StartupBREW Gives College Students a Chance to Connect with Local Entrepreneurs

Looking for a way to get out of your dorm or apartment and connect with local business owners? StartupBREW offers students an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, hear about new ideas and build connections within the Fargo-Moorhead business community.

Organized through Emerging Prairie, StartupBREW Fargo brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and community members for networking and conversations about business. The gatherings provide an opportunity for people with different backgrounds and experiences to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

One recent event took place at Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Christianson Alumni Center as part of a StartupBREW takeover day. The event featured guest speakers from the founders of Mint Brand Marketing and Moore AI, giving attendees the opportunity to hear from people working in marketing and artificial intelligence in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Events like StartupBREW give students an opportunity to step outside of their usual campus routines. Networking during college can be an important step toward preparing for a future career, especially for students who are still exploring their professional interests. Meeting business owners and entrepreneurs allows students to learn about different industries, ask questions about specific career paths and begin building professional relationships before entering the workforce.

Conversations with professionals can also help students discover internship opportunities and learn which skills are needed in their desired fields. Even a brief conversation can give students a new perspective on their career goals and help them establish valuable professional connections.

For students studying fields such as marketing, public relations, communications, business and technology, StartupBREW can be a way to connect coursework learning with real-world experiences. Hearing directly from people who have started businesses in the community gives students insight into the challenges, decisions and opportunities involved in starting and running a company.

StartupBREW brings together local entrepreneurs with different backgrounds, giving them an opportunity to share experiences, explore potential collaborations and learn from others in the community.

Unlike networking that happens through formal career fairs or professional conferences, community gatherings like StartupBREW can provide a more informal setting to introduce yourself and learn about other people’s work. Attendees can ask questions, listen to speakers and connect with other people with similar interests.

Along with opportunities to network and hear from local entrepreneurs, the event offered a relaxed atmosphere for attendees. A student performed live music by playing guitar and singing, while free coffee gave attendees a chance to enjoy refreshments and connect with others in the morning. These details helped create a welcoming environment where community members and students could meet new people while learning from local business owners.

For college students looking to become more involved within the Fargo-Moorhead community, attending an event like this can be the first step toward building a professional network. Students do not need to have business ideas or years of experience to participate. Curiosity, a willingness to listen and an interest in meeting new people can be enough to start building connections that may benefit them throughout their careers.

For information about the next StartupBREW event, including dates and locations, visit Emerging Prairie’s StartupBREW Fargo website or follow StartupBREW Fargo on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. The event takes place Wednesday mornings from 8:30am-9:30am.