As a successful entrepreneur who’s attended Rhode Island Startup Week in the past, Nick Cianfaglione can personally attest to the benefits, education and networking that the now-annual festival brings to the Ocean State.
This is the second consecutive year that RIHub has hosted a full week of events centered around entrepreneurship and startup culture. The not-for-profit organization started the idea with RI Startup Day in 2018 and followed it up with RI Startup Weekend in 2020.
In January, Cianfaglione sold Artist Republik, a music networking and subscription service he founded in his Bryant University dorm room less than five years ago. A few months later, Cianfaglione joined the group organizing RI Startup Week to help launch events that assist "high growth" startups across all sectors. Now, Cianfaglione is set to lead two sessions at this year's event, including the Perfect Pitch workshop on Oct. 4 and the Founders & Funders fireside chat in Newport on Oct. 7.
"Rhode Island Startup Week is the "PVD fest" of the startup world, and it's the only week-long event that brings together every single person in the startup and small business ecosystem across Rhode Island, and New England, to share knowledge, experience, and expertise," he said.
The event kicks off on Oct. 1 and runs until Oct. 7.
RI Hub Managing Director Annette Tonti said this year will include several events centered around high growth startups, including the return of the Lively Pitch, which is a demo day style pitch event for 20 startups to give three minute, two-slide pitches.
"Last year we had over 120 people attend and this year will be bigger," Tonti said. "The point of this event is to get our best and brightest startups in front of investors from anywhere in the country. We invite as many investors as we can."
According to Tonti and Cianfaglione, this year's RI Startup Week includes several chances to network.
"For myself, Startup Week has been a key way to grow my network of founders, investors, government leaders, and more in Rhode Island," Cianfaglione said. "Last year, specifically on the boat cruise; I met a bunch of new local entrepreneurs who all became close friends over the past year. For me, the connections have always been the biggest part."
Rhode Island, Cianfaglione said, is experiencing a major boom in startup culture currently, which he credits to the rise of supporting organizations like Cambridge Innovation Center, Innovate Newport (CIC) and RIHub, and programs supporting new businesses out of the RI Commerce Department.
"People used to start companies in Rhode Island and then leave, but now with Startup Week, venture cafe, founders/friends, pitch competitions, co-working spaces, VC funds, and so much more creating a true ecosystem here, entrepreneurs are now not just starting here, but staying here," he said. "That's where the culture here is booming."
To learn more about RI Startup Week and check out a full list of events, visit ristartupweek.com
