Ascender

Ascender's 2026 Bootcamp Virtual Info Session
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Connect with the Ascender team and learn more about our 2026 bootcamp program and get all your questions answered.

Join Us for a Virtual Info Session!
Have a business idea, or an early-stage venture, and wondering what your next step should be? Join us for an upcoming virtual info session to learn more about Ascender’s 2026 Bootcamp, a five-day intensive experience equips entrepreneurs with the tools to launch, build, and grow a sustainable business.
This online session is a great opportunity to meet the Ascender team, ask questions, and determine whether Bootcamp is the right fit for you, all from wherever you are.
What You’ll Learn:
🔹 What to expect from Ascender’s Bootcamp 2026
🔹 Who should apply and how to prepare a strong application
🔹 How Bootcamp supports founders through coaching, experts, and hands-on learning
🔹 What happens after Bootcamp and how to stay engaged with Ascender
📅 Virtual Info Session Dates:
• February 4, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• February 20, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💻 Location: Virtual (link provided upon registration)
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey with Ascender. We hope to see you there!
REGISTER HERE

Tech & Law Office Hours with Wei Yu
2026-02-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Navigating legal stuff in the AI era Book a FREE 30-minute session with Wei, an Intellectual Property Attorney. Use this link to schedule a session with Wei.

Monthly Workshop Series: Sales vs. Marketing and how to harness both for success
2026-02-10 06:00 - 19:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
REGISTER HERE

Sales is more than promotion; it’s the structured process of guiding the right customer from interest to long-term loyalty.

Join Ascender for a one-hour hands-on workshop, where we’ll break down what sales really is, how it differs from marketing, and how to build a repeatable sales process for both B2C and B2B businesses. REGISTER HERE
What we’ll cover:

Sales Foundations
Sales Messaging & Pitching
Prospecting & Lead Generation
Customer Success & Retention

Who Should Attend:

Founders and small business owners building a sales process
Early-stage startups selling their first products or services
B2B and B2C entrepreneurs looking to improve conversion and follow-up
Anyone ready to stop “winging it” and build a structured, repeatable sales system

🍢🥂 FOOD & DRINKS INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET
Enjoy refreshing beverages and bites while learning and connecting with other entrepreneurs and Ascender members.
💻 🪑SPEND THE WHOLE DAY WITH US!
Join us before the workshop for a Coworking Day from 9:30 AM – 5 PM.
REGISTER HERE

Product Strategy Office Hours with Mike Capsambelis
2026-02-10 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-24 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-10 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Book a FREE 30-minute session with Mike, Director, Product Management, Google.

Executive Coaching & Business Strategy Office Hours with Erin Bestic
2026-02-11 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Bring your toughest business challenges, half-baked ideas, and “we need this done yesterday” problems. In these candid, action-focused sessions, you’ll get practical, no-fluff guidance from Erin Bestic, a strategist who’s led billion-dollar sales portfolios, overhauled operations, and coached leaders at every stage of growth.
Book your Free 30-Minutes

Marketing & Brand Strategy Office Hours with Madeline Farina
2026-02-12 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-26 12:00 - 14:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Madeline Farina is a Pittsburgh-based marketing consultant who helps founders and small business owners build authentic brands, clarify their message, and create marketing strategies that attract the right customers while staying true to their values. She brings experience across startups, small businesses, and larger organizations, and loves supporting entrepreneurs with the businesses they’re building.
“What to Expect” Overview

– Clarifying their brand and messaging, including ideal customer, positioning, and how to talk about what they do.
– Practical marketing strategy questions such as what to post on social media, how to improve their website, or how to promote an upcoming launch or event.
– Feedback on existing materials like Instagram accounts, websites, email newsletters, or marketing ideas they want to pressure-test.

REGISTER HERE

Founder Feelings Office Hours with Liana Maneese
2026-02-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join Liana Maneese for a supportive and grounding space designed to help founders, creatives, and leaders navigate the emotional, relational, and identity-centered challenges that come with building something meaningful. Drawing from Liberation Psychotherapy, somatic abolitionism, intersectional theory, and a wide range of clinical and creative practices, Liana offers guidance that connects big-picture systemic realities to your everyday lived experience.
As a clinician, historian, writer, and identity navigation specialist, Liana brings a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and deeply human approach to each conversation. Expect a space rooted in radical acceptance, curiosity, and care—one that centers people of the global majority, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, adoptees, and those seeking justice-oriented, relationally aware support.
Topics you can explore during office hours include:

Emotional Resilience & Nervous System Grounding
Imposter Syndrome, Self-Doubt & Self-Trust
Boundaries, Burnout Prevention & Work–Life Balance
Identity, Leadership & Personal Evolution
Purpose Alignment & Meaningful Work
The Emotional Life of Money & Scarcity Patterns
Decision Fatigue, Overwhelm & Reflective Clarity
People, Power & Relational Dynamics in Business and Creative Communities

Whether you’re navigating uncertainty, redefining your identity as your work grows, or seeking more intentional and equitable relationships within your business or creative ecosystem, Liana’s office hours provide a compassionate space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.
REGISTER HERE

Legal Office Hours with Eryn Correa
2026-02-18 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Got questions about formation, equity, or fundraising? Eryn’s your person. Use this link to schedule a session with Eryn.

Ascender's 2026 Bootcamp Virtual Info Session
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:00 | PA
Connect with the Ascender team and learn more about our 2026 bootcamp program and get all your questions answered.

Join Us for a Virtual Info Session!
Have a business idea, or an early-stage venture, and wondering what your next step should be? Join us for an upcoming virtual info session to learn more about Ascender’s 2026 Bootcamp, a five-day intensive experience equips entrepreneurs with the tools to launch, build, and grow a sustainable business.
This online session is a great opportunity to meet the Ascender team, ask questions, and determine whether Bootcamp is the right fit for you, all from wherever you are.
What You’ll Learn:
🔹 What to expect from Ascender’s Bootcamp 2026
🔹 Who should apply and how to prepare a strong application
🔹 How Bootcamp supports founders through coaching, experts, and hands-on learning
🔹 What happens after Bootcamp and how to stay engaged with Ascender
📅 Virtual Info Session Dates:
• February 4, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• February 19, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💻 Location: Virtual (link provided upon registration)
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey with Ascender. We hope to see you there!
REGISTER HERE

People and Culture Office Hours with Ginny Nemchick
2026-02-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Need help with job descriptions, equitable hiring, or management tips? Ginny’s got you. Use this link to schedule a session with Ginny.

Sales Strategy & Growth Office Hours With John Rodella
2026-03-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Sales don’t happen by accident and whether you’re trying to land your first customer or scale your revenue, clarity and structure make all the difference. Join John Rodella for Office Hours focused on helping founders sharpen their sales approach, strengthen their pipeline, and remove the obstacles holding back growth.
With more than 40 years of experience from growing his own company to $10M in annual revenue, to leading a growth sector at Cisco Systems, to investing as an angel John brings practical, real-world insight into what actually drives sales.
During office hours, John can help you:

Clarify what you’re really selling and how to position it
Identify the right customers and how to reach them
Strengthen your sales pipeline and process
Think through sales hiring or team structure
Remove barriers that are slowing your revenue growth
Map clear next steps to move from talking to closing

If you want honest feedback, practical strategy, and a clearer path to revenue, this session is for you.
REGISTER HERE

Monthly Workshop Series: Getting your Finances in Order
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us for a conversation about essential bookkeeping principles with Ascender, Jessica Minkus, and Melanie Rutan

Join Ascender and the Bookminders team: Jessica Minkus and Melanie Rutan for a one-hour seminar to help you take control of your business finances. You’ll learn the core principles of bookkeeping and how to put them into practice—so you can make smarter decisions, stay compliant, and feel confident about your numbers.
We’ll cover how to set up your bookkeeping system, record and categorize transactions properly, and understand key financial statements. You’ll also learn how to account for different types of funding—whether it’s grants, founder contributions, or investments from friends, angels, or venture capitalists. Plus, we’ll share practical tips for staying organized and maintaining accurate records as your business grows.
Who Should Attend:

Founders and small business owners managing their own finances
Early-stage entrepreneurs preparing for funding or growth
Startup teams building financial systems from the ground up
Anyone looking to strengthen their financial literacy and bookkeeping confidence

🍢🥂 FOOD & DRINKS INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET
Enjoy refreshing beverages and bites while learning and connecting with other business owners, coworking members, and community leaders.
REGISTER HERE

Marketing & Brand Strategy Office Hours with Madeline Farina
2026-03-26 12:00 - 14:00 | PA
