Syracuse Tech Meetup

REGISTER HERE: NY Ventures - Funding Pathways & Insights for Early Stage Founders Tickets, Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Join NY Ventures, the venture capital arm of Empire State Development, for an engaging session walking participants through what NY Ventures looks for in companies, how its Pre-Seed & Seed Fund works, and best practices for preparing for investment conversations.
Led by Josh Nelson, senior director of the Pre-Seed & Seed Fund, and Zack Pecenak, Ph.D., director of the Innovation Venture Capital Fund, the session will provide practical insights drawn from their experience investing in New York’s diverse community of entrepreneurs, fund managers and accelerators. Expect a candid discussion about the state of early-stage capital, how NY Ventures evaluates opportunities and how founders can best position themselves for support.
This session is ideal for: early-stage startups, founders preparing for fundraising, GENIUS NY teams and any entrepreneurs looking to better understand state-backed investment opportunities.
After the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in office hours with the NY Ventures team.

Cost: Free

REGISTER HERE: INSPYRE Innovation Hub Open House Tickets, Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

Join us for this orientation to explore CenterState CEO’s brand new innovation hub and learn how we support entrepreneurs in Central New York. These sessions take place the last Thursday of every month, offering the opportunity to connect with a collaborative community, tour the facility, and learn about the startup services, programs and resources we offer to empower entrepreneurs in the region.
Whether you’re an existing client of our innovation and entrepreneurship programing, considering joining our network, or just curious about what we do, this event is for you. Don’t miss this chance to be part of something big. Come discover how we can support your journey to growth and success. We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER HERE - Speaking & Presenting Skills 2-Part Series with Nathan Gold Tickets, Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Harness Your Speaking Anxiety
Tuesday March 3, 2026
1 to 2:30 p.m.
A fast, fun, and surprisingly freeing workshop that shows you how to turn nervous energy into your superpower. Instead of trying to “get rid of” anxiety, you’ll learn how to channel it into clarity, confidence, and presence—on camera, on stage, and in high-stakes conversations. You’ll leave with simple, practical techniques you can use immediately to calm your body, steady your voice, and connect more naturally with your audience. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do in the first 15 seconds—when nerves usually hijack your brain—and why anxiety isn’t the enemy. It’s fuel.

Top Mistakes People Make When Presenting to Investors or Customers
Wednesday March 4, 2026
1 to 2:30 p.m.
A candid, eye-opening session on why smart founders with great companies still lose investor or customer interest in the first few minutes. This workshop breaks down the most common (and costly) presentation mistakes—and shows how to fix them fast. You’ll learn how investors and customers actually listen, decide, and disengage, and walk away with clear, practical adjustments you can apply immediately to your story, delivery, and structure. The goal: sound deliberate, grounded, and impossible to ignore.
Especially important for Pre-seed to growth-stage founders and startup leaders with real traction who want to eliminate credibility-killing mistakes and lead investor conversations with more clarity, confidence, and conviction.
Cost: $10 per workshop or $15 for both

REGISTER HERE: 7 Tips for Hiring Your First (or Next) Salesperson Tickets, Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite

Hiring for sales is one of the most critical decisions in a growing company. The right hire can accelerate growth. The wrong hire can quietly stall it.
In this practical, actionable workshop, Sarah Longley, CRO in Residence at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub, will walk founders and business leaders through a clear framework for making smarter, more confident sales hires.
You’ll learn how to:

• Clarify what you need in place before posting the role
• Write a job description that attracts strong candidates
• Spot quality (and red flags) when resumes start coming in
• Structure interviews that reveal real capability (not just likability)
• Set clear expectations around communication, activity, and performance before making an offer
• Avoid common hiring mistakes that cost founders time, money, and momentum

This session is ideal for:

• Founders preparing to hire their first salesperson
• CEOs and operators who have hired sales before but want better outcomes
• Leaders who want a more structured, repeatable approach to hiring sales talent

Attendees will leave with practical tools and a clearer hiring lens for one of the most important decisions in their business.

Cost: free for network/members; $10 for non-network/non-members