During the inaugural gathering of the Gwinnett Startup Circle last month, one entrepreneur discussed creating a workshop to assist fledgling tech businesses, while another dished out free legal advice courtesy of her previous career as a patent attorney.
By the end of the event, attendees were exchanging business cards, providing leads and scheduling meetings. That type of knowledge sharing, organizers say, is the value of the ATDC Startup Circle.
“There are a lot of benefits to participation,” said Dan Seitam, CEO of Centrafuse and an active member of the new circle. “You can meet with seasoned startup veterans, domain experts and connect with fellow Gwinnett County entrepreneurs. Whether you’re preparing for a raise, need advice for operating challenges or simply want to participate in the growing technology community in Gwinnett, it’s truly a great resource for startups of any stage.”
Held at the Work Spot in Duluth every other Friday, the Gwinnett Startup Circle is the latest offered by ATDC, which hosts several other geographic and topic-based forums around the Atlanta metropolitan region. The goal is to provide a free and informal get-together where technology entrepreneurs can share and learn from one other. In addition, ATDC mentors are typically on-hand to provide professional support and guidance.
At the recent Gwinnett meeting, visitors quickly introduced themselves, swapped stories about the innovative products they were developing and offered up insight on startup issues. Organizers are hoping to see even more participation and attendance at the next gathering, which runs from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow.