Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Design Thinking

September 27, 2023
6:30-7:30pm
register here

Design thinking is about building human-centered solutions to complex problems. Creative problem-solving is at the foundation of innovation, and developing a practice of design thinking can help any and every entrepreneur to create better products for their customers. In design thinking, we approach problem solving by empathizing with human needs. For entrepreneurs, this approach means thinking first about the problems we are trying to solve for our potential customers, and then designing a product or service that meets those needs.

 This workshop will introduce some basic concepts and techniques in design thinking. We will also guide participants through a hands-on design thinking activity suitable for entrepreneurs at any stage, including those just beginning to develop an idea for a product or business.

Led by Brooke Foti Gemmell and Wes Hamrick

Brooke (she/her) is a Design Strategist at UConn’s Greenhouse Studios and enjoys big-picture thinking and dreaming up creative solutions to big problems. Though she is trained as a creative generalist, Brooke believes that her greater calling is in the development of the people around her, and is wholly energized by the successes of her mentees and peers alike. When she isn't at UConn, she is riding horses, chasing her kid around, and asking if she can pet your dog.

Wes is a Postdoctoral Researcher at UConn’s Greenhouse Studios. He is interested in how traditional pedagogy can be augmented by using digital technology at scale, and enthusiastic about the ways that conventional scholarship can be transformed through diverse collaboration and the application of the principles of design thinking. He specializes in British and Irish literature of the long eighteenth century.

The Business Model

November 7, 2023
6:30-7:30pm
register here

A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. It is a foundational document for detailing a startup company and is required to access debt and equity capital. In this workshop, we'll discuss the key components of a business model (and the short form version, referred to as a Business Model Canvas) and how we can use it to highlight value creation and identify risks and assumptions in your business. All participants will leave the session having begun (or honed an existing) business model canvas.  

Led by Leland Holcomb

Leland is a Sr. Innovation Associate at CSAA Insurance Group. In his role, Leland helps AAA’s insurance arm respond to emerging threats and opportunities through new product development, core business collaboration, and partnership with startups and leading companies. Leland is also an EIR at CCEI where he helps student entrepreneurs design and conduct initial customer discovery and engage in experiential learning experiences within insurtechs.

Leland previously served as the Director of Business Development focused on technology at AdvanceCT helping technology companies grow and expand into and within Connecticut. Prior to joining AdvanceCT, Leland led Customer Success at Aureus Analytics, a venture backed insurtech company, was Head of Scouting for Startupbootcamp's Hartford InsurTech Hub accelerator, and was a Global Fellow at Patamar Capital, an impact investment venture capital fund.

Problem Solution Fit

January 29, 2024
6:30-7:30pm
register here

In this workshop, we will be discussing the foundational principles of introducing a new product or service to market. We will analyze and discuss best practices for conducting customer discovery to hone in on actionable customer problem statements, and ultimately market insights, to maximize success potential when launching a startup business. 

Led by Leland Holcomb

Leland is a Sr. Innovation Associate at CSAA Insurance Group. In his role, Leland helps AAA’s insurance arm respond to emerging threats and opportunities through new product development, core business collaboration, and partnership with startups and leading companies. Leland is also an EIR at CCEI where he helps student entrepreneurs design and conduct initial customer discovery and engage in experiential learning experiences within insurtechs.

Leland previously served as the Director of Business Development focused on technology at AdvanceCT helping technology companies grow and expand into and within Connecticut. Prior to joining AdvanceCT, Leland led Customer Success at Aureus Analytics, a venture backed insurtech company, was Head of Scouting for Startupbootcamp's Hartford InsurTech Hub accelerator, and was a Global Fellow at Patamar Capital, an impact investment venture capital fund.

Problem Solution Fit

October 12, 2023
6:30-7:30pm
register here

In this workshop, we will be discussing the foundational principles of introducing a new product or service to market. We will analyze and discuss best practices for conducting customer discovery to hone in on actionable customer problem statements, and ultimately market insights, to maximize success potential when launching a startup business. 

Led by Leland Holcomb

Leland is a Sr. Innovation Associate at CSAA Insurance Group. In his role, Leland helps AAA’s insurance arm respond to emerging threats and opportunities through new product development, core business collaboration, and partnership with startups and leading companies. Leland is also an EIR at CCEI where he helps student entrepreneurs design and conduct initial customer discovery and engage in experiential learning experiences within insurtechs.

Leland previously served as the Director of Business Development focused on technology at AdvanceCT helping technology companies grow and expand into and within Connecticut. Prior to joining AdvanceCT, Leland led Customer Success at Aureus Analytics, a venture backed insurtech company, was Head of Scouting for Startupbootcamp's Hartford InsurTech Hub accelerator, and was a Global Fellow at Patamar Capital, an impact investment venture capital fund.

The Pitch Deck

November 28, 2023
6:30-7:30pm
register here

Learn the basics of creating a pitch deck for your startup. A great pitch deck gets your audience excited about your idea and engages them in a conversation about your business — hopefully leading to investment. In this workshop we’ll cover what slides you should include in your deck, how you should structure your pitch and how to make your deck look visually appealing.

Led by Alycia Chrosniak

With over nine years of experience in entrepreneurship, marketing and innovation, Alycia is passionate about creating and promoting impactful programs that support the growth and success of startups and entrepreneurs. Currently, she is the Assistant Director of Brand and Venture Development at the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI), where she oversees the operation and management of four startup accelerators, a pitch competition series and the center's marketing. She is driven by the mission of CCEI to foster a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Connecticut, and brings diverse perspectives and experiences to the team, having founded and grown a digital food brand, CT Eats Out, to national recognition. 

Customer Insights

February 15, 2024
6:30-7:30pm
register here

Workshop Description TBA 

Led by Jennifer Mathieu

Jennifer is the Executive Director of CCEI and supports economic development by fostering initiatives for startups and small businesses at UConn, across Connecticut and to alumni worldwide. In this role she has helped to launch and grow hundreds of startups and several new programs and initiatives to support entrepreneurs. Jennifer is an entrepreneurship educator and teaches courses and programs to support entrepreneurs. In addition, she is a mentor within community organizations, serves on several advisory boards for startups, and works one-on-one with entrepreneurs through her consulting business. Jennifer is passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs and coaches them to leverage their skill sets and overcome mindset barriers to build the life and the businesses they have imagined.

Understanding Your Customer

October 23, 2023
6:30-7:30pm
register here

workshop description TBA

Led by Michelle Cote

Michelle Cote is a Lead Instructor at CCEI, as well as Director of Launc[H], an innovation ecosystem in Hartford. At CCEI, Michelle teaches courses that help students and faculty build skills critical for entrepreneurship and innovation, and supports them in forming and bringing new ventures to market.

Through Launc[H], Michelle leads the design and development of initiatives that help to make Hartford a visible and vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Working together with anchor institutions and other community partners, Michelle has helped to seed and support several key accelerator and incubator programs, including: Hartford InsurTech Hub, Digital HealthCT, and Nassau Re/Imagine. Launc[H] also provides entrepreneurs with critical connectivity to business growth resources across the Hartford region.

Legal Basics for Startups

January 17, 2024
6:30-7:30pm
register here

Workshop description TBA

Led by TBA

The Business Model

February 27, 2024
6:30-7:30pm
register here

A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. It is a foundational document for detailing a startup company and is required to access debt and equity capital. In this workshop, we'll discuss the key components of a business model (and the short form version, referred to as a Business Model Canvas) and how we can use it to highlight value creation and identify risks and assumptions in your business. All participants will leave the session having begun (or honed an existing) business model canvas.  

Led by Leland Holcomb

Leland is a Sr. Innovation Associate at CSAA Insurance Group. In his role, Leland helps AAA’s insurance arm respond to emerging threats and opportunities through new product development, core business collaboration, and partnership with startups and leading companies. Leland is also an EIR at CCEI where he helps student entrepreneurs design and conduct initial customer discovery and engage in experiential learning experiences within insurtechs.

Leland previously served as the Director of Business Development focused on technology at AdvanceCT helping technology companies grow and expand into and within Connecticut. Prior to joining AdvanceCT, Leland led Customer Success at Aureus Analytics, a venture backed insurtech company, was Head of Scouting for Startupbootcamp's Hartford InsurTech Hub accelerator, and was a Global Fellow at Patamar Capital, an impact investment venture capital fund.