Connecticut Innovations

Calling all CPG-focused entrepreneurs or investors, retail enthusiasts and tech innovators! 📢 CI portfolio company Bullish is teaming up with Modern Retail, a digital media publication focused on technology, e-commerce, and evolving consumer behavior, for their first-ever LIVE LinkedIn podcast recording. 🗓️ August 20 ⏰ 12:00pm–12:45pm 📍 Live on LinkedIn 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/epfVz5Gn Modern Retail has spotlighted some of Connecticut's standout brands including Rhone, Melissa & Doug, Bob's Discount Furniture, and more. Now, they're bringing that same sharp perspective to a live format, diving into what’s next for modern CPG and retail with Michael Duda, co-founder and managing partner of Bullish. 💡

A ride across Connecticut, powered by purpose. Here’s how our team describes the Tour de Connecticut…in one word. ☝ Check out more from our team here: https://lnkd.in/enZ-qkJV #tourdect #officepoll #innovation #startups #connecticut #bikeride

Drinking our own Kool-Aid...🥤 Brands we back and use. 🍺 Athletic Brewing Co. 🌸 Ellis Brooklyn 🔥 Haven Hot Chicken ✨ Hally Hair 🧬 P2 Science, Inc. 🍃 Owl's Brew 🍅 Zip Dips #officefridge #trending #whatsinmyfridge #innovation #cheers

We asked two of our special guest riders for this year's Tour de Connecticut why they ride and what this initiative means to them... 🚴♂️ Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Paul O. Robertson says he’s riding to enjoy the outdoors, while seeing Connecticut from a different point of view, a simple but powerful reminder of what makes this ride so special. 🚴♀️ Dr. Katherine Saunders, MD, co-founder of CI portfolio company FlyteHealth, shared that one of her favorite memories is that even though she grew up in New York, she learned to ride a bike here in Connecticut. Now, she loves biking around the neighborhood with her kids. Check out our "Braking" News feed to learn more about these inspiring riders and why they’re hitting the road with us: https://lnkd.in/enZ-qkJV #tourdect #innovation #bikeride #localinnovation #connecticut #cycling #guestrider #whytheyride

It's official... CI is gearing up for its third annual Tour de Connecticut bike ride across the state. 🚲 The iconic, 200-mile journey will take place September 15-18, kicking off in Stamford and wrapping in Mystic four days later. To get our wheels turning, we asked some CI team riders 'This or That' questions about the ride. 🛣️ Check out the quick video here, or on the 'Braking' News section of our newly launched Tour de Connecticut website: https://tourdect.com/ Matthew McCooe Lauren Carmody Emma Twohill Marina D. Alison J. Malloy Matt Storeygard Douglas Roth Nicole Dostalek

Employee burnout is a growing problem that may be difficult to spot—and even more difficult to fix. We sat down with Laura Nguyen, an entrepreneur and expert in employee burnout, to learn how to recognize the signs of burnout and adopt strategies to create a healthier workplace. 🧠 Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eKzHw5r3 #burnout #balance #health #workplace #purpose #entrepreneurship #leadershipstrategy

AtlasXomics Inc. and Yale University are driving progress in spatial epigenomics. 🔬 AtlasXomics' FlowGel platform is now supporting experiments at Yale's Center for Genome Analysis. See more below:

Peer Robotics is changing how manufacturers think about automation. 🚀   Last month, they launched the Peer 3000— a next-generation collaborative mobile robot designed to transform factory and warehouse operations. With real-time navigation, edge computing, and a universal load-handling system, Peer 3000 automates material movement without requiring changes to existing pallets or trolleys, making automation more accessible and efficient.   We're excited to see what’s next as PeerRobotics builds on this milestone. 👏

Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem just got stronger. 💪 Meet Connecticut Innovations’ 2025 summer interns! Olivia Strobl Mitchell Tatge Nolan Wilbur Rachel Grandis Nicole Dostalek Aime Mulungula Jake Hugh-Jones W. Brady Waldron Ava Capuano Gabriel Zink Stella Daniel Mackenzie Moore Petra Elton Harshit Chellani Ayden Cinel

✨ NYC Intern Day 2025 with Connecticut Innovations ✨   This week, our summer intern cohort hit the streets of NYC for a full day of learning, connection, and inspiration with leading VCs and startups. What emerged wasn’t just career insight—it was a masterclass in how tomorrow’s builders and backers think today:   💥 Risk & Resilience Founders and investors shared how success means leaning into discomfort, pivoting fast, and never backing down. The boldest bets often lead to the biggest wins. 👥 Team First “Jockeys > horses.” Across the board, the best leaders hire people better than themselves and build culture with intention. 🔍 Specialization Wins We saw the power of sector depth: consumer brand experts, fintech obsessives, and SaaS studio builders all leverage domain mastery as their edge. 🤖 AI Everywhere From predictive lending to personalized consumer experiences, AI is reshaping every vertical. Yet the fundamentals still rule: clear business problems and proprietary data are key. 📈 Power Laws & Performance Returns remain spiky by design—ownership concentration, network effects, and differentiated metrics like TVPI/DPI continue to define fund health.   🙏 Special thanks to the incredible companies and leaders who welcomed our interns and shared their insights:   Vesey Ventures – Lindsay Fitzgerald, Co-Founder & General Partner Greycroft – John Elton, Partner Curacity – Hans Schulte and Sam Fuqua Bullish – Michael Duda, Managing Partner Forum Ventures – Naomi Goez, Principal Copyleaks – Alon Yamin, CEO & Co-Founder   We’re so grateful for your time, transparency, and wisdom. Our interns left inspired—and ready to build.   The future is bright—and already in motion. 💡🌆   #ConnecticutInnovations #Internship2025 #VC #Startups #AI #NYC #Leadership #InternDay #RiskAndResilience #TeamFirst #PowerLaws