Starting a business from scratch in this economy is a daunting prospect to even experienced businesspeople. But apparently, no one told Keegan Hayes.
Hayes, 23, might be only one year out of Siena College, but he’s already basing his professional career on helping startups gain a foothold in the Capital District. He’s founded the Capital Region Entrepreneurs Group (CREG), a networking organization that helps provide resources and advice to local entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their own business. The initial goal of the group was just to get entrepreneurs talking, hearing out each other’s ideas and feeling less alone.
“Entrepreneurship is a lonely business. People don’t necessarily have other people to talk to about the obstacles they are facing or how to get to the next level of business,” said Hayes, a Latham native who earned his bachelor’s degree in business management.
Now that Hayes’ business is in motion, CREG offers monthly networking events, fundraising assistance, workshops and media training courses. It also has a senior advisory team, which temporarily serves as a strategic team until entrepreneurs find the people for their business.
CREG has only been up-and-running as a networking organization for a couple months, but Hayes has had entrepreneurial ideas rolling through his mind for years. While a senior at Siena, he started the Siena College Entrepreneurship Organization to let students get together and talk about their own business ideas. He also started his own company, Legit Posters, where he sold posters designed with school logos directly to colleges.
Earlier this year, Hayes attended a Start-Up Weekend, where entrepreneurs worked together to pitch business ideas to investors throughout one weekend. After networking during the event, Hayes met several other entrepreneurs and local “go-getters” that have spoken about their business to members of CREG.
Although now CREG is looking for paid members ($99 a year buys admission to each networking event for entrepreneurs, discounts to workshops and initial business assessments with tips for start-up businesses) it has more than 100 members on its meetup.com group, which Hayes said helps get the word out.
At the workshops and events, CREG focuses on communication. Last month, CREG held a “Learn How to Pitch Your Business Idea” session that showcased two business pitches and had the audience describe what went well and what didn’t.
“We don’t want to just throw them out in front of the investors,” Hayes said.
Katrin Haldeman, owner of Café Dali Mamma in Cohoes, joined CREG after meeting Hayes over the summer. As a first-time business owner of the young café, Haldeman said CREG is a “valuable resource.”
“A lot of the networking … being able to meet other entrepreneurs who are facing the same challenges … is the biggest benefit. You really feed off of people’s energy,” she said.
Haldeman said one of the main benefits of CREG is the accessibility.
“Keegan is always available with a phone call, email. Having that accessibility to a group that supports you is key,” she said.
Starting his own business with CREG, Hayes said he wants to keep the focus of the group on the smaller, local businesses.
“The Capital Region is no longer just a quiet area. It’s attracting new businesses. The eyes are focused on big business, rather than small business,” Hayes said. “I’m trying to keep some of the focus on the entrepreneurial ecosystem and startups in the area.”
A big dreamer, right now Hayes just wants to be a resource for anyone who needs it. Though he’s still learning himself, he is determined to help others get on their feet.
“I’m not saying I have all of the answers, but people who come to the organization have the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs and be a part of an organization that is created solely for the purpose to help this region grow and business in the area grow,” he said.
CREG will have its monthly “Trep’s Night Out” on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Blu Stone Bistro in Albany. For more information on CREG, visit capitalregioneg.com.