Ascender

Problem Solving Sessions at Ascender
2026-03-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Building a business comes with real challenges, and you don’t have to tackle them alone. Our Problem Solving Sessions create a collaborative space where Ascender members can bring a real business challenge and receive thoughtful feedback and fresh perspectives from fellow founders and the Ascender community.

Held every 3rd Tuesday of each month, come ready to share, listen, and solve together.

Sales Strategy & Growth Office Hours With John Rodella
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

Product Strategy Office Hours with Mike Capsambelis
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.

Brown Bag Lunch at Ascender
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Bring your lunch and join us for a casual, interactive learning experience designed for founders who are actively building. Each session focuses on a practical business topic, broken down at a foundational level so you can learn, ask questions, and walk away with insights you can immediately implement. Along the way, you’ll connect with fellow Ascender members, meet new founders, and share real experiences from your entrepreneurial journey.
Happening the last Wednesday of every month, come grow, learn, and build community with us.

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

Member Event: Cornhole Tournament
2026-04-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Game on, Ascenders! Join us for Ascender’s Cornhole Tournament where bragging rights are on the line and friendly competition is highly encouraged. Team up, test your aim, and battle it out in a high-energy showdown filled with laughs, trash talk (the friendly kind), and community connection. Whether you’re a seasoned cornhole champ or a confident rookie, this tournament is your chance to rep your skills, meet fellow members, and claim ultimate Ascender glory. Bags fly, scores rise, may the best team win! 🏆
