Rewarding Innovation

ewalsh • June 7, 2016

For full Hartford Courant article details and related content, please click here.

By Alban Murtishi

HARTFORD — The Impact Challenge, a regional competition in Hartford that funds innovative startup companies across New England, will award prizes totaling $100,000 this year.

The 6-year-old competition was started by reSET, a not-for-profit company that works with entrepreneurs to create socially responsible and profitable startup enterprises. More than 100 companies are participating in the competition this year.

Companies must create an effective business plan that can identify a target market, turn a profit and have a positive impact on the community. The business also needs to prove that its impact will scale up with the amount of funding received.

“The big thing is impact. We’re looking for impact and the ability for the business to create impact, how they measure impact and what is the scale potential of the impact,” said Ben Simmons-Telep, reSET’s interim director of programs.

Last year’s winner, Fresh Farm Aquaponics of Glastonbury, was awarded the top prize of $20,000 for pioneering aquaponic farming, which involves growing vegetables completely submerged in nutrient-rich water.

“We want to create the city that feeds itself. The long-term vision is to create that so our urban populations have enough food, and are producing it, not importing it,” said Spencer Curry, who helped start Fresh Farm Aquaponics.

The prize money allowed the company to develop a smart system to track the growth of the submerged plants from phones and send diagnostic information to help determine what nutrients are needed to add to the water at a given time.

The company hopes to expand enough to create a 6,000-square-foot compound, which could house a farming area and an office in Hartford.

“We want to create a repeatable model that can bring in local people. Anyone can run one of these, because we did, and we had no experience,” Curry said. “We’re looking to create a model that we can then replicate in other locations in Hartford.”

The application deadline for this year is Wednesday. For more information, or to apply, contact reSET at 860-560-9120.

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Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for 2 reSET Programs

By awalsh • July 17, 2024

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). # # #