Pitch Night in Windsor as Start-Up Business Founders Graduate

Five local start-up business founders will be sharing their business concepts and competing for votes on Tuesday, April 16 at Windsor Worx in a Pitch Night and Graduation Celebration, as they complete a first-of-its-kind small business incubator program.

The businesses are all being launched in the town of Windsor, in an initiative called The Neighborhood Small Business Incubator, launched earlier this year by Bromleigh Enterprises Inc. - a Hartford-based non-profit; and in partnership with The Small Business Collective - a micro-business focused marketing agency also based in Hartford and Windsor. The incubator program was financially supported by the Town of Windsor. It is a hands-on, three-month program that includes a range of essential start-up elements, including LLC formation, business plan development, branding, website development, sales and marketing strategies, content creation, and networking.

“Our dedicated newly-minted small business owners have been working hard and are ready to showcase their projects. It will be a night filled with innovation, creativity, and community support,” said Annisa Teich, Managing Director of Windsor Worx and Principal at The Small Business Collective.

The evening will run from 6 to 9 PM at 41 Mechanic Street in Windsor Center. Tickets are “pay what you can” to support the entrepreneurs, with donations going to the purse for the evening’s Pitch Night winner. Click here to register and donate.

The graduating entrepreneurs and their businesses are:

• The Knife and the Nail - Chris Lyon - Private Chef turned local Handyman dedicated to checking off those "honey-do" lists and supporting those who are aging in place.
• Pets Plus Paints - Jillian Huey - Professional Dog Walker adding pet-oriented crafts and activities to her repertoire to further bring pets and pet lovers together.
• Super Fantastic Optimist - Jillian Beans - Developing extraordinary brand experiences, events, partnerships, and activations that create community and help businesses better engage Gen Z and Millennial audiences.
• Ryan Parker: Education Reimagined - Educator, Poet, Activist, and Pedagogy Coach dedicated to disrupting the oppressive legacy embedded in educational spaces and influencing and empowering educators and youth to also engage in the disruption.
• Northern Connecticut Community Orchestra - Russ Salk - Classical enthusiast dedicated to bringing volunteer musicians and the community together through classical music. Starting off as a small, chamber orchestra and building from there.

Throughout the three-month small business incubator program - and for 6 months post-graduation, the entrepreneurs have access to workspace at Windsor Worx to further collaboration, virtual coworking, and idea sharing among fellow participants.

“We will all witness the culmination of their hard work as they present their impressive ideas to our attending guests, and everyone can vote on which business receives a small monetary prize - powered by attendee and community donations,” explained Teich. “Expect to be inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit – and the excitement and energy these newly-minted entrepreneurs bring to our region.”

The evening also offers an opportunity to network, support local businesses, and learn more about these fledgling entrepreneurs and the Windsor Worx co-working space, which opened last year and has quickly gained a following in town.

Windsor Worx offers private offices, as well as daily workstations, meeting room rentals, and virtual mail, all at affordable rates developed for small entrepreneurial businesses. Amenities include access to Kitchenette, Lounge Area and Wellness Room, high-speed wifi, private phone booth, printer/scanner, TV monitor, whiteboard, and free on-site parking.

Bromleigh Enterprises is a non-profit organization focused on supporting small business growth throughout Greater Hartford and beyond, as a vehicle for deeper, sustainable economic development. Its social enterprises include West Hartford Coworking - founded in 2016, and Windsor Worx, which opened in September of 2023.

The Small Business Collective, was founded in 2017 by Teich and has grown to a small team that has served hundreds of businesses in Greater Hartford and beyond, with a focus on practical, SaaS-driven, relationship-centric strategies that help new businesses launch, and veteran businesses modernize.

Applications are now open for the next cohort of participants in The Neighborhood Small Business Incubator. Windsor residents, or individuals who will operate their business from Windsor Worx, are eligible to apply. Details are available at www.windsorworx.com.