportive local businesses. We’re excited about our growth and proud to become a fixture in New Hartford that’s working to engage other small businesses in our community,” says Christina.

Find out more about Brewery Legitimus

VISIT: www.brewerylegitimus.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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CT Marketing Company Creates Summer Marketing Academy for Girls

June 14 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Programs 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, girls, marketing, marketing startup, mentoring, small business, women business owners, women-owned business

New Haven-area middle school girls attended Camp Erio | Marketing Academy for the first time in 2018.

Erica Palmer founded Erio Marketing in June 2014. Last summer, she launched the Camp Erio | Marketing Academy, a free three-day camp for middle school girls interested in learning about marketing and business.

Erica spoke to MetroHartford Alliance Content Manager Nan Price about why she formed the camp and why she’s passionate about encouraging young girls to explore a career in marketing, business, or entrepreneurship.

NAN PRICE: How did you come up with the concept of launching a summer camp?

ERICA PALMER: It was an idea we had couple of years ago. Many of the businesses we work with employ people who have had the opportunity to become entrepreneurs or get their MBAs. We noticed there didn’t seem to be a lot of diversity with regard to women in these roles. We had some local connections to middle schools in the New Haven area, so, we started there.

We launched the camp last year. Just a couple weeks after opening enrollment we were booked, so we knew there was interest. The momentum was exciting. Then, based on last year’s success, we decided to expand further. The camp will be offered for the second year at Digital Surgeons in New Haven and we’ve added two locations reSET in Hartford and the Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport.

NAN: How did you get people involved as instructors, mentors, and sponsors?

ERICA: We had a lot of support from people we work with locally and nationally, current or former clients who thought it was a good idea and were willing to sponsor. To find campers, we did some local press and Facebook ads and got support from a couple of different middle schools.

We held last year’s camp at District, specifically in the Digital Surgeons office. There’s a whole network of people who work there who helped promote the camp to their coworkers on our behalf, so that gained a lot of interest as well.

We also had organic growth from people we’ve worked with. They trust Erio Marketing as a company, so when we told them we were doing this spinoff camp, based on the relationship we already had, they had confidence in us.

NAN: What challenges have you faced rolling out this initiative?

ERICA: There were definitely a lot of questions—especially doing it the first year. We didn’t always have answers to those questions. But we knew what the end goal was hopefully going to look like and we knew our intent, which is reaching girls in middle school who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to something like this. Once we told people the mission and the goal, people started understanding what we were trying to do and the support has been great.

NAN: In what ways has the camp evolved since last year?

ERICA: The initial goal was to create this marketing academy, which it still is, but a lot of the girls who attended last year were interested in starting their own businesses. Some had already started putting something together or were just interested in doing so. So, focusing on the marketing is really important, but we’ve also added a second layer about entrepreneurship and how to start a business.

A lot of these girls are in grades six to nine. They think they have to wait to start companies. You don’t actually have to wait. You can start now. We explain how to get funding, provide business plan templates, and discuss questions they need to be asking themselves.

The only thing that has evolved is adding the entrepreneurship layer to it. We also do a lot around building self-confidence and how to brand yourself personally and focus on what makes you unique.

NAN: Will Camp Erio always have a focus on girls—and this age range?

ERICA: I actually get that question a lot. Right now, yes. This niche of middle school girls needs this focus. If we were ever going to focus on a younger audience, it would be less about marketing and business and more about public speaking, doing things like using improv to help girls build self-confidence and give them a voice. And, if we were going to go older, high school would probably be the next age group we would focus on using a similar concept of introducing girls to marketing and business before they have to make a career choice or a degree choice.

We always say, you can come to this camp and maybe find out that you don’t even like marketing and business, and that’s perfectly fine as long as you had the opportunity to make that decision for yourself.

NAN: Tell us more about the mentoring the campers receive.

ERICA: Each mentor is assigned a group of five to six girls who they work closely with over the three days. The relationships the girls have built with their mentors really impacted how much they learned at the camp—and how much fun they had.

They don’t realize it, but it’s a unique way for them to start networking. We have many speakers who come in each day to engage with the girls, and all the speakers, mentors, and sponsors are interested in helping the campers and staying connected after the camp is finished, too.

NAN: Camp Erio is creating lifelines for these girls.

ERICA: Yes. Hopefully too, if they are applying to different high schools, or colleges, or jobs in the future, their experience attending this camp is something that will differentiate them from others.

Learn more about becoming a Camp Erio camper, mentor, or sponsor.

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Social Impact Company Provides Community Space in Hartford

March 04 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Initiatives 0 comments Tags: community, Connecticut, CT, Hartford, small business

CO:LAB has reactivated the Hartford Public Library’s former Goodwin Branch into a community space called the Free Center.

Social impact brand development and design firm CO:LAB is committed to supporting the community in Hartford. The company recently moved from its Parkville location to the Hartford Public Library’s Goodwin Branch, which closed in 2018.

CO:LAB operates out of the building and has reactivated it into a community space called the Free Center.

“This space meant something to this community. It meant their ability to actualize their empowerment,” explains CO:LAB Principal Rich Hollant. “This was a place where people became part of the community fiber. And that matters—it matters to people and it matters to the community.”

Plans for the Free Center are based on the community’s needs. To that end, CO:LAB is doing some research with actual community members.

“Folks who participate in neighborhood revitalization programs are those who have the time, wherewithal, a sense of culture around civic engagement, and fewer barriers to participation. That’s not the bulk of the folks who live here,” underscores Rich.

“A minority of the folks who live here have that capacity,” he adds. “We’re really interested in supporting the majority of the folks who live here—those who can’t migrate to another library, because what appears to be a minor inconvenience to some is inhibitive to others.”

CO:LAB EMBRACES SOCIAL IMPACT MISSION

CO:LAB launched 30 years ago as a branding communications company working with Fortune 500 companies including Conagra Foods, Motorola, Travelers, and Hasbro. Over time, the company evolved. As Rich notes, “We are a perpetual startup. Every few years we do something new.”

The company’s biggest shift began about 10 years ago while they were working on a project for the

Human Rights Institute. For Rich, personally, it provided a deeper understanding of the plot of human rights violations over time.

“I recognized that if we don’t address a change in the social fabric, the current condition becomes the new normal,” he says. “As we were doing this work, I gave a lot of consideration to what urgency meant. While we were helping some nonprofits and organizations in some ways, the work we were doing didn’t fall under the auspice of social impact in a manner that addressed the urgency.”

Soon after working with the Human Rights Institute, Rich says he told the team to wrap up the corporate work because they were going to try to figure out how to participate in social impact.

“It took about six months to complete those projects and then we started working on how to put our energy and time into work that’s going to make a difference—doing something that’s actually going to have an impact, not just feel good for us to do,” explains Rich. “How do we get to a place where we’re confident that we’re making a quantifiable difference?”

Since then, CO:LAB has been focused on social impact work. “We largely just say yes to things that look like we could learn about how systems work, or we can use our learning about how systems work to influence change and encourage favorable outcomes through communications,” says Rich.

The company works with many local foundations, nonprofits, cities, and the government. Rich is also Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of Hartford, a Billings Forge Community Works board member, an AIGA national board member, and co-chair of Design for Democracy.

“I show up and I advise folks who may be having board challenges or organizational challenges,” he says. “CO:LAB is engaged. We’re in it.”

The company is also committed to giving back—which is how they became involved with the Hartford Public Library.

MAKING COMMUNITY IMPACT

CO:LAB was invited to attend a meeting at the library to discuss the evolution of the space. “We showed up and started sharing some thoughts—not really thinking about us!” admits Rich.

CO:LAB and the Free Center are located in the Hartford Public Library’s Goodwin Branch.

“But the more we looked at how the space operates, what it takes to run this facility, and what the contractual agreement would be, it was a complete switch from where we were in Parkville,” Rich explains. “Though our office was pretty cool there, we were isolated. And impact doesn’t happen in the back row. It happens up front, on the street. That’s the magic of this new space—it’s in the middle of community where the real social work happens.”

He adds, “There was very little additional cost to get going in this environment. The additional cost is going to come in determining how to activate the space in terms of staffing and equipment. We need to figure out what running a community center is really going to take beyond the space.”

While they sort out the programmatic details, CO:LAB initially plans to make the space open with a few computers available, free Wi-Fi, and meeting spaces that can be signed out for use.

PROGRAMMING AND COLLABORATION

In terms of programming, Rich notes, “We’re still sorting that out with our nonprofit partners. The idea is the space is accessible for free as long as the programs happening there are also free. There’s something about that model I like tremendously.”

He continues, “But, then I struggle with the idea of the space being used for a fundraising event or something along those lines. There’s an exchange going on, so it gets a little complicated. That’s where we’re still figuring out the model and how to keep the space functioning equitably.”

CO:LAB also plans to create some of its own community programming and events. And they started a forum with local organizations including COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Hartford Youth Scholars, Billings Forge Community Works, and RE-Center.

“These organizations have human capacity. They have programmatic design capacity. They run their programs well, but access to space can be a challenge,” notes Rich.

“We invited them to sit together to visualize: If space weren’t an issue, what would they run programmatically together as a team? And, as we started to look at what each of these organizations brings to the table, we realized they can actually mesh nicely, and we can create something new together,” he says. “So, we’re working to provoke those types of conversations and encourage a sense of natural collaboration based on how we already know these folks in the community—because these are the people we work with every day.”

Other ideas for the community space include an on-site farmers market, a community garden, a pop-up café, training courses, musical performances, and art exhibitions.

KEEPING THE ARTS IN CONNECTICUT

The real drive is to continue giving back. In addition to opening the Free Center, for the past three years CO:LAB has run Parkville Studios, an artist residency program at their former 1429 Park Street location in Parkville.

“To me that was the real forbearer to this Free Center project,” says Rich.

He explains, “A number of years ago, when I was working on Hartford Fashion Week, I noticed some volunteers were students or recent art school graduates who were planning on leaving the state. They were going to New York, San Francisco, Miami—anywhere but Connecticut. My son was one of them, so I was really curious why!”

Rich continues, “What it came down to is this: While they were at school they were working collaboratively. They had studios together and they were working in large scale. Once they graduated, they were living with roommates and working this way was a challenge and ultimately a limiter. So, they wanted to go somewhere else where ‘accidents’ happened with greater frequency, where they could collide into other people and create opportunities.”

Rich’s solution: What if CO:LAB creates that kind of space?

“We’ve been developing a space where curators, gallery owners, or museum directors could come in and support, provoke, or catalyze artistic exploration and growth. We have five local artists using studio space. And what we’re finding is, three years in, even though they were considering moving elsewhere, they are here. They’ve made investments in the community. They’re selling work. They’re starting ’zines and starting alternative spaces in the Fuller Brush building. They’re deeply engaged in the creative community here,” he says.

“Like the Hartford Public Library opportunity, it all started because of conversations,” Rich points out. “Simply saying: Let’s all talk, figure out what folks need, and find out how we can be helpful.”

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

The new space brings new opportunities to the community—and CO:LAB.

“I think we’ll do better brand communication and strategy work for nonprofits and social enterprises as we run our own,” says Rich. “We’ll have a better understanding of the capacity challenges. We’re able to motivate folks around the distinction between what they are working on and what they are working toward. And we’ve been able to do that with very little experience ourselves living that distinction.”

He adds, “For the most part, we have been advising based on theory, and it’s been helpful to people. We’ve been in the community on boards and as a partner, and we’re working to understand our community dynamics. We bring strategic thinking and the love of research and data and our communications acumen to the programmatic and operations side of the table, which I think is going to make this new endeavor work pretty nicely.”

Learn more about CO:LAB

VISIT: www.colabinc.com
FOLLOW: Facebook |Instagram| Twitter

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Creative Startup SquishyBrick Finds Its Home in Hartford, CT

February 22 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Startups 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Harford, small business, startup, woman-owned business

Kyrima Colon and Issac Hopkins are cofounders of SquishyBrick, a Hartford, CT-based creative startup.

Hartford-based brand strategy and design consultancy SquishyBrick was founded by Issac Hopkins, Creative Art Director & CEO and Kyrima Colon, Marketing Director. Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price learned about their experience launching a startup in Hartford and what makes their agency innovative.

NAN PRICE: Why Hartford?

ISSAC HOPKINS: Kyrima and I are both from Hartford. We took off for Washington, D.C. right after high school and we both went to the Art Institute of Washington to study video game art and design.

NAN: Did you intend to come back?

ISSAC: No, that wasn’t our intention at all. We came back following a large video game company, where I had gotten a contract to work. But the entire company disbanded and moved to London. It was a tough process for us—we had uprooted our lives and spent a lot to move back here. The position was still available in London, but we had just moved back to Hartford, and it didn’t make sense to move again.

NAN: It became a “now what?!” situation. Did that evolve into launching the business?

ISSAC: Right. We jumped into regular day jobs and we were freelancing at the same time, establishing ourselves, and building portfolio work. We had some local clients and we wanted to attack where we grew up, essentially. It wasn’t the plan. It wasn’t a negative necessarily, but the original plan was to go to D.C., make a lot of contacts, and try a different life. So, when we moved back to Connecticut the new plan became: Alright, let’s just make it work.

And, because we had been gone for a few years, we saw that the city was different. There were more companies, co-working spaces were popping up, and young entrepreneurs were everywhere.

KYRIMA COLON: When we came back to Hartford, we were still up in the air. We were getting offers from different states. But we had just gotten here and we were getting situated. I told Issac: We may as well make this a business, create one name everyone knows both of us by, and get our work out there more effectively. We had kept our work separate for years. So, in 2017 we decided to join everything and create a formal company.

NAN: What’s your differentiator?

ISSAC: The business started from our skillset, which is unique. At the time, we were among the first couple hundred people in the country who had a degree in game design.

Most people from the game industry have studied from animation or traditional artwork. With game design, you have to be able to draw, sculpt, paint—and do those things digitally, too. And you’re doing design, animation, rendering, simulations, and lighting in not only 2D but also 3D environments.

NAN: SquishyBrick isn’t a game design company, though. How are you incorporating your skills into the services you offer?

ISSAC: Using a skillset acquired from the game industry, we make visual representations of products. So, we can enable a customer or company to rapidly prototype and customize a product or package design.

Typically, if an entrepreneur has a product to bring to market, they make some rough designs or prototypes of their design, then they need to acquire funding to take it to the next level. They usually need an engineer to build a working 3D model or create details for a manufacturer. That takes a long time and it’s expensive—and it’s a sticking point for a lot of entrepreneurs.

Sometimes all that effort is put in before they’ve even figured out whether the market wants their product. That’s a big problem. Imagine spending all that time, effort, and money to get an engineer to make your product only to find out the market doesn’t want or need it.

SquishyBrick enables people to make a photorealistic, customizable representation of their product they can put out to prospective customers. They can visualize it and do real-time testing to see if there’s a space for their product in the market without having to spend all that extra money and time to manufacture it.

They can also send the same designs we’ve created to manufacturers to find out if the product can be manufactured. From there, they can approach investors and try to get funding for the next step in their initiative. And people typically need investment to get to that next step. But, if they’re bogged down and barely have any money for the initial concept, they can get stuck.

NAN: Aside from startups and entrepreneurs, who is your target clientele?

ISSAC: Companies looking to launch products and develop their brands. One of our target industries is beverage companies. Connecticut has a lot of brewing companies trying to market new beers and they need to differentiate their products from everyone else’s. The best way to do that is by marketing through visual concepts. Another target industry is tech companies that have hard-to-describe products, like a virtual private network.

We can really benefit small- to medium-sized companies that want to grow and move forward but don’t necessarily have the budget to work with a large marketing company. More people need to realize marketing is the key. Especially if your product is already in place. That’s where we can help. We can create visuals that help smaller companies compete with large-scale companies. We’re leveling the playing field for them.

NAN: What’s been the biggest startup challenge?

KYRIMA: Building consistent clientele. And having our clients understand that this may be something they may not know they need. What we can provide is new, it’s great, and it can simplify things. It’s been challenging helping prospective clients see the impact our work can have.

NAN: Have you engaged with local startup resources?

ISSAC: We’ve attended a few Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneur (HYPE) events. We’ve gone to some Upward Hartford events, too. I was working out of their space for a while.

KYRIMA: And then we found Connecticut mentor Eric Knight. He’s been the most helpful across-the-board so far. We’ll have a 30-minute meeting with him and get so much information!

ISSAC: We were pumped because a lot of the things we’ve been to have been good, but there’s not a lot of actionable material you can take away. The events are directionally right, but there aren’t any hard facts we can make use of. So far, working with Eric has given us actionable direction.

NAN: At what point did you realize you needed to work with some startup resources?

ISSAC: We’ve been very cognizant of trying to make as few mistakes as possible. So, we knew we were going to need some sort of mentorship or guidance. And we’ve also been very aware that there’s a lot we don’t know—that’s a big focus for us. We actually keep a list at our studio.

One thing we had on our list was: How to take actionable direction toward specific things. After two meetings with Eric, we crossed off a bunch of things. For example, he thinks we need to have more exposure. And we had that on our list, too. So, we have a whole marketing strategy now for 2019.

NAN: What else do you need most to move your company forward?

ISSAC: We need more clients to help us to get the word out. We need to encourage more people to see the value in better artwork, and then get those people tell other people—create word-of-mouth marketing. We have the getting-the-word-out problem.

That’s where we’re floating right now and we’re moving forward. But our biggest hurdle locally is getting people to take the leap and commit to the value of new artwork and new designs. Moving forward, we’re going to continue to put out the most interesting and captivating artwork we possibly can—because people need it.

Learn more about SquishyBrick

VISIT: www.squishybrick.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

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Family-Founded Startup Empowers Women to Be Brave

February 07 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Women In Business 0 comments Tags: business owners, entrepreneurship, small business, woman-owned business, women entrepreneurs

Sisters Shawna Kitzman and Ashley Rigby created Jam Program with their mom, Teri Michaud. The startup provides a forum for women to support and exchange ideas with one another.

Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price connected with Shawna after seeing her pitch her business concept at reSET’s Flight Night in November 2018.

NAN PRICE: How did you come up with the idea for Jam Program?

SHAWNA KITZMAN: My sister Ashley and I had attended a Girl Boss rally in New York City. Afterward, we were riding high on the enthusiasm from the day and thought: We’re just as smart, creative, and driven as everyone else on the panels, why can’t we start some kind of business?

Ashley and I both have full-time jobs and kids and everything else that makes for a busy life. Originally, we thought we’d just create a blog because we both like writing. We’ve always worked really well together and thought it would be fun to write together.

We wanted to bring in our mom and because she’s also very driven and enthusiastic and she’s a good writer―and we thought it would be fun and different to do something multigenerational.

Around that time, Ashley, who lives in Brooklyn, decided to host a networking event for her friends. She’s made friends from her kids’ school community, work, neighbors, and people from her running club. She sent out an email to about 45 ladies that basically said: I can’t believe many of you don’t know each other. You are all so awesome and doing great things and struggling in your unique ways and I just think you should know each other.

Pretty much everyone attended. It was a crazy rate of return. Jam Program kind of sprang from that idea, although it didn’t start as an event-based enterprise.

NAN: How did Jam Program transform into a viable business?

SHAWNA: There was a need for it based on the response from people at that original event. It was as if people didn’t know they needed this. Ashley had created a very ad hoc gathering. She attached large post-it notes to her living room walls with three different headers: What do you need? What do you have to offer? And recommendations. The ladies used Sharpies and started filling stuff in and they just mingled.

After the event, ladies were asking Ashley: Where did you get this idea? Is it a franchise? Is this a concept you’ve adopted?

That’s really where the business came from—and I think just seeing there was such a demand for it. Women responded so positively and wanted to know when the next event would be. We realized: This is a thing and there’s a need for this.

NAN: When did you launch?

SHAWNA: We sent out our first newsletter January 1, 2018. We emailed 1,000 people. Ashley, mom, and I combined our contact lists, which included family, business contacts, and friends.

Jamboree attendees jot down what they can offer others, what they need from others, and recommendations.

From there, I decided I would host a “Jamboree” in West Hartford and test it out here. I hosted the first one last January. It went great and helped us tweak our process a little—and we continue to.

We wanted to make sure the Jamboree events are high-quality experiences for attendees. So, instead of having people throw their jackets and handbags on top of a bed, we’ll get a coat rack, high-quality hangers, and a tray for people to put their purses. We want to convey that we think you’re awesome, you should think you’re awesome, and we want this to be something you’re worthy of experiencing.

NAN: Tell us a little about the evolution.

SHAWNA: We’re not in the business of being socialites. So, we charge an overhead for the food and drinks, the opportunity to network, and the resources people leave with. Following the event, attendees receive the collected and shared wants/needs/offers and recommendations. We encourage them to make connections from there.

We have since branded the post-it note concept and replaced them with reusable boards on easels. People use them to share what they have to offer, what they need—which can be anything from personal to professional―and anything they don’t know how to classify, as well as recommendations.

The Jamborees aren’t a huge moneymaker—and we know that. We’re testing out the concept as we’re moving into year two. We’re thinking about how we can package and brand the Jamboree experience, because it’s not sustainable for us to host every party.

So, we’re thinking about basically creating a Jam Kit and testing it out in different markets. We’ll take the essential elements necessary for other women to host these in their homes and do some beta tests with friends hosting events in different cities—which could be Chicago, or it could be Farmington, CT.

NAN: Do any of you have any business experience launching startups?

SHAWNA: We’ve never launched a start-up before, but we’re experienced businesswomen. My sister and I both do business development as part of our full-time jobs. She’s in sales and I am in public outreach. I do a lot of communications. I also do a lot of graphic design, branding, and social media. All of that factors in.

My mom is a hostess extraordinaire. She’s been great with building the experience for people. We’re all good at making people feel welcome and comfortable. I think we’re social by nature and able to inquire authentically about people.

I do think those skills are helpful in building our community and making women feel comfortable and willing to share.

Really, our goal is to help women create diverse networks. The multigenerational aspect is one part of that. And we think it’s somewhat unique because it hasn’t been done a ton. There’s a lot to be said for having all kinds of women in the room. We’re all in different places in our lives. We all bring different strengths and challenges, depending on where we are as mothers or employees or business owners or spouses.

So, I think there’s something to be said for keeping it multigenerational―although that has been a challenge, too, because so much of what my sister and I do is connecting with people digitally. It’s more challenging to connect with my mom’s peers because they’re not online as much. We need to think about how that generation communicates. So, when my mom hosted a Jamboree in her neighborhood, she actually went door to door and put postcards in people’s mailboxes.

NAN: What’s the draw to hosting or participating in the Jam Program? It seems different than traditional networking.

SHAWNA: It is. We feel most traditional networking events are really for women to focus on their professional selves. But women come to their professional lives with so many other assets, challenges, and needs. We want people to bring their whole self to our events and not have to pretend they have their professional self all buttoned up. We want more women to be honest about what they need. One of our goals is inspire other women to do their one thing—whatever that may be.

NAN: Let’s talk about reSET. How did you become involved with Flight Night?

SHAWNA: The work I do for my full-time role in urban planning brought me to reSET. We interviewed reSET’s former Manager Director Ojala Naeem for a project. That was my first interaction with reSET. So, reSET was on my radar and I knew they are a local resource for startups. We get their newsletters and follow them on social media, which is how we found out about Flight Night.

Our motto is: Jam Program helps ladies be brave. And, for us to help other ladies be brave, we have to be brave. I do public speaking for work and I’m comfortable with that. But Flight Night was really hard. I haven’t really pitched to my non-audience before. I practiced a lot, but then you’re up there and you have three minutes and no deck and you’re looking at a sea of mostly strangers.

It was a good experience though. I’m glad I did it. The feedback was supportive. The judges encouraged me to keep going with the business. I think I need to work on my pitch, but that’s okay. You have to do your first pitch some time and then you can perfect it.

From there, I met with Entrepreneur-in-Residence Eric Knight, which was suggested by one of the Flight Night judges. Eric was awesome. My challenge for him was: How do we scale? We can’t just host parties. We know it’s not the right moneymaker. But we identified there is a need for this, especially in suburban communities. We think there are a lot more resources for women in larger cities and we feel like the suburbs often get forgotten―but there is so much potential, drive, and creativity there.

NAN: How did Eric advise you about your challenge?

SHAWNA: He suggested we build an online community, leveraging Facebook for example, to reach a broader geography. And he suggested mapping out the next several years of Jam Program to outline a plan of what we want to achieve.

NAN: What’s next?

SHAWNA: We’re excited to announce we were accepted into the 2019 reSET Impact Accelerator program, which begins in February. We’re looking forward to being part of this startup cohort and the resources we’ll be exposed to. And we’re building and testing our Jam Kits so more women can experience Jamborees!

Collaboration is another future goal. We want to continue to shine a light on female business owners, politicians, and activists. We’re co-hosting our next local Jamboree Moms Demand Action - and Brunch! on Sunday, March 10 with founding leaders of the Hartford Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Another area of Jam Program’s potential growth involves building a curated network of professionals who can help women at different stages of life transitions (professional pivot, retirement, marriage, divorce, children, death of a loved one, moving, etc.). Women find themselves in these “what next?” moments and we'd like to source professionals to help them approach such transitions.

Learn more about Jam Program

VISIT: www.jamprogram.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram

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Meet Hartford Native and Entrepreneur Natasha Harris