Seven Last Minute Gifts for CT Entrepreneurs

Ojala Naeem • December 23, 2014

It seems like this holiday season has been busier than usual, and if you’re in the same situation as I am, you probably haven’t completed your holiday shopping yet. Luckily, I did some quick research, and with the help of a few local businesses, found some great last minute gift ideas for entrepreneurs.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, $9.99 at Barnes and Noble

This must have book for all entrepreneurs guides them through the process of testing their vision for their business quickly and efficiently, encouraging them to fail fast and pivot as needed to ensure a successful and sustainable business model. We’ve got a few copies at reSET, and this has definitely been one of the most popular reads for our entrepreneur!

A Happy Life Coffee, $12.99 Local Stores and Online

All entrepreneurs need their morning pick me up to start their day, and what can be better than a freshly brewed cup of Happy Life Coffee? A Happy Life is committed to doing everything they can to create happiness at home in Connecticut and throughout the world, either by using profits to help farmers in developing countries live sustainable, happy livelihoods, coming up with ways to help customers bring more happiness into their lives, or finding the most environmentally sound way to deliver their products!

Greeting Cards from Hartford Prints, starting at $3.99 in Store

Hartford Prints! is a family-run paper goods shop and studio that specializes in distinctive letterpress for weddings, special occasions, personal stationery, and more. Originally conceived as a community art studio and educational space by Art Director, Addy Gale, Hartford Prints! stays true to its mission of providing singular paper products and promoting our local community. Not to mention, they have some of the most creative and funniest greeting cards in the state!

Community Membership to reSET, $30/month Online

Just in time for the holidays, reSET will be launching a community membership option for individuals who want the benefits of being a part of the reSET community without opting in for dedicated coworking or programs. This membership gives access to reSET’s Community Work Space, service providers, advisers, community programs and events, and much more! A perfect gift for the entrepreneur looking to kick off, scale, or expand their business!

Pebble Smart Watch, $99.99 at Best Buy and Other Retailers

Entrepreneurs are ALWAYS on the go – meetings, programs, networking events, lunches, dinners, you get the picture. Great to have your phone on you to keep you on schedule, but frequently glancing at your phone can rub people the wrong way. That’s where smart watches come in. The Pebble Smart Watch was on of the first produced, originally gaining traction through a Kickstarter campaign. These watches send you all of your notifications and alerts directly to your watch while looking sleek and stylish at the same time at a pretty low cost!

Kiva Cards, Various Amounts Online

Truly the gift that keeps on giving! Kiva allows individuals to give out microloans to start up businesses to elp alleviate poverty. When their loans are repaid, they can use those funds again and again to make even more loans on Kiva.

Chairigami Standing Desk, $95 Online and In-store

Chairigami is an innovative designer and manufacturer of cardboard furniture. We provide lightweight, flatpacking, recycable, and inexpensive products to fill the need for temporary yet durable furniture.

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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.