Intern Welcome Lunch
2025-06-04 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Onboarding an intern this summer? Or are you an intern? Come meet the other interns and host sites that will be a part of the Ascender community this summer and let us feed you. RSVP by Thursday, May 22nd here or via email at info@ascenderpgh.com if you or your intern are planning on attending and let us know if you have any allergies or restrictions we should know of.

Legal with Eryn Correa
2025-06-04 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-13 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.

Technology & Law with Wei Yu
2025-06-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-10 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-14 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.

Voices of Business Speaker Series: Let’s Talk AI and Websites
2025-06-17 09:30 - 11:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join entrepreneurs Tori Mistick, founder of Wear Wag Repeat, and Meesha Gerhart, founder of RedTree Web Design, for a real-world conversation on how generative AI and websites can work together to improve the user experience and website performance. From strategic insights to personal stories, you’ll learn how business owners use AI to clarify their brand, improve content, analyze user data, and make their websites more accessible and work harder, without having a technology background.
REGISTER HERE!
Free For Ascender Members with the code provided on our latest Member newsletter or message us!

Thoughts From an Angel (Investor)
2025-07-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join Ascender for an insightful discussion on navigating the world of angel investing. Hear from Derrick L. Maultsby Jr., a corporate attorney and business advisor with deep expertise in venture-backed startups and high-growth industries, and Wolf Starr, a champion for underrepresented founders and architect of impact-driven venture funds. Together, they’ll explore what angel investors are really looking for, how to find the right fit for your business, and how to build lasting investor relationships that fuel growth.Who Should Attend:

Early-stage entrepreneurs exploring funding options
Founders seeking angel investment to grow their business
Underrepresented or overlooked founders looking for equitable access to capital
Small business owners preparing to scale
Startup teams building investor-ready strategies
Aspiring founders curious about the fundraising landscape
Business advisors and support organizations assisting startups
Anyone interested in learning how to align with the right investors

🍢🥂 FREE FOOD & DRINKS
Enjoy refreshing beverages and light bites while learning and connecting with other business owners, coworking members, and community leaders.

Snack & Test with Korion Health
2025-07-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Come help an Ascender Incubator Alumni. Korion Health is testing the user experience of navigating a respiratory session via its mobile app, and any friction points that arise when holding a stethoscope while using the app.
📅 Thursday, July 10
🕛 11 AM – 1 PM
💳 $20 Amazon gift card or donation to Birmingham Free Clinic
All ages + backgrounds welcome!

Fogo De Chao: Networking Happy Hour
2025-07-16 17:30 - 20:30 | Fogo de Chao, 525 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Join us for a Networking Happy Hour in Partnership with
ALPFA, Ascender, Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Latinas en PGH, Three Rivers Business Alliance
Fogo de Chao on July 16th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Members: $15
Non-Members: $20
Network and mingle while enjoying all the flavors of Brazil in a more casual atmosphere. Unwind with friends over craft cocktails and carefully selected wines. Attendees will enjoy Brazilian-inspired appetizers.

Coach Donald: Strategic Planning Office Hours
2025-07-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Strategic Thinking w/ AI
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.

HR with Ginny Nemchick
2025-07-22 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.

Pictionary Happy Hour
2025-07-24 16:30 - 18:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Come play Pictionary on the big whiteboard with the Ascender team and your fellow members. There will be drinks and mocktails to sip and snacks to munch on!

Product Strategy Office Hours with Mike Capsambelis
2025-07-25 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-15 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-09-12 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-10-07 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.

Mastering Customer Discovery: Qualifiers & Questions That Drive Sales
2025-08-19 18:00 - 19:30
Join Ascender and our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Tammy Szijarto,for a virtual workshop that will level up your customer discovery game. Learn how to better identify, understand, and connect with your target audience through smarter questions and sharper insights.
Who Should Attend:

Early-stage entrepreneurs
Small business owners
Aspring founders
Sales and marketing leads
Founders refining product-market fit
Anyone conducting user research or customer interviews

Anyone interested in learning how to align with the right investors

Our workshop concludes with our monthly Founder’s Circle, where founders answer two questions:

What do you need?
What’s a recent win?

🎟️ 🎟️ GRAB YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Strategic Planning Office Hours with Coach Donald
2025-08-21 09:00 - 17:00 | 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!

East End Brewing Happy Hour
2025-08-21 17:00 - 18:30 | East End Brewing, 147 Julius St, Pittsburgh, PA, PA, 15206, United States
Come hang out with fellow members at East End Brewing—first round’s on Ascender!

People and Culture Office Hours with Ginny Nemchick
2025-08-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States

Monthly Workshop Series: Obtaining Warm Introductions to Potential Sales Leads
2025-09-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join Ascender for a hands-on session on how to turn your network into real sales opportunities. Hear from Ascender’s Entrepreneur Success Manager, Donald Robinson.

We’ll cover practical strategies for identifying the right people you need to reach, mapping your current connections, and building a follow-up cadence that works—whether by email, phone, or in person. You’ll also learn how to balance tactics like outreach and lead generation with strategies that position you as a thought leader, attracting prospects through content, consultations, and industry presence.
Finally, we’ll break down the best channels for different types of businesses.

Who Should Attend:

Founders and small business owners looking to grow their customer base
Entrepreneurs ready to refine their sales and networking strategies
Service providers eager to build credibility and attract inbound leads
Startup teams exploring the most effective sales channels for their industry
Professionals wanting to strengthen their business development approach
Business advisors and support organizations assisting client growth

🍢🥂 FREE FOOD & DRINKS
Enjoy refreshing beverages and light bites while learning and connecting with other business owners, coworking members, and community leaders.

💻 🪑SPEND THE WHOLE DAY WITH US!
Join us before the workshop for a Coworking Day from 9:30 AM – 5 PM.
REGISTER HERE

Latine Mini Grant Application Info Session
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join Us for our Latine Mini-Grant Info Session!
Are you a Latine entrepreneur ready to access funding and resources to fuel your business? Join us for an info session where we’ll walk you through the details of the Latine Mini-Grant Application. This is your chance to ask questions, learn about eligibility, and understand how this grant can support your growth.

What You’ll Learn:
🔹 How the Latine Mini-Grant works
🔹 Who’s eligible to apply
🔹 Tips for submitting a strong application
🔹 How funding will be distributed to recipients
Register Here

Annual Ascender Member Picnic
2025-09-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Melon Spray Park
Join us at the pavilion by Mellon Spray Park on Tuesday, September 16, from 5–7 p.m. We’ll provide food, drinks, music, and games—but feel free to bring a dessert or snack to share. Please RSVP by September 3 via Slack or by emailing Sam at info@ascenderpgh.com, and let us know of any dietary restrictions.

Executive Coaching & Business Strategy Office Hours with Erin Bestic
2025-09-17 10:00 - 13:00
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

Legal Office Hours with Eryn Correa
2025-09-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States

Tech & Law Office Hours with Wei Yu
2025-09-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Ascender, 6401 Penn Ave 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States

Ascender's Big Burrito Benefit Dinner at Soba
2025-09-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Soba, 5847 Ellsworth Ave, pittsburgh, PA, 15232, United States
Join Ascender at Soba, a cozy neighborhood Asian fusion spot, for an evening of conversation and community as we share dinner and celebrate our mission to empower Pittsburgh’s founders. Guests will enjoy unique dinner and beverage pairings while hearing about the vision of Ascender’s entrepreneur hub and the future of Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Seating is limited to 25 for this intimate evening.
The restaurant and lounge are located in a richly appointed brick Shadyside rowhouse. With its cascading waterfall, glass staircase, and hand-painted murals, this beautiful space draws guests into plush comfort and a gentle mystery. Please note that dinner takes place in an intimate upstairs dining room, and due to its architecture, Soba does not have an elevator.
RSVP HERE
