Monday, January 14, 2008

Best Networking in Pittsburgh

Continuing with my "Pittsburgh 2.0" theme for 2008 -- "open Pittsburgh's social network," as it were, here is another survey question:

Consider this very incomplete list of business-oriented networking events around Pittsburgh:
The MIT Enterprise Forum of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Technology Council events
Entrepreneurial Thursdays

Add to that list any others that you think that I've missed (because I've surely missed a few).

What are their strengths and weaknesses?

The question is directed to two groups of people:

First, if you're relatively new to Pittsburgh, and/or relatively new to the start-up, new business, and/or entrepreneurial space in Pittsburgh, which of these has been useful to you -- in finding customers, partners, service providers, funders? Which not? Which events consist largely of members of the establishment circulating among themselves?

Second, if you're already part of Pittsburgh's entrepreneurial/start-up/new business community, which of these events would you characterize as useful for someone who's new to town and new to this community -- if any of them are?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm a student at Pitt who's been exploring the entrepreneurial scene at Pittsburgh. I've generally found that:

E-Thurs is a toss up. Sometimes it's great, other times not so much. I did get to meet a lot of good people there though, so I still try to go to them.

The MIT Forum is both a good networking and learning opportunity. Having the panel review a start-up is worth attendance, but overall there is a high quality / quantity of attendants. However, they seem a little stuffier than the other events, and I find it hard, as a young guy, to find someone who sincerely wants to have a conversation.

Tech events are also pretty diverse. They have a great diversity amongst event with the range of worth from alright to great.