Karin Pespisa, MBA’s Post

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!! The DMZ is excited to announce that the annual Black Innovation Summit is back on Wednesday, May 28, in downtown Toronto! This event brings together Black entrepreneurs, visionaries, and community allies, sparking progress and empowerment. There will be an incredible lineup of events throughout the day, including a pitch competition where 10 extraordinary Black tech founders take the stage to pitch for $50,000 in grant prizes! Are you a Black tech founder? Apply to pitch your business at dmz.to/bis-apply. Applications close April 15. Not a Black founder but know someone who would be a great fit for this opportunity? Check out our communications toolkit to help spread the word within your network. Black Innovation Summit: What to expect 8:00 am - Black Innovation Breakfast: Kick off your morning with an inspiring breakfast and mingle with trailblazing founders, investors, corporates, key players and allies within the community. Interested in getting involved? Click here to indicate your interest. 9:30 am - Roundtable sessions: Startup founders, investors, executives, and stakeholders are brought together to share insights and build connections. Interested in getting involved? Click here to indicate your interest. 1:00 pm - Pitch competition: Watch 10 extraordinary Black tech founders take the stage to pitch for $50,000 in grant prizes. Registration is now open! https://lnkd.in/eq7g2iyb

📆 Next week we're hosting 2️⃣ events for founders: Tus 9th of July, 6pm it's Founder2Founder: An evening of networking drinks and learning from other founders. There are 2 parts: 1) 10-minute rapid-fire talks from founders offering practical things for founders to do to level up. 2) YC-style founder office hours where early stage entrepreneurs get public feedback by a group of experienced founders, with that insight often having lots of value for others in the audience. We're announcing the speakers and founders tomorrow! There's limited space, so be sure to register asap. Very kindly sponsored by and hosted at Shepherd and Wedderburn https://lu.ma/y2fxif9z Wed 10th July, 8am it's Pitched your Idea! Designed for early stage founders, this is a relaxed session where you experience your idea pitched to you by other people. If you're working on your pitch, and want to know better what lands and what goes over peoples' heads, this is a great, low stress way to gain valuable insight. Space is very limited, please make sure you register asap if you'd like a spot. Very kindly hosted and sponsored by Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers https://lu.ma/asdef0t8

🚀 Founders Peer Forums 🚀 One of the things I feel more lucky about becoming an entrepreneur is meeting such amazing talented people and being able to attend these Forums! Why I like these forums so much: ✅  Inside Stories - We get to share what’s happening behind the scenes, from challenges to breakthroughs. ✅ Vulnerability - It’s a rare space where we can drop our guard, talk openly, and get support from people who understand the journey. ✅ Disconnect to Reconnect - Stepping away from the daily grind helps us refocus on what truly matters - both personally and professionally. ✅ Surviving the Journey - It’s not just about tactics and strategy; it’s about building resilience and realizing you're not alone. ✅ Deep Connections - My peers end up becoming excellent friends. The real bonus is that we spent 24 hours together in one of the beautiful VIVLA houses in Menorca. Special thanks to Carlos Emilio Gómez for his generosity, and to Antonio Berga, Marc Fluvià Gracia and Antonio M. for making the time and inspiration! Looking forward to our next forum #startupjourney #successmindset

After listening to the inspiring stories of fellow entrepreneurs last night at the BETA State of the State event, and reflecting on the rollercoaster ride bootstrapping my last startup to a successful exit 🙏 , I'm once again reminded of two critical factors in your startup's success: grit and having a strong support system. If you want to make it as an entrepreneur, you must find a way to use adversity to your advantage. Each time I failed to gain acceptance to startup accelerators and incubators (I believe I failed 5 times?!), I felt the sting of rejection, self-doubt, and fear of going it alone. After a day or two of wallowing 😢, I gave myself a kick in the pants: ‘Ok Katie, you can let others define you and your ideas, or you can prove them wrong. Show them what you can do.’ 💪 Use rejection and being underestimated as rocket fuel. 🚀 💡 Lesson learned: Getting support and advice you'll need can be achieved in many ways. Reflecting back, I realize I had an extraordinary informal network serving as my invisible accelerator. From wonderful friends, especially fellow warrior moms I'd stood beside in school and community trenches, to the support of my sons and their friends (who may still be recovering from my labor exploits 😅), and the helping hands and cheering of family members, amazing customers who shared their love of our products, incredible employees, vendors and advisors who were truly my partners in success, and very generous local media who shared our story – my tribe was there every step of the way and I could never have succeeded without them. 🌐 Building a startup network is key. Whether it was the incredible group of entrepreneurs led by Kate LaBrosse who saw me through some dark times, or last night's BETA State of the State event in Minneapolis, I’m reminded of the immense power of connections. Making time for fellowship with like-minded entrepreneurs (and those supporting us), to share information, struggles and celebrate sweet victories, is a game-changer. Now, as I embark on the exciting journey of launching Blyngz, I'm reminded of the importance of paying it forward. I had a revelation last night at the BETA event, surrounded by brilliant minds shaping Minnesota's startup landscape. It reaffirmed the value of community and collaboration. 🌟 Takeaway: No matter how you build it, a network is one of your greatest assets. Invest in it, nurture it, and watch it propel you forward. As I again delve into the startup ecosystem with Blyngz, I'm not just building a company; I'm contributing to a thriving community. 🙏 Grateful for the warm welcome and inclusion last night BETA. I'm energized after hearing diverse voices driven to innovate and build bravely. Let's keep the startup spirit alive and continue to inspire and support one another on our incredible journeys. #StartupLife #BuildingTogether #Blyngz #womenentrepreneurs #grit #powerofcommunity #womenintech

Celebrate with me! One of my Accelerator clients is booking $10K MORE per speaking event than his previous average after just 3 weeks of acceleration. How? The value is there. The offering is fantastic. He simply needed some objective insight on pricing. Want results like these? Comment or message me the word “INFO” and let’s chat to see if it’s a fit. My next Group Business Accelerator starts in May. #thegenerosityculture

I almost didn’t go to that networking event this week. My anxiety kicked in, and I was this close 🤏🏽 to backing out. But I’ve set one rule for myself: show up And here’s the truth – it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made all week. Rowan Grobler shared 5 key areas investors are focusing on : → Your unique edge in the market  → Team’s execution power → Valuation reality check → KPIs that truly matter → Industry momentum The key takeaways from that amazing panel? Rowan Grobler ,Jana V. Catherine Elton, Gary Brotman, Inge Hunter. - Founders have more power than they think they have. - Finding the right investor is just as important as getting the funds. - Capital is available, but the qualification of distribution is changing. The panel discussion totally changed my perspective on the founder-investor dynamic. It was a fantastic experience because: ↳ Leaders from emerging startups led the panel. ↳ They talked about the challenges in VC funding. ↳ They explored the evolving founder-investor dynamic. And a special shout out to the incredible people I met: - Rosa Dos Santos - Joe Graziano - Cindy Maddrell And many more amazing people. Really looking forward to more events like this. If you're struggling with anxiety or imposter syndrome, trust me—showing up is half the battle. P.S. If we didn’t get to chat at the event, let’s chat now!😉

Did you know that Connecticut businesses can apply for the 2024 Noire Exposé? From the website: "Join us for our inaugural NE-AI series. Our curated webinars are integral to preparing for the Noire Expose 2024 pitch competition, equipping you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel. Engage with experts, leverage state-of-the-art technologies, and prepare to showcase your business' vision." Sign up here 👉 noireexpose.com Khamani Harrison Help spread the word!

Unicorn Founders network – Yes, even the introverts! 🦄 Here’s how they find paths to $$$: Investor Updates! 📬 Any potential investor should be on your general business update list. Why? It’s like warming up leads. Most investors won’t invest after the first meeting. They want to get to know you, and the easiest way to do this is by sending "regular" business updates. What to Include? • Sales Progress: Share how your sales are going. • Milestones: Celebrate achievements like getting into an accelerator or closing a strategic partnership. • Event Participation: Let them know which events you’re attending and presenting at. • Growth Insights: Provide any information that shows how your business is growing. Remember, investor updates aren’t just for current investors – don’t forget those who might become investors later on in your journey. Are you sending out investor updates? What do you share? How do you foster relationships? My tip for networking: wear something that stands out 😉

🔴 LAST DAY!! 🔴 Today is the last day for you to register your business for a change to participate in our next Pitch Night!! https://lnkd.in/g7jfpQP It's not just about securing funding with us; there's also a chance for co-investing with other angel groups. Plus, you'll have access to mentoring, connect with experienced investors, and meet some fantastic founders. Last year, we supported 8 companies (with four more in the works). Now it's your turn to secure early-stage investment from our local investor crew! Act fast! Register your business here: https://lnkd.in/g7jfpQP Our team and Perth Angels Members will have a look at your registration and you'll have the chance to be part of our exclusive Pitch Night! This event is set to be a game-changer, allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals and savvy investors who are all about innovation and growth. Why should you be there? ✅ Pitch directly to Perth Angels – we love backing visionary founders. ✅ Receive solid advice and feedback from experienced angel investors. ✅ Network with a vibrant community of entrepreneurs for potential partnerships and collaborations. ✅ Open doors to potential funding that can fuel your business's growth. Our esteemed panel of investors is eagerly waiting to hear your pitches. We're all about spotting and nurturing the next wave of disruptive businesses. We believe in fantastic ideas and passionate founders and are committed to providing the resources and connections to turn your vision into reality. Got questions? Reach out to us at [email protected], connect with Clarisse Menezes, our Businesses Manager, or any of our board members: Wilson Casado, FAIM , Greg Riebe, Josh Dearle, Lee Edward Cassell BEng GAICD, Michael McKay

Avoid FOMO. Register right now and secure your seat for another great event. Don't just take our word for it! Here's what past attendees have to say about TFYC events: 'I've only been a few times, but I've learned a lot. Made some solid connections who I've already met with outside of Tech Founders events.' 'No pressure networking! It's a great way to meet up with local business tech leaders and share ideas and solve common problems.' 'Great environment and knowledgable speakers. I always leave with a bunch of new ideas. Everyone is really supportive.' Don't miss out! Join us on July 17th for another fantastic event. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gawbeVVP #TFYC #TechFounders #FortMillStartUp #StartUpLife #CharlotteStartUp #FreeTechEvent #SalesTraining #FortMillEntrepreneurs #CharlotteRegionStartUp #TechFoundersOfYorkCounty #Networking #SalesGrowth