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Advice to would-be entrepreneurs: part 2, connections

Michael Kieley

When I think about what has helped me the most, I think of the connections I’ve formed with designers, engineers, start-up experts, etc. over the past five years.

The best resource I’ve found is MeetUp. If you haven’t heard about it MeetUp is a site and an app that is totally focused on face-to-face connections with people who share your interests and aspirations.

Olafur Studio Meal, team gathering with some objects they’ve created in the background.

It has moved me in surprising directions, such as, suddenly getting obsessed with 3d printing. When I mention that, and people ask, “Do you have a 3d Printer?” Uhh… well, I’m a little embarrassed to say I have four of them in my apartment. (For print nerds, they are a Deezmaker Bukobot, a Printrbot Simple Metal, an excellent SeeMeCNC Rostock Max, and a combo fabrication tool made by a German company called StepCraft.

I’ve found the majority of my new friends through MeetUp and now I have my own group, Creative Growth SoCal.

The first 3d Printing MeetUp I went to led to my current favorite, 3d Printing Pasadena.

And somehow or other, I think MeetUp led me to a ‘mixer’ in Pasadena where I met Bill Gross founder of IdeaLab. Amazing that you can connect so easily with entrepreneurial pioneers.

That event was hosted by Innovate Pasadena. Every October they have two weeks of events which provide access to some of the most creative companies in Pasadena. Innovate Pasadena was formed to remind people that tech has been hot in the area long before the term “Silicon Beach,” was conceived.