Over 120 Attend First Ever BizTalk Event

Last Thursday some 120 people gathered in the hall of Chovevei Torah for a special event: BizTalk 14. The latest installment of Crown Heights Young Entrepreneur’s series of networking events, BizTalk gave community members the chance to learn from fourteen different successful business-men and women as well as to network with each other.

The highlight of the evening was an inspirational talk by Moshe Weiss, the Minnesota based entrepreneur whose Soundbender was successfully funded on ABC’s Shark Tank. Both sides of the mechitza were filled to capacity as attendees eagerly listened to Weiss.

“I encourage each and every one of you to take the passion you have, whatever it is, and advance it,” Weiss said.

“Take risks,” he continued. “People may tell you, ‘people don’t do that…’ But guess what? If you do it, then people do!”

Following Weiss’s speech attendees were able to take part in some 14 round-table discussions.

Yosef Hershkop, who works for MDcapsule.com, a digital health startup, was excited by what he learned at BizTalk.

“We came to hear to really bring my work to the next level,” he said. “Events like this are one of the best ways to get good ideas.”

Addressing the crowd, Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, the founder and director of CHYE, encouraged attendees to to follow their dreams.

“We’re here to for all of your startup needs,” Werde said. “I encourage all of you: don’t think small, think big!”

Following a successful set of programming over the winter — Werde noted that CHYE had hosted an event practically every other week in the past few months — two new tools were announced for the Crown Heights startup community: an “ask the expert” program and a business knowledge base. Details of both will be listed on CHYE.com

BizTalk was sponsored by Urban Pads, The Kosher Clipper, Levites, Mendy Glick, Crown TV, and Wine by the Case.

Photos by Baruch Ezagui

Rabbi Yehoshua Werde: