City Seeks Entrepreneur in Residence to Guide StartUp Lakewood Program

After seven years of service, Mike Belsito is stepping down as the City’s Entrepreneur in Residence. Over those seven years, Mike built the StartUp Lakewood program into a dynamic engine for business creation, and a comfortable place for entrepreneurs to share ideas. Businesses such as Little Lakewood Pasta Company, PlayGrounds, GoodKind Coffee, and several more have benefitted from Mike’s time and effort with StartUp Lakewood.

The new Entrepreneur in Residence will assist Lakewood entrepreneurs in business creation, maintenance and expansion. The EIR’s goal is to compliment Lakewood’s efforts to create a culture of entrepreneurship that yields small, growing enterprises in the city and maintains connections to resources that strengthen entrepreneurship. Core functions of StartUp Lakewood must be maintained, including Office Hours, StartUp U speaker series, the annual Ideation Challenge, and interface with the City Planning Department. However, the new EIR will have the opportunity to take the group in new directions as well.

The ideal candidate is a Lakewood resident who has demonstrated success in commercializing ideas and/or operating business. This person would have the time and capacity to execute monthly events and to hold office hours for local entrepreneurs. The ideal candidate has connections within the local and regional entrepreneur community who can be leveraged to serve as mentors, speakers, and experts for the group.

Click here for more specific information on how to apply to be Lakewood’s next Entrepreneur in Residence.