early stage startups

Get ready to connect, collaborate, and grow your community at the ***Smashing Your Sales Goals (SYSG) Spring Meet-N-Greet!*** *Smash Nation*— a vibrant and welcoming community for creative consultants, social innovators, professional service providers, entrepreneur support professionals, and the small business ecosystem builders —invites you to join in welcoming the Spring 2026 Cohort of dedicated business owners ready to take their venture to the next level. Join ***SYSG*** cohort members, trainers, sponsors, and partners for an engaging and interactive networking experience. This isn't just another meet-and-greet; it's a dynamic opportunity to gather, strengthen relationships, and actively brainstorm business development opportunities in a relaxed and supportive environment. Come ready to: * ***Connect*** with key players and potential collaborators in the small business community. * ***Share*** your successes, challenges, and insights with peers. * ***Brainstorm*** innovative strategies for sales and business growth. * ***Discover*** new partnerships and future partners. Let's amplify our collective impact and smash those sales goals together! **Who Should Attend:** Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025 Cohort Members, Spring 2026 Cohort members, Trainers, Facilitators, Program Sponsors, Future Sponsors, Velocity Applicants, and Program Partners. **When**: Tuesday, May 26, 2926 **Where**: Warner Wood Park and Pavilion [4747 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Warner+Woods+Park+%26+Pavilion/@40.0999435,-82.8601323,839m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x88385f0025d4381b:0xc15eb51285691f4f!8m2!3d40.1002108!4d-82.8612015!16s%2Fg%2F11wb2pg50g?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwNS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) **Time**: 4pm-6pm [To Officially Register Go To --> https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true) Meet ***Smashing Your Sales Goals*** expert trainers, sales coaches, community supporters and partners. Learn more about upcoming SYSG events, trainings coaching opportunities to help take your business from surviving to thriving today! This event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!

**✨ Meet Toledo Singles Tonight – Hosted Speed Dating on Zoom** A hosted online speed dating experience for Toledo locals. It's simple: complete a short personality quiz, jump on Zoom, and meet Toledo singles in guided one-on-one rounds. Matches shared afterwards. **Find your age group below:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=55+&face_v=8.0) **⚠️ RSVP alone won't secure your spot.** You need to register through your age group link below and complete the personality quiz. Places are limited. --- 🎯 **Perfect for:** - People fed up with swiping who want actual conversation - Anyone curious about speed dating in a relaxed setting - First-timers new to speed dating - Toledo locals after personality-matched dates - Introverts who shine in one-on-one conversations **Event Details** - **Format:** Live on Zoom – guided rounds from your home - **Location:** Your space – couch, desk, wherever suits you - **Host:** Experienced host steering the session - **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation - **Matching:** Driven by personality quiz results - **Privacy:** Contact info only shared when both match **How It Works** 1. **Register** – Select your age group above and sign up. 2. **Take the personality quiz** – We use it to pair you with compatible Toledo singles. 3. **Hop on Zoom** – Join the call and your host will walk you through it. 4. **Meet your matches** – Cycle through short chats with compatible Toledo singles. 5. **Get matches** – Mutual matches shared after the event. 💡 **Tip:** Check your Zoom setup and pick a quiet, well-lit spot ahead of time. ⭐ *"The personality matching genuinely works. My matches were spot on."* – Toledo local **Frequently Asked Questions** **Do I need experience?** Not at all. The host walks you through everything. **Is my info private?** Absolutely. Contact details are only exchanged on mutual match. **What happens after?** Mutual matches are sent out after the event. --- ✨ Speed dating from home — easy, fun, and personality matched. ❤️‍🔥 ✨

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas ***NOTE:*** Pre-registration is required for this event. **Please arrive 10 minutes early** to check in at the security desk.

**A Transformative Half-Day Event** Welcome to Confidence Lab, the ultimate experience designed to help you step into your most confident self. This half-day event is packed with actionable strategies, inspiring sessions, and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals who are ready to invest in their personal and professional growth. Whether you’re looking to advance in your career, deepen your self-belief, or simply embrace new challenges, Confidence Lab is your starting point. **What You’ll Experience** **Your Confidence Lab ticket includes:** * **Engaging Speaker Sessions**: Learn from experts about harnessing confidence in your career, relationships, and everyday life. * **Interactive Experiences:** Participate in dynamic activities designed to help you step into your most confident self. * **In-Depth Audience Q&A:** Get direct insights from speakers as they answer your most pressing questions about building confidence and stepping into leadership. * **Networking Opportunities**: Connect with a supportive community of professionals and confidence enthusiasts. **2026 Speaker Sessions:** * **Seeing Clearly** Understand how you show up - and what’s been getting in the way. * **Confidence in Relationship** Communicate, navigate conflict, and build trust more effectively. * **Sustainable Agency** Learn how to lead without burning out. Your energy is part of the strategy. * **Confidence in Service** Align how you show up with the impact you actually want to have. **This Is For You If…** * You’re ready to take up more space in your work or life * You want to communicate with clarity and confidence * You’re stepping into (or preparing for) leadership * You’re done second-guessing yourself **Our Speakers** **Lachandra Baker** Founder of LBB Edutainment and the kind of person who makes you realize you’ve been confusing confidence with performance your whole life. Lachandra blends psychology, research, and radical humanity to help individuals and teams stop code-switching their way through the day and start showing up as someone they actually recognize. Expect to be challenged, affirmed, and genuinely seen - sometimes all in the same breath. **Annette Santiago Reyes** Annette has a rare talent: she makes the way you communicate feel like a discovery, not a critique. A connection catalyst and culture strategist, she helps people understand why they show up the way they do, and how to bridge the gap between intention and impact. Whether you're navigating change, life’s challenges, or simply trying to better understand yourself and others. Annette gives you the language and the lens to get there. **Elizabeth Wangugi** Creator of The Nap Concert and the RESTOR™ framework, Elizabeth is here to tell you that rest is not a reward - it’s a strategy. Rooted in neuroscience and restorative practice, her work helps high-achievers stop running on fumes and start leading from a place of actual capacity. If your calendar is full and your tank is empty, Elizabeth might be the most important person you hear from at Confidence Lab. **Stephanie Andrews** Founder of Social Black Butterfly Training & Consulting, Stephanie knows what it takes to lead through complexity because she’s done it across social services, healthcare, and operations. She specializes in succession strategy and leadership development, equipping leaders to build trust, navigate the hard moments, and leave something worth inheriting. Stephanie doesn’t just develop leaders. She develops the kind of leaders people actually want to follow. **Lillian Morales-Laster** SVP Human Resources Director at United Midwest Savings Bank and Executive Director of the Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA). Lillian has spent her career combining her passion for equity and inclusion with her experience in human resources to lead teams and organizations in the development of supportive work environments. She leads with a vision of ensuring Latinas' voices are included in crucial decision-making processes, because for Lillian, ELLA is more than just a program. It's a vibrant community of hermanas supporting and uplifting each other as they navigate their paths to leadership. A Columbus Business First Community Champion and Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan, her commitment to empowering others shows up everywhere she goes. **Rachyl Kershaw** Founder of Greater Columbus Consulting and the architect behind the Confidence Lab Annual Summit, Rachyl has a gift for cutting through the noise, helping high-achievers stop performing success and start living it. She asks the questions most people are afraid to, creates space for honest reckoning, and somehow makes the hard work feel energizing. If you’ve ever wondered why doing everything right still feels like something’s missing, you’re in exactly the right room. **Why Confidence Lab?** Confidence is the foundation for success in every area of life. Whether you’re navigating a career change, launching a business, or striving for personal growth, building your confidence is the key to unlocking your higher purpose. This is your chance to invest in yourself and start living boldly. **Join Us on May 4** Confidence Lab is more than just an event - it’s a movement. Step into your power, embrace your potential, and make this the year you thrive. Secure your spot today and take the first step toward a more confident YOU. Cost should never be a barrier to growth. If you'd like to request a complimentary community ticket, reach out to us at [hello@confidencelab.org](hello@confidencelab.org), no explanation needed. Read more and see additional ticketing options at [https://confidencelab.org/](https://confidencelab.org/)

We meet at lunch each week and each meeting follows a fairly organized agenda. First all participants pass their business cards around. Then each member and guest is invited to give a one-minute overview of their company and what is a perfect referral for the week. We always have a 10 minute presentation from one of the members about their business in more detail. And finally we pass referrals. You're welcome to visit. Nobody is ever put on the spot. Bring plenty of cards!

**❤️‍🔥 Online Speed Dating via Zoom – Connect with Columbus Singles Tonight!** Online speed dating for Columbus locals — hosted live on Zoom, personality matched. Join from home, get paired with Columbus singles your age, and have real conversations on Zoom. A host manages everything so you can just relax and enjoy. **Register under your age group:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Columbus&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Columbus&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Columbus&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=430.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Columbus&groupurlname=heartfelt-connections-for-local-singles-meetups&ar=55+&face_v=8.0) **⚠️ Your RSVP doesn't guarantee a place.** Click your age group link below, register, and take the personality quiz to lock in your spot. Limited places. --- 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Singles in Columbus who want to meet people from home - People fed up with swiping who want actual conversation - Busy professionals who don't want to waste evenings - Anyone who likes connecting online before meeting face-to-face - Columbus locals after personality-matched dates **Event Details** - **Format:** Hosted on Zoom – one-on-one video dates - **Location:** Wherever you're comfortable – no venue, no travel - **Host:** Live host handling rounds and introductions - **Vibe:** Friendly and relaxed – genuine chats with Columbus locals - **Duration:** Roughly 90 minutes - **Rounds:** Multiple short one-on-one rounds - **Matches:** Mutual matches sent out after the event - **Privacy:** Contact info only shared when both match **How It Works** 1. **Pick your age group** – Register through your link above. 2. **Fill in the matching quiz** – Helps us find your ideal matches for the evening. 3. **Join on Zoom** – Click the link, jump on, and the host handles the rest. 4. **Speed date** – One-on-one rounds with personality-matched Columbus locals. 5. **Get matches** – Mutual matches shared after the event. 💡 **Tip:** Just be yourself. That's always the best approach. **Frequently Asked Questions** **Is my info private?** Absolutely. Contact details are only exchanged on mutual match. **What if I'm shy?** The virtual setting and hosted rounds keep things comfortable for everyone. **How long are the chats?** A few minutes each — just enough to get a sense of someone. --- ✨ Real people, real conversations — all from your home. 💘 ✨