PROVIDENCE – A new group, the Rhode Island Coalition of Entrepreneurs, announced the launch of its website recently, according to AmericanInno.com, an innovation organization. The new coalition, led by Pat Sabatino, founder and CEO of Datarista of Providence, is aimed at boosting Rhode Island’s startup ecosystem.
The group is open to any founder or CEO of a high-growth startup in the state. As of now, it is not registered as a 501(c)(3) or charging for membership.
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“We aim to aggregate physical, intellectual, and financial capital to assist new companies that want to start and grow in Rhode Island, which will lead to new direct and indirect employment opportunities for Rhode Islanders,” reads RICE’s mission statement. “By enabling innovative companies to get off the ground we will motivate talent retention. We want the money Rhode Island startups raise to be spent in state when possible.”
The organization also plans to create a bridge between entrepreneurs’ needs and local government, corporations and other institutions, with a strict definition of startups to ensure genuine representation and service, Sabatino says.
Sabatino told AmericanInno.com that 35 startups are already on board as members. The group would like to not only establish a cohesive community for innovators, but also encourage aspiring entrepreneurs by providing resources, coaching and mentors, with strength in numbers.
“One of the things that has always struck me as odd is most entrepreneurs here in town don’t know each other,” Sabatino said. “I’ve had instances of talking to people who had adjacent products and offices less than a mile apart and they didn’t know each other.”
Sabatino started Datarista, a platform-as-a-service company focusing on the sales and marketing industry, in 2015. He’s hosted RICE’s first three meetings in Datarista’s office.
“We are a new organization and we don’t have a firm agenda yet,” Sabatino told the innovation group. “It’s a great time to join, be heard and help shape the path.”
RICE’s website is at RICoalition.org.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
