Ecologists have determined that trees are social creatures. Through an interconnected soil network of mycorrhizal fungi, trees transmit critical messages about the health of the forest environment. Embedded in this evolutionary behavior is an important lesson: individual survival can be strengthened by being part of something larger than oneself.
Entrepreneurship, at times, may feel both lonely and freeing – and as intimidating as it is exciting. Founders face acute levels of uncertainty, responsibility, and doubt. Few in your social or professional network will understand the unique challenges of launching your own business, so it’s important to find folks who get it — who have walked in your shoes and know how to help.
This is the philosophy behind “roundtables,” an MFN program that allows founders to exchange information about their startup ecosystem (much like those forest connections noted above). These monthly virtual meetups provide critical opportunities for Massachusetts-based founders to connect, collaborate, and find community with other innovators in their sector. Unlike conventional networking events, roundtables provide a structure to sustain and kindle these relationships over time. With cohorts no larger than 6 members and a built-in loop of feedback and accountability, roundtables cultivate authentic, enduring relationships and catalyze innovative new ideas.
Andrew Fitch, MFN’s Community Engagement Manager, facilitates every roundtable, but he takes a pointedly passive approach to this role. “I really try to keep my mouth shut and let the conversation flow,” he explains. “Generally, founders don’t need any help engaging.”
Andrew usually initiates each roundtable with the same two questions: (1) What is a challenge your startup is facing this month? (2) What can we do to help? From there, every conversation takes a unique shape according to the needs of its members. Common themes include fundraising strategies, marketing tools, customer service practices, and tips for working with business partners. These discussions allow entrepreneurs to learn from each other’s failures, while also providing a rare chance to share in each other’s success.
MFN puts tremendous care into curating thoughtful, cohesive cohorts, breaking up roundtables first by sector, then by company stage, and sometimes by region in Massachusetts. Roundtable themes have included early-stage ClimateTech, Western MA ClimateTech, HealthTech, and early-stage HealthTech. Andrew says he is keen to expand MFN’s roundtable program in both scope and reach, beginning with the launch of an Applied AI roundtable in the coming months. “MFN is industry-agnostic,” he notes. “If there isn’t an existing roundtable for your company’s sector, reach out and we will set one up.”
Andrew describes roundtables as “safe spaces,” and believes that devoting just 60 minutes every month to forging your founder community can be as powerful an investment of time as you can make. Roundtable cohorts work collaboratively to inform, expand, and inspire each member’s startup journey — and, when the road gets rocky, this support can mean the difference between charging forward and giving up.
Roundtables also provide MFN with valuable data about what founders actually need. The powerful, personal testimonies that founders share in roundtables help inform MFN’s programming and content, allowing us to make it deliberate, specific, and tailored to real-time needs. “Joining a roundtable is one of the most effective ways to help MFN help you,” Andrew notes. He adds that there are only two restrictions on joining a roundtable: (a) you are based in Massachusetts, and (b) you are a member of MFN.
Mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous in nearly every forest environment. MFN hopes to mirror this symbiosis by creating a vibrant sense of community across the Commonwealth — and roundtables represent an excellent place for founders to begin. “They are always uplifting,” Andrew says, reflecting on the many roundtable conversations he has facilitated. “Everyone always leaves with a smile on their face.”
Are you working to find community and opportunity as a Massachusetts startup founder? Join MFN and get access to experts, networking opportunities, and connections within the statewide entrepreneur ecosystem.
