This Greater Hartford meetup will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs and principals of small businesses to get advice from their peers on critical issues they face as they look to grow their businesses.

How meetings will work:

1. Each attendee gives a short (30-60 second) pitch on his or her company, their role in the business, and a critical business issue on which they are looking for input.
2. One person (selected in advance) will give a 5 minute presentation on his or her business and the issue he or she would like to present to the group. The featured presenter may ask the group to brainstorm, or to serve as a sounding board for one or more potential approaches to the issue. The group will spend 30-45 minutes providing feedback to the presenter.
3. The remaining time will be spent networking. The critical issues raised in the introductory pitches will facilitate ways we can help one another.

From time to time, subject matter experts on topics of interest to the group will take the place of the featured presenter.

Who should join?

• Entrepreneurs looking to launch/grow their start-up companies
• Principals of small businesses looking to develop new markets, create new products, and improve their business models
• Angel investors looking for opportunities to contribute their business expertise in addition to their capital
• Senior management of large companies seeking exposure to innovation and creativity through partnerships with start-ups and small businesses
• Members of the academic community interested in developing relationships with the start-up and small business community