Last Friday morning, I woke up early to call LIC Market to let them know a party of 7 people were coming in for breakfast.  It's my favorite brunch place and it can get quite busy.  I had some very important people coming this breakfast, so I didn't want to mess it up.

When I arrived, I was delighted to know that over half my guests had already been seated and we comfortably had the whole restaurant to ourselves.

This breakfast was the brainchild that came from me and a new friend of mine, Jorge Torres.  While meeting over a panini to discuss the adventures of startup capital, we soon realized that we're both residents of Long Island City.  I clasped my hand to my chest, tilted my head and said to Jorge,

"I have a heart for LIC!".  

"I do too!" he said.  

After gabbing about our favorite LIC spots, Jorge pitched me this idea of starting an LIC Tech Breakfast: an intimate event where founders of startups can sit down, share about their needs and and help each other be better entrepreneurs.  I was immediately sold.  We shook hands and the LIC TB was born.  

Our first breakfast went really well.  We hope to start a tradition that whenever you bring a new guest, you introduce them to the group.  I love this idea.  Just feels more personal and fun.  Jorge and I took a few minutes each to warmly introduce each guest with some short stories and a brief description of their startups. Our guests were

Rodrigo Fuentes, Co-Founder & CEO Dejamor

Ben Guttmann, CEO at Digital Natives Group

Richard Seewald, Partner, Alpha Associates

Peter Lada, CTO, Founder at Easy Pairings and

Amol Sarva, Co-founder of Peek and Virgin Mobile USA  

One thing Jorge mentioned that we want these breakfasts be smaller and focused on company founders.  Founders are the backbone of growth a community and really bare the weight of driving innovation and change in the world.  But the road of a founder is a lonely and treacherous one.  Since perception is reality, many times founders are forced to suppress concerns and downplay real issues that their businesses face.  We want these breakfasts to be a safe place where founders can share openly without having to "pitch or puff" to the outside world.  I sincerely hope we're able to continue this tradition and be that supportive group that founders so desperately need. 

On top of the ever so popular Beer Garden, there are great things in LIC.  Especially in areas of real estate and tech, more things are happening every year. 

I love LIC.  The rent is decent, the food is great and there are many talented artists hiding out in the neighborhoods.  I know LIC will soon become a destination for New Yorkers.  And for the record, LIC is in Queens.  Yes, Queens.

Thanks for reading!

@audreyhtan

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