In this special edition of CT Founder Club, we’re bringing together founders and funders to network and support one another over coffee & breakfast!

Investors, come ready to help at least one founder – with capital, customer introduction, feedback sessions, etc.

Founders, come ready to share your story, make asks, and build relationships.

Please arrive between 8:30-9am. We will have open networking and breakfast 8:30-9am, gather for some quick words and highlights 9-9:30am, and continue building relationships 9:30-10:30am. Hope to see you there!

Thank you to Webster Bank and Wiggin & Dana for making CT Founders Club possible!

Webster Bank is a $75B commercial bank offering a full suite of banking services to companies in all stages of their business life cycle. Founded nearly 90 years ago, Webster remains headquartered in Connecticut with offices and clients across the country. Webster’s array of products and services meet the needs of not only its business clients but also their founders and employees.

Wiggin and Dana is widely recognized for providing practical, business-focused legal support to companies across the U.S. and around the world. Headquartered in Connecticut with offices in key locations along the East Coast, the firm pairs deep experience with business-focused judgment, working with companies at every stage of their life cycle, from early-stage startups to mature, scaling enterprises. By staffing matters with attorneys whose expertise aligns directly with a company’s needs and growth trajectory, Wiggin and Dana delivers responsive, efficient, and cost‑effective counsel that helps businesses move forward with confidence.

Background on CT Founders Club:

We heard from many CT-based founders that they don’t have a solid local group of likeminded people to share intros, tips, and the up & down journey of startup life with. Let’s change that! If you’re a founder all-in on building a high scale potential company, CT Founders Club is for you. We gather every 6-8 weeks for breakfast, happy hour, or dinner and making CT a great place to start and grow a game-changing company.

Rules of CT Founders Club:

1. Be Vulnerable: be yourself and ask for what you need. It’s brutally hard to start and grow a company. For those that have done it, don’t glorify it, be honest, share your challenges and mistakes, as well as the wins.

2. Give first: rising tide lifts all boats, let’s make CT a better place to build startups. Come to each event with your A game and the intention to help at least one person you meet in some way (sales pitch feedback, customer / investor / talent intro, brainstorm session, etc.).

3. Don’t be an asshole: treat others like you want to be treated. If you offer something follow through.

4. No soliciting: any help offered is free and without the expectation of anything in return (see rule #3).

5. Be inclusive: everyone started somewhere, include and support everyone (except #3).

6. Respect the time put into organizing: if you rsvp, come on time. If something comes up, communicate.

7. What happens at CT Founders Club stays there: respect people’s vulnerability and transparency and treat what’s shared as confidential.

This event wouldn’t be possible without some great collaborators!

Connecticut Innovations is Connecticut’s venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies.

The Angel Investor Forum (AIF) is a private network in Fairfield, CT, that hosts monthly pitch events where vetted startups present to potential investors. Joining AIF offers access to investment opportunities, educational resources, and a collaborative community of experienced professionals.