Ascender

Tech & Law Office Hours with Wei Yu
2025-10-23 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-18 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-05 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Member’s Spooky Breakfast
2025-10-28 09:00 - 10:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
We’ll have both healthy and unhealthy options for those who want to indulge and some spooky movies on the projector all morning. Costumes not required, but wouldn’t it be fun if you wore one?
RSVP w/ Sam

Strategic Planning Office Hours with Coach Donald
2025-10-30 10:30 - 12:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Whether you’re preparing for a big decision, rethinking your business model, or just trying to get unstuck, these office hours are designed to meet you where you are. Bring your business challenges—big or small—and walk away with clarity, a sharper path forward, and tools you can reuse.
Register Here!

People and Culture Office Hours with Ginny Nemchick
2025-11-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-16 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.

Executive Coaching & Business Strategy Office Hours with Erin Bestic
2025-11-12 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-11 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-07 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-14 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

Product Strategy Office Hours with Mike Capsambelis
2025-11-18 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-02 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-16 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-30 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-13 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-27 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.

Member Potluck
2025-11-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us for our annual Fall Potluck in the Flex Lounge! We’ll provide the entrée, but feel free to wow us with your best sides, appetizers, or desserts.
Please RSVP by emailing info@ascenderpgh.com and let us know of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Mid-point Presentations: Members Only
2025-11-18 17:00 - 20:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Hey members! You may already know, Ascender’s Incubator is a year-long coaching program designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop strong strategies and build the confidence to move forward from idea to launch. The program hosts an annual Mid-Point Presentation, where participating companies present their businesses to panelists, receive real-time feedback, and showcase their progress.
You’ll hear from 11 companies as they deliver their presentations, followed by feedback and Q&A. If you’re interested and can join us, please email Ummey@ascenderpgh.com by Monday November 10, 2025.

📅 Date & Time: Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 from: 5:15 PM – 8pm | optional dinner available at 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Ascender – 6401 Penn Ave, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
👶 Childcare: No childcare will be provided.

Legal Office Hours with Eryn Correa
2025-11-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-17 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.

Member Holiday Party
2025-12-04 17:30 - 20:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
We’re closing out 2025 the best way we know how—by celebrating YOU and our entire community of entrepreneurs! Now let’s have some fun!

Snack & Test with The Mosaic Institute
2025-12-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Help Test the CurioCity Play Symposium
Dec. 9th | 6-8 PM
The Mosaic Institute is testing its new program MVP, the CurioCity Play Symposium a creative experience for Teaching Artists and Creatives working with justice-involved youth. Participants will walk through the program and share quick feedback on what’s most valuable.
Incentive:
All participants will receive a thank-you gift for taking part.
REGISTER HERE

Members Event: Hot Cocoa Bar
2026-01-13 11:30 - 13:30 | PA
Enjoy 4–5 tasting stations featuring unique hot cocoas inspired by different global traditions. Each station offers its own cultural twist, flavors, and fun pairings—perfect for exploring something new while connecting with fellow members.

Monthly Workshop Series: Marketing Strategy Implementation
2026-01-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us for a conversation about branding and marketing channels for startups with Maddi Love

Join Ascender and Maddi Love for a one-hour workshop designed to help founders, creative leads, and early-stage teams develop a marketing strategy that resonates with your audience and drives meaningful results.
What we’ll cover:

🧩 Branding 101: More Than Just a Logo – Learn to craft a clear and compelling Brand Statement.
📣 Marketing 101: Messaging & Storytelling – Create messaging briefs tailored to different audiences or customer segments.
🚀 Marketing Channels for Startups: B2C & B2B -Learn how to craft messaging that connects with consumers’ feelings, lifestyle, and identity, and evaluate channels that work best for B2B: LinkedIn, content marketing, email, partnerships, warm intros, networking, etc.

Who Should Attend:

Founders and early-stage entrepreneurs working to shape their brand identity
Small business owners or service providers launching or refining their marketing strategy
Startup teams ready to get clear on messaging, positioning, and channel strategy

🍢🥂 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

Founder Feelings Office Hours with Liana Maneese
2026-01-15 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

Ascender's 2026 Bootcamp Virtual Info Session
2026-02-04 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 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

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

Member's Event: Valentines Day Breakfast
2026-02-10 09:30 - 11:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Kick off your morning with a build-your-own breakfast bar, meaningful connections, and a little community love. This gathering is designed to bring founders together in a relaxed, welcoming space where you can share wins, meet fellow entrepreneurs, and make intentional connections based on what you’re building and what you need right now. Come for the food, stay for the conversations, and leave feeling supported, inspired, and connected to the Ascender community.
Build-Your-Own Breakfast Bar – Menu

Pancakes or Waffles or French Toast
Eggs
Hashbrowns
Turkey bacon
Fruit salad
Drinks
