Syracuse Tech Meetup

REGISTER HERE - Speaking & Presenting Skills 2-Part Series with Nathan Gold Tickets, Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Harness Your Speaking Anxiety
Tuesday March 3, 2026
1 to 2:30 p.m.
A fast, fun, and surprisingly freeing workshop that shows you how to turn nervous energy into your superpower. Instead of trying to “get rid of” anxiety, you’ll learn how to channel it into clarity, confidence, and presence—on camera, on stage, and in high-stakes conversations. You’ll leave with simple, practical techniques you can use immediately to calm your body, steady your voice, and connect more naturally with your audience. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do in the first 15 seconds—when nerves usually hijack your brain—and why anxiety isn’t the enemy. It’s fuel.

Top Mistakes People Make When Presenting to Investors or Customers
Wednesday March 4, 2026
1 to 2:30 p.m.
A candid, eye-opening session on why smart founders with great companies still lose investor or customer interest in the first few minutes. This workshop breaks down the most common (and costly) presentation mistakes—and shows how to fix them fast. You’ll learn how investors and customers actually listen, decide, and disengage, and walk away with clear, practical adjustments you can apply immediately to your story, delivery, and structure. The goal: sound deliberate, grounded, and impossible to ignore.
Especially important for Pre-seed to growth-stage founders and startup leaders with real traction who want to eliminate credibility-killing mistakes and lead investor conversations with more clarity, confidence, and conviction.
Cost: $10 per workshop or $15 for both

RESGISTER HERE: Lunch and Learn with Syracuse Orchestra Tickets, Wednesday, Mar 4 from 12 pm to 1 pm | Eventbrite

Meet The Syracuse Orchestra’s music director candidates as they discuss using music creativity to avoid the mistakes that famously plague entrepreneurs. Ask your questions during this interactive opportunity.
Lunch is provided and attendance is free. Participants who pre-register will have a chance to win free concert tickets!

REGISTER HERE: 7 Tips for Hiring Your First (or Next) Salesperson Tickets, Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite

Hiring for sales is one of the most critical decisions in a growing company. The right hire can accelerate growth. The wrong hire can quietly stall it.
In this practical, actionable workshop, Sarah Longley, CRO in Residence at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub, will walk founders and business leaders through a clear framework for making smarter, more confident sales hires.
You’ll learn how to:

• Clarify what you need in place before posting the role
• Write a job description that attracts strong candidates
• Spot quality (and red flags) when resumes start coming in
• Structure interviews that reveal real capability (not just likability)
• Set clear expectations around communication, activity, and performance before making an offer
• Avoid common hiring mistakes that cost founders time, money, and momentum

This session is ideal for:

• Founders preparing to hire their first salesperson
• CEOs and operators who have hired sales before but want better outcomes
• Leaders who want a more structured, repeatable approach to hiring sales talent

Attendees will leave with practical tools and a clearer hiring lens for one of the most important decisions in their business.

Cost: free for network/members; $10 for non-network/non-members

REGISTER HERE: INSPYRE Fireside Chats Presented by M&T Bank Tickets, Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

The next installment of INSPYRE Fireside Chats, presented by M&T Bank, features Heather Drake Bianchi, founder and CEO of Drakos Clinical Dynamics. Hear her remarkable journey from EMS to CEO. Drakos Clinical Dynamics has a foundation of innovation and providing accessible laboratory and healthcare resources to all walks of life.
Through intimate and candid conversations, INSPYRE Fireside Chats share the pivotal moments, challenges and breakthroughs that have shaped the entrepreneurial path of our guests. Attendees will gain insights into building resilient businesses, navigating uncertainty, cultivating visionary leadership and staying grounded while scaling big ideas. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, an experienced leader, or simply someone who loves a good success story, these conversations promise real-world wisdom, fresh perspectives and the chance to engage directly with inspiring entrepreneurs.
Networking to follow.
Cost: free to attend.
INSPYRE Fireside Chats are presented by M&T Bank.