Entrepreneurs Heart Greater Hartford

Entrepreneurs Heart Greater Hartford–LintCard LLC

ewalsh • December 8, 2017

This blog series, posted in partnership between HYPE and reSET, offers a platform to showcase the commitment that Hartford entrepreneurs have for their work and this city. It examines how entrepreneurs have chosen their work, and provides examples of the ways in which they are having an impact in Hartford. In this edition, we interviewed Raph Thomas of LintCard LLC.

1. Please tell us a bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Raph Thomas, and I’m the proud founder of LintCard LLC. What you might not know about me is that I have a consulting background and am a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. I have always had a passion for fixing things and understanding how things work. For me, LintCard started off as just a hobby to understand how small businesses work and learn how to successfully take an idea from prototype to market with very little investment and risk. However, what I quickly realized is I could use my business as a platform to create opportunities that could really help people – to me that felt special.

2. Why did you decide to be based in Hartford?

Hartford is a great city that has built a very strong entrepreneurial community through organizations like reSET; it is also home to multiple contract manufacturers that could meet my unique product development and production needs. I also feel a sense of pride in helping to create jobs and opportunities for growth in my local community. I can proudly say LintCards are 100% MADE IN CONNECTICUT!

3. How do you think your work has impacted the community and vice versa?

LintCard has helped multiple Connecticut-based businesses such as Happy Cat Hotel and the CT Bar Association stand out by offering customers a distinctive and engaging brand experience through personalized LintCards, but beyond that I feel LintCard serves as a symbol of what can be achieved with the support of a great community, perseverance to overcome adversity and a great idea.

4. What words of wisdom would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who may be hesitant to take the plunge into entrepreneurship?

Actions prove who someone is; words prove who they want to be. The understanding and internalization of that simple truth is what separates successful entrepreneurs from brilliant people who always seem to have their great ideas “stolen” by someone that decided to take action. Take action and fail fast. It will get easier over time and you only need one great idea to change your life for the better.

5. What’s it like being an entrepreneur in Hartford? What are the benefits, but also what are the difficulties and challenges?

The reSET network is a small, close-knit community that always has events, programs, and opportunities to spur growth for me both personally and professionally. For example, the reSET accelerator really helped transform my startup into a growth company within 12 months. One of the difficulties in Hartford is finding grant financing for great innovative product ideas that are low tech, and not a hot new emerging technology or trend. Sometimes the simplest most practical ideas make great businesses.

6. What’s your vision for your business and personal development over the next five years?

In the next few years, I see LintCard as the premier product for creative brand advertising nationally, and an organization recognized as a platform for providing students the opportunity to learn how to become real entrepreneurs in a controlled learning environment. I want to provide the “leaders of tomorrow” experiences and opportunities that I wish I had when I was younger. Hopefully by creating pathways for others, I will help make the world a better place.

7. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with the reSET and HYPE communities?

Thank you all for your help and support getting LintCard off the ground! If you are in need of a dynamite stocking stuffer or event gift use discount code HART10 to receive 10% of entire order until the end of this year!

Website: https://lintcard.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lintcard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lintcard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelintcard

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Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for reSET's Retail Incubator and Digital Marketing Mastermind Programs Hartford, CT – July 17, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce that applications are now open for two separate programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow with impact: the Retail Incubator and the Digital Marketing Mastermind. Both programs are set to run this fall, providing invaluable resources and mentorship to early-stage and established entrepreneurs alike. Applications close at midnight on July 21, with classes set to start mid-August and run through October. “Both of these programs were developed because of demand from our alumni and local entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “The Retail Incubator has been popular with Hartford-area founders preparing for fall and holiday markets, or opening their own storefronts. We developed the Digital Marketing Mastermind to help local entrepreneurs build an online business presence and stand out in the online world.” Retail Incubator The Floor-Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support product-based businesses in their stages of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, all to prepare their businesses for fall and winter markets. Entrepreneurs will gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.resetco.org/retail-incubator . Digital Marketing Mastermind The Digital Marketing Mastermind is tailored for entrepreneurs who already have a business and are looking to elevate their digital marketing efforts. This program will provide advanced strategies to boost online presence, engage with target audiences, and convert engagement into sales. Participants will learn from seasoned marketing professionals and peers, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the digital marketplace. Entrepreneurs interested in more information on the program and application should visit https://www.resetco.org/digital-marketing-mastermind About reSET reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org). # # #