Igniting Innovation: A Look Back at Founder Velocity

‍

Escape Velocity officially launched the next chapter of Connecticut’s startup story at Founder Velocity, a dynamic event that brought together founders, partners, and innovation leaders from across the state.

Hosted at Trinity College, the night buzzed with energy, collaboration, and bold ideas, setting the stage for the launch of Escape Velocity Partners, which is designed to provide founders with the resources, mentorship, and capital they need to scale their businesses.

Founders in the Hot Seat

One of the night’s most memorable moments came from our “hot seat” sessions, where early-stage founders stepped into the spotlight to share their journeys, challenges, and visions for growth. Their openness and drive embodied the spirit of Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem - fearless, ambitious, and ready to build.

These stories weren’t just inspiring - they reinforced why Escape Velocity exists: to help turn bold ideas into thriving ventures.

“Escape Velocity is a program designed to help early-stage scalable companies here in Connecticut raise capital, launch and scale, and stay in Connecticut. That’s a big goal we’re trying to do.” - Rob Zielonka, CEO, Escape Velocity

A Collaborative Movement

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible partners and supporters who are investing in the future of entrepreneurship in Connecticut:

• Trinity College: anchor partner in building a stronger innovation ecosystem
  
  
• McCarter & English, LLP: event sponsor and long-time supporter of founders
  
  
• Umergence, Partners on Prospect, SumatoSoft, DNA Marketing, FORGE, and countless others who share our vision of accelerating early-stage growth

And of course, a heartfelt thank you to the brilliant Escape Velocity team, including Rob Zielonka, Jax Higgins, David Logan, Danny Mendoza, and Michael Heiser, whose dedication and leadership brought this event to life.

Building the Future of Connecticut Innovation

Founder Velocity was more than a gathering - it was a spark.

A spark for a movement that will give early-stage founders a new kind of accelerator: one powered by AI, capital, community, and access. A movement rooted in Connecticut, but designed to make waves far beyond state lines.

To everyone who joined us: thank you for being part of the momentum. The future of innovation here is bright - we’re just getting started! 

Join the Movement

Are you a founder with a bold idea? An investor ready to help shape what’s next? A partner who believes in building a stronger startup ecosystem? Follow us on LinkedIn for more events and founder stories.

‍