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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Leadership Transition Announcement: reSET Executive Director to Step Down in 2026

By awalsh • February 13, 2026

Dear reSET Community, The Board of Directors today announces the departure of Sarah Bodley as Executive Director of reSET in a planned transition later this year. The Board has immense gratitude for Sarah and all her contributions over the years. Over the last seven years, Sarah has built an amazing foundation for the organization and she leaves reSET in a strong position for continued growth and service. Sarah joined reSET in 2018 and over the past seven years has solidified and expanded reSET’s mission of supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs throughout Connecticut. Here are a few key highlights from Sarah’s time here: Facilitated the acquisition of Collab New Haven, expanding reSET’s footprint to a statewide geography and further enhancing our mission Developed and implemented new core programs including the award-winning Food Incubator, as well as the Food Accelerator, Retail Incubator, Measure What Matters, and Digital Marketing Mastermind Established reSET as a founding partner of the Hartford Culinary Collaborative, enabling greater connectivity and cooperation among food-centric support organizations in our region Doubled the organization’s budget to over 1 Million Dollars, securing multi-year State government grants Won the prestigious Neighborhood Builders Award from Bank of America, and the Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Community Award in 2022 Established an endowment fund thanks to support from the Zachs Family Foundation to support the long term sustainability of reSET’s mission Over the coming months, we will be continuing our search to find reSET's next Executive Director. Sarah will stay onboard through June to ensure a smooth handoff to our next leader, and will be available as a resource throughout 2026. It is the Board of Directors’ priority, along with Sarah's, to make this transition as smooth as possible to continue the great work Sarah has helped us do over her tenure. The Executive Director’s Job Posting can be found at this link, and we invite you to keep in mind any potential candidates in your community or network that you think might be a great fit. The Board of Directors wishes Sarah the best of luck in her future endeavors. We are appreciative of the dedication and enthusiasm she has given to reSET over the last seven years, particularly navigating our organization seamlessly during the historic times of the pandemic, changes in administration, and an ever-evolving landscape of opportunity for entrepreneurs. We are confident that with Sarah’s support, this transition will be a smooth one for our Connecticut entrepreneurs, partners, and generous supporters. We look forward to continuing our growth and to serving our mission of supporting the social enterprise sector. If you have any questions or concerns during this transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out via contacting admin@resetco.org to get in touch with the board. Sincerely, Ali Lazowski + Dave Menard, co-chairs, reSET Board of Directors

Applications Open for Spring 2026 Impact Accelerator

By awalsh • February 10, 2026

Inviting Impact Entrepreneurs Into Transformative Growth

reSET Announces Pitch Competition Winners from Fall Food Accelerator and Floor–Plan Retail Incubator Programs

By awalsh • November 25, 2025

21 Businesses Participated, Gaining Valuable Impact-Driven Business Training

reSET to Host Two November Events Celbrating Connecticut's Next Generation of Food and Retail Entrepreneurs Making an Impact

By awalsh • October 27, 2025

Special Discount Available for Attendees Purchasing Tickets to Both Events

reSET Announces Second Food Accelerator Cohort

By awalsh • October 1, 2025

11 Impact-Driven Food Businesses Ready to Scale Operations and Community Impact

reSET Announces 5th Cohort of Floor - Plan Retail Incubator Featuring 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs

By awalsh • September 22, 2025

Program Partnership with Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Supports Early-Stage Retail Businesses with Social Impact Focus

reSET Food and Retail Programs Featured in Radio Interview

July 7, 2025

Listen in to the replay of John Voket of Connoisseur Media's interview of reSET Food Program Manager Katrice Claudio and Program Manager Ndubisi Okeke that aired on Sunday July 6, 2025. They talked about the reSET programs that are enrolling for the fall--the Food Accelerator for food businesses looking to scale, and the Retail Incubator for early stage product-based businesses looking to ramp up for holiday markets in Connecticut. Listen here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8745230-reset-fall-program-preview The interview aired on the award-winning "For the People" show on Sunday, July 6 on WEBE 108 FM, STAR 99.9, WPLR FM and THe VOICE of Connecticut and on the podcast.