By: Api Podder

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Hartford, Conn., June 29, 2015 – reSET, The Social Enterprise Trust (www.SocialEnterpriseTrust.org) and the MetroHartford Alliance have entered into a strategic partnership to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the Greater Hartford region.

“Connecticut has long been a center for innovation, and it is vital that we offer adequate start-up resources as we compete for jobs, capital and talent for our City and Region. This partnership will not only champion entrepreneurship but also facilitate collaboration among resource providers and entrepreneurs throughout Hartford and the entire Region, leading to even greater support for those seeking to start their own business,” said Oz Griebel, president and CEO, MetroHartford Alliance.

The partnership and initial funding of $100,000 will enhance reSET’s programs and resources at its new 1429 Park Street location in the Parkville section of Hartford. Therecently opened reSETBusiness Factory is housed in a repurposed factory at the corner of Park Street and Bartholomew Avenue.

reSET offers entrepreneurs space to co-work and incubate their businesses; supportive programs, including a 16-week business accelerator; mentoring via an Entrepreneur-in-Residence; regular office hours with government, accounting and business development, finance, and legal professionals; and funding for businesses from early-stage to scaling. reSET serves all entrepreneurs but specializes in social enterprise.

“With twice the square footage than we had at our previous location, we’re now able to offer entrepreneurs more cost-effective co-working and private office space, ample free parking and across-the-street access to Parkville’s CT fastrak station, and there’s room for us to grow,” said Ojala Naeem, director of operations for reSET. “Thanks to support from the Alliance, and hopefully others, we’ll also be bringing a café and media lab to our members.”

“This partnership will allow us to expand our programming, and to offer entrepreneurs services that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible,” said Kate Emery, founder and CEO of reSET. “We’re so very grateful to the Alliance for their support and funding, and perhaps even more so for the power of this partnership to help us reach more entrepreneurs and to make Hartford the ‘go-to’ place for entrepreneurs of all stripes!”

About reSET

reSET is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the social enterprise sector. Its strategic goals are threefold: to be the “go-to” place for impact entrepreneurs, to make Hartford known as Impact City, and Connecticut the Social Enterprise state.

reSET serves all entrepreneurs, but 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.