Quite some time ago, Coty Rosenblath and I started doing a series of networking dinners for folks who were technology entrepreneurs. Well, it’s been well over a year since we had the last one. I’ve been wrapped up in a lot of things and so I haven’t worried about asking Coty to set another one up. Until now.
With Coty’s help, I’m announcing a new series of Atlanta Startup Dinners. With the previous series of dinners, Coty and I just invited people we personally knew. This time, we’re going to open up the attendee list to everyone (with some caveats). If you’re an entrepreneur, angel investor (Atlanta based or not), or venture capitalists (Atlanta based or not) then you can register to be on the invitee list. Before you do that though, a few ground rules to remember.
Dinners are absolutely, positively not open to job seekers, consultants, vendors or service providers of any type. If you even try to sell your product or services during dinner, you’ll be on thin ice and at risk of being banned from future events. These dinners are meant to build a cohesive entrepreneurial community and that happens when people get to know each other and don’t have to avoid being pitched to. If investors are at dinner and you are looking for money, absolutely do not pitch them during dinner. It is very likely that no one else at the table wants to hear your pleas for money. Feel free to get contact information and follow up after dinner but just not during dinner.
Second, some folks have sought out business advice during dinner and the questions they pose may be of a confidential nature. For the sake of confidentiality, don’t talk about any of these discussions after dinner ends.
Third, these dinners are not sponsored in any way. You are fully responsible for your own dinner bill at the end of the evening. If you can’t afford an evening out with other folks, don’t register for the event. We generally go to nicer restaurants but not anything outrageously expensive.
Finally, these dinners are meant to expand your network and get to know some other really great folks in town. Some people are on their first startup, others are on their fifth. I sincerely believe that everyone can learn something during these dinners and that everyone generally has a good time really getting to know one another. Be aware that we often delve into fairly technical subjects. Either be prepared to discuss the technical subject of the day (whatever it happens to be) or be ready to just listen and learn.
So what are you waiting for? Go and register right away. I have a feeling we’ll be heavily oversubscribed for this inaugural event. If you don’t get tapped for the first dinner (it’ll probably be around the third week of February), please don’t be upset. We’ll do these as regularly as we can (maybe every other week) so that everyone has a chance to attend at least once every few months. I may even try to get some interesting personalities to come to dinner every now and then. But you won’t know who or when they’ll be there unless you come. Ah, the intrigue. :-)
BTW, I’m using a free Wufoo for the signup info so if we spill over my 100 entry limit quickly, just drop me an email and I’ll figure something else out.
Update: Yeah, I know, for most of you this will seem like part of the entry and not an update. I pre-announced the application to signup for this on Twitter (actually a few times) and I’ve already got more than a table’s worth of people signed up. Sign up quick since dinner offers will go on a first come, first served basis (with some manual jiggling by me/Coty to make sure new introductions are made).
Today I went to the Angel Capital Education Foundation’s event Starting An Angel Organization which was graciously hosted by the folks from the Georgia Centers of Innovation. The event was pretty interesting although I think it was more useful to the folks from Augusta, Gainesville, and Valdosta who are trying to start up angel groups in their cities.
