Hartford Business Journal

6 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | June 6, 2022 Startups, Innovation & Technology Evan Renov, a partner in Arieli Capital, speaks during The Bridge Healing Arts Center's Well4Tech Bootcamp accelerator in Farmington. To his left is The Bridge CEO Yisroel Rabinowitz and to his right are entrepreneurs Alexandra Dantzig, Maya Dayan, Kfir Dayan and Michael Quarshie. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER Startup Restart Hartford area business accelerators regain some momentum in new post-COVID landscape T wo years after the pandemic forced many to close or shift their operations, Hartford area startup accelerator and incubator programs are hoping to bounce back in a changed landscape spurred by the return of in-person events. Hartford's efforts to develop a startup ecosystem were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some accelerator programs going to a remote model, or simply shutting down altogether. In recent months, however, new accelerator programs have popped up, and some that existed pre-pandemic relaunched in- person operations with the goal of helping startups get off the ground, and showcasing Hartford as a landing spot for entrepreneurs looking to add jobs and spur new economic activity. The larger question still is whether Hartford can become a hub of startup activity, similar to the way New Haven has given rise to the bioscience industry and Stamford is gaining traction with fintech companies. "I'm completely bullish on it," said Paul Tyler, chief marketing officer at Nassau Financial Group, speaking about Hartford's potential as a tech hub. "I just think it's gonna look different than what people expect." Nassau Financial Group runs the Nassau Re/Imagine incubator out of its Boat Building offices in downtown Hartford. Tyler said he thinks the accelerator and incubator space will be more centered around events, conferences and person- to-person networking, rather than temporarily moving companies to its Hartford offices, as the world grapples with a post-COVID hybrid work environment. "It's not going to happen in a cubicle, it's just not," Tyler said. New connections Startup accelerators have traditionally offered education, mentorship, financing and some sort of office space to early-stage companies. Pre-pandemic, several accelerators were operating in Hartford and brought dozens of early-stage companies to the city, where entrepreneurs interacted with mentors, consultants, local colleges and some of the larger corporate employers interested in testing their wares or ideas. Startupbootcamp, a London-based company that was hired to run two Hartford accelerator programs focused on grooming insurance and healthcare tech firms, left the market in 2020. A startup accelerator hosted by New Britain toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker this year moved to Baltimore after operating in Hartford for the past three years. Organizations like reSET and Launc[H] are trying to recapture the momentum. ReSET is a social enterprise incubator that has returned to in- person events for its 2022 Impact Accelerator program, which lasts three months and includes 11 socially-conscious startups, ranging from a Hartford-based publishing service (Lauren Simone Publishing) to a natural body care company (Ital Creations). ReSET's Venture Showcase event, which will take place June 23 at the Connecticut Science Center, will allow entrepreneurs to share their updated business plans and vision for growth in front of investors and other business stakeholders. "The goal here is to really make sure these folks are walking away with a lot of great new connections, networks and some financing," said Sarah Bodley, reSET's executive director. "We're actually able to distribute $15,000 in cash prizes this year to [our 2022] cohort, … and the goal here is that this is kind of launching them into their next phase of growth." The Impact Accelerator operates out of reSET's Park Street coworking space. Since its 2007 founding, 143 businesses have participated in the program. Bodley said the coworking space saw a dip in memberships during the pandemic, but the numbers have gone back up recently. All of reSET's private offices are currently occupied with between 30 to 40 active members, she said. Paul Tyler Sarah Bodley

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