HARTFORD, CT – October 27, 2025 – reSET is thrilled to invite the community to two exciting events in November showcasing the innovation, social impact, and entrepreneurial spirit driving Connecticut's local economy forward.

Foodie Demo Day

Date: Monday, November 10, 2025
Registration: https://bit.ly/foodiedemo2025 

Join us on Monday, November 10th for Foodie Demo Day at Parkville Market in Hartford for the ultimate celebration of Connecticut's next generation of food entrepreneurs. This exciting evening will spotlight 11 incredible local businesses graduating from the Food Accelerator program.

Guests will enjoy an immersive experience filled with tastings, live demos, and inspiring stories that highlight the creativity, culture, and community impact driving Connecticut’s growing food scene.⁠

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Connect with local founders, community partners, and potential investors while exploring opportunities for collaboration. Plus, vote for your favorite entrepreneur with the Audience Choice award and contribute to the prize pool! Come hungry, network freely, and help us celebrate the future of food in Connecticut!⁠

Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch: A Floor-Plan Retail Incubator Event

Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2025
Registration: https://bit.ly/popuppitch25

On Tuesday, November 19th, celebrate the graduation of the 2025 Retail Incubator cohort with an evening of pitches, community, and commerce at Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch at The Lyceum Resource & Conference Center in Hartford.

Hear the business pitches and shop the pop-up marketplace, featuring products from the graduating entrepreneurs. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for the Audience Choice award winner who will receive a direct micro-grant, funded by your contributions and Investor Ticket purchases. Come ready to eat, connect, shop, and support Connecticut's next generation of retail leaders.

Special Dual-Event Discount

Planning to attend both events? Save with our special dual-event discount! Save $10 by selecting the "Dual Event Pass" ticket option on either event page. For more information please visit https://www.resetco.org/events.

About the Floor–Plan Retail Incubator

The Floor–Plan Retail Business Incubator is now in its fifth year as a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community activation studio. The three-month program provides entrepreneurial technical support to early-stage retail businesses, helping participants understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, and prepare for new market opportunities. Entrepreneurs gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. At the conclusion of the program, participants are eligible to apply for a $700 small business grant, made possible through funding from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

About the Food Accelerator

The 12-week hybrid program provides participants with hands-on business support, expert mentorship, and community connections through weekly workshops and implementation sessions. Topics covered include operational management, financial literacy, and brand advocacy. The financial literacy component of the program is supported in partnership with Liberty Bank and Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC). Upon successful program completion, each entrepreneur will be eligible to apply for up to $7,000 in capital made possible through a grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and a business credit line through Liberty Bank. Since launching in 2023, reSET's Food Accelerator has supported Connecticut food entrepreneurs in building systems and strategies to scale beyond handling everything themselves, with many alumni going on to secure additional funding, expand operations, and deepen their community impact.

About reSET

Founded in 2007, reSET is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across Connecticut. In February 2025, reSET acquired New Haven-based Collab, combining complementary strengths to create a more robust ecosystem for impact-driven entrepreneurs throughout the region. reSET specializes in social enterprise — impact-driven businesses with double or triple bottom lines — providing coworking space, accelerator programs, and mentoring services that inspire innovation and community collaboration. To date, reSET and Collab have assisted over 500 small businesses to start and grow with impact, and reached thousands more through low-touch supports.

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