The Pittsburgh, PA-based SOB Event Services has been hosting monthly Pilsen SMB events since 2021. These highly-professional, business-focused events are designed to bring together businesses and consumers for networking, product awareness, sales and support. The most successful of these gatherings feature professional speakers, breakout sessions, hands-on workshops, and market training. Attendees are encouraged to mingle, socialize, and learn while enjoying a delicious lunch or cocktail.
Pittsburgh is the world’s fifth largest city. Located within Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County, the city is home to more than three-quarters of the state’s population. Large numbers of outlying communities and rural areas are within the city limits. Pittsburgh’s metropolitan area boasts the nation’s youngest population, with people born in the eighties. Because of this, there is an influx of fresh youth and inexperience in the workforce, creating a need for events that can help them transition from city life into the career mode. The Pilsen SMB event facilitates this transformation through professional business leadership seminars, social networking activities, and a series of workshops and events that are designed to connect fresh talent to industry leaders and industry newcomers to the local culture.
The Pilsen SMB has been facilitating networking opportunities for food entrepreneurs since the late eighties. As foodservice has become a separate sector within the restaurant and hospitality industry in the U.S., many entrepreneurs are seeking new avenues for growth and expansion. This often means finding creative ways to connect with target customers, especially in metropolitan areas where food is an ever-growing trend. In addition, Pittsburgh is a city with a thriving culinary community. There are many professional restaurants and bars within a 30-mile radius of downtown Pittsburgh, and the neighboring cities of Lackaween and Washington, D.C.
Pittsburgh’s neighboring cities, including West Lawn and Highland Park, offer another venue for food entrepreneurs to expand their businesses. Even though there are no public transportation options from the city to the suburbs, most of the closest metro areas offer parking and transportation services to the restaurants within walking distance. This makes it possible to bring people downtown for a networking opportunity without having to worry about whether or not their car is ready. And if entrepreneurs cannot drive themselves to the venue of their choice, they can always call upon the local bus service to pick them up.
An additional benefit of attending the Pilsen SMB events is that they provide a venue for networking among industry peers and potential business partners. In addition to speaking to industry leaders at the conferences, these entrepreneurs can also meet with other food entrepreneurs who can share insight on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to opening new establishments. They can network with each other to find the best routes for business growth, both within the Pittsburgh area and nationwide. By regularly attending these events and participating in the networking opportunities, food entrepreneurs can ensure that they are always ready to launch new ventures.
Participating in the Pilsen SMB events also allows entrepreneurs to see what other types of events are going on in the area. If there are other companies that are holding regular events, they may be a good fit for the entrepreneurs to attend. Asking other companies for referrals to local events, such as a Chamber of Commerce or a restaurant association, can help further solidify an interested entrepreneur’s niche. And as the number of Pittsburgh-area SMBs continues to grow, it will become increasingly easier for these entrepreneurs to find opportunities that match their specific skill set and interests. They can then expand their networks to help them get in front of other potential business partners.
