2019 reSET Accelerator Venture Showcase

May 20 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Events 0 comments Tags: entrepreneurs, Impact Accelerator, innovation, reSET, startups

reSET will host its 2019 Accelerator Venture Showcase Tuesday, June 11 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford, CT.

The showcase features top startups from reSET’s Impact Accelerator, as they present their business pitches. Join reSET for an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and innovation.

Accelerator finalists are selected through a cumulative feedback process over a four-month period. The community will also have a chance to choose ventures to pitch at the showcase through reSET’s Community Choice Voting Competition. The top companies will pitch their business models to an audience of founders, investors, and community and corporate stakeholders. A cash prize pool of $20K will be up for grabs.

Register to attend the Impact Accelerator Venture Showcase.
Note: Space will be limited. All money raised by ticket sales will be put back into the Impact Accelerator program.

About the reSET Impact Accelerator
The reSET Impact Accelerator is a four-month program designed to provide entrepreneurs with access to the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to grow their businesses and their impact. The program focuses on connecting entrepreneurs to early-stage customers and industry-specific experts and mentors and providing coaching along important startup milestones.

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Small Business Week 2019 Impacts Greater Hartford Community

May 06 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford CT Lifestyle 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneurs, Greater Hartford, small business owners, Small Business Week 2019, startups

By Nan Price, Content Manager, MetroHartford Alliance

Ellen Feldman Ornato (left) and Jenny Drescher (right) are founding partners of West Hartford startup The Bolder Company.

Small Business Week 2019 takes place May 5 through 11. The annual event recognizes the important contributions of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and small business advocates throughout the country.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” says Julio A. Concepción, Executive Director of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce. “The Hartford Chamber of Commerce collaborate with organizations in and around Greater Hartford to help local businesses succeed and thrive.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and small businesses make up 97% of Connecticut’s total businesses.

The Alliance asked several business owners to share their thoughts about what it means to be a small business owner in the Greater Hartford region:

“The Greater Hartford region is ripe for entrepreneurship. Connecticut small business owners in every industry—from high tech, to research, to manufacturing—are taking risks, embracing new ideas, and most importantly, creating jobs.”
— Michael Keiser, Co-Founder of the Entrepreneur Circle, Manchester, CT

“We’ve discovered hives of energetic, excited, mutually supportive individuals and organizations in our community. They’re the drivers of forward-oriented thought and they’re always game to collaborate and create together. This willingness to explore synergies creates momentum and energy that attracts like minds and feeds our ability to bring positive impact and change to our clients in this region.”
— Ellen Feldman Ornato, Founding Partner The Bolder Company, West Hartford, CT

“Independently owned businesses and the smallest of businesses deserve praise and support. These are folks who often take on huge personal risk to do what they love for a living while staying in Greater Hartford. They’re not moving outside the area in search of other opportunity. They are creating opportunity for themselves here.”
— Annisa Teich, Co-Owner, West Hartford Coworking

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CT Startups Receive $54K in Grants at CTNext Entrepreneur Innovation Awards

May 03 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Awards 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, CTNext, entrepreneurs, innovation, startups

Caption: Entrepreneur Innovation Awards presenter Sheryl O'Connor, Co-Founder WealthConductor (center) with CTNext Program Associate Rachel Ferreira and CTNext Program Manager Jessica Dodge (left to right).

CTNext awarded grants to five early-stage Connecticut companies at the most recent Entrepreneur Innovation Awards, held April 25, in Haddam, CT.

Following presentations from 10 finalists, the judges awarded $10,000 grand prizes to the following companies:

Obsidian Advanced Manufacturing, New Haven — Developing an industrial metallic 3D printer
SkySqueegee, Stamford — Vertical-plane robots designed to wash windows for commercial buildings/skyscrapers
TargetArm, Ridgefield — Developing Talon, a universal launch and recovery platform for unmanned aerial vehicles
WAVE Drowning Detection Systems, Westport — Detection systems to help prevent swimmers from drowning
WealthConductor, Hartford – Financial technology, software and strategies to help brokers and clients with retirement planning

Additionally, the $2,000 Crowd Favorite award was given to WAVE Drowning Detection Systems, while TargetArm of Ridgefield took home the $2,000 Judges’ Favorite prize.

The five companies, all Connecticut-based, were among 10 startups that presented their project ideas to a panel of judges for an opportunity to secure $10,000 awards to help support business growth.

Additional presenters included

AIRPower, New Haven
Career in STEM®, North Windham
Determinant Materials, Monroe
Lactation Innovations, Canterbury
Spinrise Technologies, New Haven

Learn More About CTNext

VISIT: www.ctnext.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Twitter

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Global Site Selector Provides Insight About Innovation in Hartford

April 30 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Innovation 0 comments Tags: entrepreneurs, global, global entrepreneurs, global startups, Hartford, insurance, startups, technology

By Nan Price, Content Manager, MetroHartford Alliance

David Hickey, Managing Director at Hickey & Associates (left) and David Robinson, Executive Vice President & General Counsel at The Hartford (right) participated in a discussion about site selection and economic development at a recent MetroHartford Alliance luncheon event.

On Friday afternoon, the MetroHartford Alliance created an opportunity to not only share information about the organization’s growth and evolution, but to gain insight from a global leader in site selection.

David Hickey, Managing Director at Hickey & Associates participated in a discussion and Q&A about site selection and economic development—specifically related to Hartford.

WHAT IS A SITE SELECTOR?

Hickey helped define the role of a site selector by explaining how they use data and analysis as well as site visits to help clients navigate real estate and determine the best places to locate.

According to Hickey, the process involves a deep understanding of the client’s culture and scope—and workforce is a huge driver. “Workforce, including recruitment and retention,” Hickey underscored. “Clients are looking for talent and they are focus on the skills and people they need today as well as tomorrow.”

Infrastructure is a key aspect, too. Hickey said clients are asking: Does government support businesses? Are processes in place?

In terms of on-site visits, he noted that all parts of the community play an important role, which is where community leaders can provide support “Clients engage through communities helping sell the region,” he noted. “It’s critical—it’s vital to the process.”

TELLING HARTFORD’S STORY

Hickey noted that Hartford should continue marketing and telling our story, focusing on our core strengths in insurance and aerospace as well as talent and opportunity.

“Tell don’t change the story,” he underscored. “Continue pushing. Continue the work that has been done. Continue to focus on the fact that Hartford is the insurance capital of the world—while highlighting other regional assets.”

GLOBAL INNOVATION IN HARTFORD

Hartford has already shown it’s a viable site to locate global business. One recent example Hickey pointed out is global technology company Infosys, which decided to build a technology and innovation hub in Hartford.

Hickey & Associates’ research shows that Hartford’s global innovation hub ranks #32 globally and #15 in the United States, putting Hartford on the map, competing with cities like Boston, New York City, Raleigh, and Washington, D.C.

“You can see innovation happening in front of you in Hartford,” Hickey said, noting the city’s strong startup culture.

“Insurance and technology startups are here,” he said. “You don’t need to go to Boston or New York City, you can stay and really be part of something. What’s coming out of Hartford right now will literally change the world.”

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CT Serial Entrepreneur Shares Experience, Tips, and Advice

April 22 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Entrepreneurial Insights 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneur, entrepreneurial experience, entrepreneurship, how to launch a startup, startups

Serial entrepreneur Jeremy Szechenyi is co-founder of Connecticut startup Design Swell.

Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price spoke with serial entrepreneur and reSET veteran Jeremy Szechenyi about his latest startup, Design Swell.

Jeremy has always been interested in elements of design. His entrepreneurial journey began while he was still at college, where he launched his first startup designing ghillie suits for paintball.

“The suits were expensive, so I figured out how to make one for myself,” explains Jeremy. “Everyone loved it and I started selling them on eBay. That was the beginning of my 19-year journey as an entrepreneur.”

His next startup was an import drop shipping business. He sums up the experience: “I made a little money, but I decided it wasn’t really going to work.”

Jeremy found longer-scale success with his next venture, a bootcamp-style personal training company, which he ran for five years before selling it off.

During these initial ventures, Jeremy was still going to school. His original focus was fashion merchandizing. But he quickly realized he was more interested in the business side, so he switched to a business major with an entrepreneurship minor. “I had a good amount of high-level business knowledge and a little of that book-style entrepreneurship,” he says, “but for me, the best education was doing it.

After college, Jeremy worked on developing processes and strategies to help his brother’s business scale. Then he moved to Boston, where he hoped to immerse himself in the tech culture.

After a few other failed ventures, LTHR Supply, the watch company he co-founded with Travis Tyler started to take hold. By then, Jeremy had met his wife and moved to Connecticut to be closer to family.

RESET-ING, PIVOTING, AND SEEING A NEED

With the watch company running well, Jeremy had time to explore other venues and he knew he wanted to get involved with the community here.

“I wanted to fill my time with something exciting,” he says. “I thought: Let me look around at what’s happening in the startup scene. A friend had gone through the reSET Accelerator a few years prior and suggested I check out the organization.”

Jeremy accepted a Program Manager role, where he spent two years helping to educate entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations about innovation, strategy, branding, product development, and growth.

Then it was time to transition back into full-time entrepreneur.

THE LATEST STARTUP

Though their business was going well, Travis and Jeremy decided to relaunch the watch company as Lonegrade and move all the manufacturing to the United States.

“It’s a very long and expensive process,” explains Jeremy. Fortunately, he had worked in the retail space and connected with local suppliers.

“As we went through that process and talked to other watch companies, we realized a lot these small brands have great ideas and great value, and we wanted to be able to help them, which is why we came together and formed Design Swell.”

The latest startup launched in February 2019.

“The idea behind DesignSwell tied into some of what I saw at reSET. Many people have great business ideas—and they can be great brands. We want to help these companies turn their ideas into recognizable brands and create brand equity within their markets,” explains Jeremy.

“I love working with the earlier stage companies. They are full of opportunity and also super excited,” he adds. “But, many early-stage companies don’t have a marketing budget. They may have enough of a budget to get started and get their brand formed, but everything they do at an early stage needs to be set up to work well with long-term business strategy.”

In addition to early-stage companies, Design Swell does some corporate consulting and helps with product launches.

STARTUP LESSONS LEARNED

Jeremy has learned a lot along the way throughout his entrepreneurial journey. His biggest pieces of advice are about spending, knowing your value, targeting your market, and building the right team.

In terms of spending, he says, “You have to invest in yourself or your business. I didn’t do that early in my entrepreneurial ventures, now I think about every dollar going out as either bringing value in or directly correlating to the value this stage in our business.”

He continues, “As you spend more and more money, make sure you figure out how to directly bring value to your stage and your phase of business. And make sure to revisit the process.” He admits, “Those are things I never did in some of my past ventures.”

The flip side of spending is value—and determining whether if your value is worth money. That involves knowing your target market, notes Jeremy.

“Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already established and you’re launching a new product, make sure—before you spend your time and money—to think through each target market and ask: What value do I bring and is it enough value?” he advices.

He encourages businesses to get a good dialogue going with their target market. His other tip?

“Talk to people who don’t know you or are disconnected from you, or someone you trust will give you honest feedback to ensure you’re delivering enough value. You can always add more. You may have a great idea and you may think your value is A and B, but you may be able add C, D, and E.”

Jeremy’s last piece of advice is about team. “Your team is not just who you hire, but the people you’re going to collaborate with. Surround yourself with people who bring value and bring benefit to your company,” he underscores.

“Think of your team as not just those people who are employed by your company, but also those who are partners and collaborators you’re going to work with. Make sure they exist because you’re going to need them as you grow. It will be different for every industry.”

FAIL FORWARD

“I failed a bunch, which is normal,” Jeremy admits. “I heard a phrase that says, ‘fail forward,’ which I love.”

He adds, “As a startup and as an entrepreneur, you will fail a ton. But you can use those experiences to learn and push yourself further or avoid those mistakes in the future—and hopefully help the other entrepreneur avoid those same mistakes. That, to me is success.”

Learn more about Design Swell

VISIT: www.designswell.co
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Hartford InsurTech Hub’s Demo Day 2019

April 12 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Events 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneurs, Hartford, innovation, insurance, InsurTech, InsurTech Hartford, startup, startups, tech, technology

Hartford InsurTech Hub meeting. (Photo courtesy: Startupbootcamp)

Hartford InsurTech Hub’s Demo Day will take place April 26 at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center.

This year’s theme is AMPLIFY. “We're excited to strengthen the insurance community by amplifying the importance of InsurTech and how innovative ideas can make some noise in the insurance industry,” notes Hartford InsurTech Hub.

The event will showcase 10 Hartford InsurTech Hub startups and celebrate their transformation and the results they have achieved since the program began in February.

These InsurTech startups are fostering insurance innovation and providing a great platform to trigger a surge of entrepreneurial activity in Hartford. The 10 companies were selected from an initial 1,000 applicants. The innovative startups hail from Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, Israel, from Canada, and the United States.

At Demo Day, attendees will hear these startups’ stories, interact with the founders, and network. Seats at the event will be limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Register to attend Hartford InsurTech Hub's Demo Day and learn more about the presenting startups.

Learn more about Hartford InsurTech Hub

VISIT: hartfordinsurtechhub.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter
WATCH: Hartford InsurTech Hub’s Demo Day 2018

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New Owner Takes Over, Plans Expansion at West Hartford Coworking

April 10 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Initiatives 0 comments Tags: co-working, Connecticut, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, small businesses, startups, WeHa Works, West Hartford, West Hartford Coworking

This article by Ronni Newton originally appeared on We-Ha.com April 3, 2018.

Connecticut entrepreneur Annisa Teich is the new owner of West Hartford Coworking.

West Hartford resident Annisa Teich began a relationship with West Hartford Coworking last September, with a contract to manage and market the space, and it was announced this week that she and her mother, Annette Farese of Bradenton, FL, have purchased the business through their family-run investment firm, Bromleigh Ventures, LLC.

Teich said that the arrangement provided perfect synergy—an ideal space for her to run her own marketing and social media firm, The Small Business Collective, and at the same time assist some of the members with their marketing and business development needs.

West Hartford Coworking was founded by John Paul Vasellina, and opened its doors at 967 Farmington Avenue in October 2016, immediately attracting a diverse group of professionals looking for flexible office space.

“I founded West Hartford Coworking because I had the need for a space to work outside of my home while employed remotely for a San Francisco-based company,” Vasellina said in the announcement. “I quickly found there was no shortage of people just like me who liked the buzz and social interaction of a shared office setting.”

Since then, Vasellina has changed jobs and works full-time in an office at his local employer. When Teich learned that Vasellina was thinking of shutting down the coworking space, she decided to partner with her mother—who was looking for a business opportunity—and the pair purchased it.

“It’s rare to get to test drive a business,” Teich said, but once she started managing West Hartford Coworking, she knew that she could grow that business. Buying it, she said, “made so much sense.”

Under Teich’s active management, West Hartford Coworking has more than doubled, and grown to 25 “daily” members with full access to the 2,000 square foot space. There are others who contract just for use of the conference room or an unassigned “hot desk.”

They are at about 90% capacity, Teich said, and actively looking for new and larger quarters in West Hartford.

Members already come from a wide variety of industries, and Teich said she is focused on attracting start-ups, independent entrepreneurs, and other small businesses looking for affordable workspace.

“With so much recent attention focused on technology, specifically in the insurance industry, we’re looking to drive additional focus toward main street to help support businesses that are not technology-focused, but can be technology-enabled,” Teich said in her announcement. ”Providing a space to be productive, learn how to better manage and grow small businesses, and collaborate with others in the community is at the core of our vision.”

West Hartford Coworking currently offers flexible, month-to-month memberships options. A full membership is $349 per month, and includes a dedicated desk that is available 24/7, five hours of conference room time per month, and unlimited copies and printing.

“And all the free coffee you can drink,” Teich said.

The workspace also includes a rooftop deck with strong WiFi for those who need a little Vitamin D.

Other options include a part-time membership for use of a “hot desk” during business hours (conference room time, printing and copying, and coffee is included), and the conference room is also available for use at $40 per hour.

Members can also purchase parking passes to the Town Center garage.

West Hartford Coworking will be hosting a variety of events throughout the month of April, and on an ongoing basis, Teich said. Upcoming events include a “Fireside Chat” with tech ethicist David Ryan Polgar on April 23, and an “Ask the Influencers” session with local Instagram experts like Rachel Moore of “Pinteresting Plans” and Jenn Huang of “ChowtownCT” on April 18.

“I’m excited to provide these opportunities to the community,” Teich said. These speakers are addressing topics about which people always have a lot of questions, and she’s looking forward to bringing people together for the experience.

Learn more about West Hartford Coworking

VISIT: www.wehaworks.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Twitter

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CT Landscaping and Construction Startup

March 28 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Greater Hartford Startups 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, entrepreneurs, Greater Hartford, startups

Casa Rossa Landscape & Construction, LLC co-founders Jeffrey and Emily Kyle.

Social media works. Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price connected with Casa Rossa Landscape & Construction, LLC co-founders Jeffrey and Emily Kyle via a Facebook post from IdleWilde Printing Company. Nan met with the two to discuss startup processes and challenges.

NAN PRICE: Have you always wanted to own a business? How did the idea come about?

JEFFREY KYLE: Landscaping has been in my blood since I was a child. My grandfather was a union bricklayer and my father has a small landscaping company. I worked for my father during high school and throughout college. I worked for other landscape and construction companies over the years, where I learned how to do asphalt, concrete, irrigation installation and maintenance, and some hardscape.

Emily and I had been thinking about starting our own business for a while and it seemed like the right path for us. I’ve learned so many different things over the years and I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset.

EMILY KYLE: It made more sense for us to start something from scratch. We like the business aspect of it too, not just doing the manual work and landscaping. We want to learn more about owning and growing businesses.

My bachelor’s degree is in landscape architecture and I’ve done a lot of small-scale landscape design, so, I’ve been able to help with project ideas.

NAN: What’s your biggest startup challenge?

EMILY: One of the difficulties about starting a landscaping company is the price of new equipment. With a new business, you’re starting from the bottom. You can’t buy all your equipment right away because you don’t have enough work immediately coming in to pay for those items, whether you’re taking loans out or you’re paying in cash.

You have to be smart. For us, starting at a small scale makes the most sense for now. If you overpay for big project-type equipment, you may not get the work because you haven’t built a clientele yet. Starting small has been the most affordable way for us to get started. We plan to build from here.

NAN: How are you building your clientele?

JEFF: I started with no clients whatsoever. My first client was a commercial project. It was a lucky break because they have a lot of visibility. We documented that work by posting photos on social media, and some of the company’s employees became clients. People saw the quality of the work and it just blew up from there.

Our business is located in New Hartford, but I grew up in West Hartford, so I have a lot of connections there. So far, a lot of our work is in West Hartford, Glastonbury, Newington, Manchester, and Canton.

That’s the thing too, when we were starting out, it was all word-of-mouth referrals. Starting out, my mindset has been: Use what you have and take what you can get. It was important to get our name out there and make those connections. They could be potential leads. You never know.

NAN: Aside from word-of-mouth, how are you marketing?

JEFF: Social media has been huge. Emily handles that for us. We started our Facebook and Instagram pages right away and started posting. Our content includes planting projects, mulch installations, concrete work, pruning, and lawns I’ve cut. Clients, friends, and family were sharing the page and recommending us.

EMILY: We have lawn signs we install, but that’s not where we’re getting the majority of our clients. We’re getting leads from word-of-mouth and social media. Social media is 2019. We’re happy to make posts because people connect with them. People love updates and they love social media. If they don’t hear from you, they don’t know you’re out there.

So, we’re heavily relying on social media, but a lot of our marketing has been word-of-mouth and reviews—people love reviews—and it’s helped us grow the business substantially.

NAN: You filed your LLC in May 2018, so you’re still fairly new. Tell us about the beginning months of launching the business. What have you learned so far?

JEFF: This year was challenging because I wanted to make sure I was reinvesting business income properly. I have a 48” commercial walk-behind mower I use and maintain. I bought a few small pieces of equipment I knew I’d be able to profit from. Buying equipment is the hardest thing, because it costs so much. Reinvesting your money properly is probably the most important thing.

EMILY: And realizing you have to say no to some people. We’ve had so much interest at times we’ve had to turn people away because right now it’s just Jeff physically working. We haven’t hired employees yet.

In other businesses, you just keep growing. In this type of business, you have to wait if you don’t have enough help and you’re physically doing all the work. Also, in the beginning, you might not have the equipment yet to accommodate someone’s needs, so you have to turn some work away.

We grew faster than we were prepared for and we can’t accommodate everything right away. I know we’ll be able to, but it takes time.

NAN: Aside from financing, what do you need most to move your company forward?

JEFF: Good-quality employees in coming years. If you have good-quality employees you know are going to show up and give 110%, you can take on more work.

NAN: Any advice for those thinking of launching a small business?

JEFF: Starting from the bottom is always a challenge. Be smart with your money. Ask other successful people for advice, even if they’re not in the same industry.

EMILY: Right. We’ve gotten advice and financial guidance from family members and other business owners.

I would also recommend being savvy right away with record keeping. Nobody teaches you about that. In this type of business, taxes are challenging and you’re writing off items for the business. There are things you don’t fully understand right away. Recordkeeping is huge for anyone who runs their own business. It’s so critical, but no one teaches you that.

Start getting used to saving and organizing everything. It will make your life so much easier. That’s the hardest part of the business from my perspective, keeping track of everything. It’s about establishing good habits.

NAN: Let’s talk about your future vision.

EMILY: We want to grow. Jeff plans to get his Home Improvement Contracting (HIC) license. I have my real estate license. We want to evolve into doing property management in addition to landscaping and construction. We want to be a one-stop shop to accommodate most property needs.

JEFF: We plan to have investment properties down the road and be able to do everything in house. It may take some time, but that’s our ultimate goal.

Learn more about Casa Rossa Landscape & Construction, LLC

FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram

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CT Startup Lifestyle Brand Empowers People to Do Good

March 22 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Startups 0 comments Tags: Connecticut, CT, Greater Hartford, reSET, startups, women business owners, women-owned business, women-owned startup

Fuel Love Creator and Founder Melissa Muszynski.

Fuel Love is one of many innovative startups participating in the 2019 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Fuel Love Creator and Founder Melissa Muszynski recently shared her startup experience with Innovation Destination Hartford.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you launch your startup?

MELISSA MUSZYNSKI: I explicitly remember the morning Fuel Love launched. I was getting ready for work and closed my eyes for a minute to send positive energy to a relative going through a difficult time. Suddenly, the words “fuel love” came to my mind. It felt like the “ah-ha moment” so many business owners describe.

I visualized a logo on a shirt. It must have been my intuition saying, “launch a business to help connect people through love.” It was a surreal moment.

I followed my intuition and within days we were designing shirts. A few weeks later we were selling them in stores throughout the state. I’m a spiritual person and I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe we’re destined to do something greater than we could imagine. That’s why I created Fuel Love.

I often ask people, “Do you believe the world needs more love?” Every single person says, “Yes!” Our mission is to inspire people to do good and love more. The brand reminds people to ask themselves, “How can I make a difference?”

IDH: In your startup process, did you connect with any Connecticut business resources?

MELISSA: Yes. Early on, I connected and collaborated with other women-owned businesses, which has been critical to Fuel Love’s growth. Establishing these relationships early on enabled my brand to grow organically with the support of talented, successful business owners.

I’ve learned and grown as a business owner because of these women and the inspiring relationships we’ve created. We all see the importance of supporting one another and we’re creating a community of business owners who genuinely want to help each other. It’s positive and empowering. I hope someday I can give back others like they have to me. Larissa Lake, founder of Larissa Lake and Co./Linden and Kimberly Pedrick, founder of dwell New Haven are two business women who believed in my brand from the beginning. I cannot thank them enough.

In addition, I’ll begin two major endeavors as a new business owner this year. In February, I joined reSET’s 2019 Impact Accelerator Program, which is designed to provide entrepreneurs with access to the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to grow their businesses and their social impact. The program focuses on connecting entrepreneurs with early-stage customers and industry-specific experts and mentors, while providing them with coaching along important startup milestones.

Later in the spring, I’ll attend Cornell University to participate in its Women’s Entrepreneurship Program in partnership with Bank of America. This first-ever pilot program and strategic partnership will provide women entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and resources to build, manage, and scale a successful business.

IDH: Who is your target client and how are you marketing?

MELISSA: Our customer base is primarily women in their 20s to 60s who shop for themselves and young children. Many are mothers who want to teach their children about love and kindness and believe our merchandise offers them a good starting point to have those conversations. Some of our customers have gone through challenging times in their lives and feel connected by our clothing.

We’re marketing on social media and via social media influencers, as well as in person and at major events throughout the state. We’re also growing the brand by establishing retail partnerships.

IDH: How did you develop those partnerships? And do you intend to find additional distributors?

MELISSA: Our products will be available at more shops in Connecticut (and one in Rhode Island) and we’ll be growing that list in the months to come. I made those connections by having in-person conversations with the business owners about the brands they look to collaborate with as they gear up for their fall and spring buying. We’re also selective about the stores where we sell. They all have the mindset of empowering people with merchandise that does the same.

IDH: What’s your biggest startup challenge?

MELISSA: Time! I have an enormous amount of energy, but not enough hours in the day. Being a wife and a mother to two little girls who have bigger social lives than me, while growing this company has been a major balancing act. However, with it comes the learning lesson of how to prioritize and manage deliverables in all areas of my life.

IDH: What are you most proud of that you have accomplished in the last year?

Fuel Love is one of innovative startups participating in the 2019 reSET Impact Accelerator.

MELISSA: Since our launch, Fuel Love is empowering people to offer more love, kindness, and compassion into their daily lives. We receive stories about how people are making a difference and that’s what our company strives for—seeing people fuel love.

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

MELISSA: We would greatly benefit from collaborations with major retailers and social media influencers while creating robust and interactive communications and developing marketing and public relations campaigns.

IDH: Any advice to others thinking of launching a Connecticut startup?

MELISSA: Don’t think, just do it. Take the leap of faith and believe in yourself and the product/service you can provide. We have one life to live and we have to make it count. None of us want to look back and have regrets.

Learn more about Fuel Love
VISIT: fuel-love.com
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram

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Innovation: Industry 4.0 Makes an Impact on CT Additive Manufacturing

March 12 2019 Innovation Destination: Hartford Innovation 0 comments Tags: 3D printing, additive manufacturing, Connecticut, CT, Industry 4.0, startups

This story by News Editor Gregory Seay originally appeared in the Hartford Business Journal March 11, 2019.

David Hill, Director of Additive Manufacturing Operations at ATI Hartford, formerly Addaero Manufacturing, inspects a part developed using 3D-printing technology. (Photo courtesy Hartford Business Journal)

Technology mankind has used for generations to cast and shape metal parts is giving way to “additive” processes, in which digital-laser machinery applies layer upon layer of hot material to create complex parts to fine tolerances.

Some three decades after it was first introduced, additive manufacturing is finally taking hold, manufacturers and others say, but not just among tinkerers, test sites or smaller firms using it to create part prototypes.

Large Connecticut and U.S. original equipment makers like Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Stanley Black & Decker, and others are growing more comfortable with the technology's product quality and operating efficiencies, leading them to acquire or partner with additive manufacturing—or 3D printing—companies and suppliers.

…

Meantime, a small batch of 3D printing startups that came to Hartford last fall to participate in the Stanley+TechStars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator say they are staying in the Capital City to focus on refining their technology.

Read the complete story:
CT Stakes High Ground in Additive-Manufacturing Arms Race

Interested in learning more about Industry 4.0?
READ: Industry 4.0: We’ve Come a Long Way from Traditional Manufacturing

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2019 reSET Accelerator Venture Showcase