The Bellevue Entrepreneur Alliance

Meetup Reviews

Reviews from
June Entrepreneur Meetup on Wednesday Jun 23, 2010

Meetup Rating
4.004

Attendees
7
I think we need a moderator for future meet-ups to ensure that each person gets some value out of the experience & gets to share or talk a bit more equally.
— Joel A. Robinson
I thought this was a great group with diverse perspectives and spirited discussions. Hopefully everyone got what they came for...and more!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
Reviews from
May Entrepreneurial Coffee Talk on Thursday May 6, 2010

Meetup Rating
4.503

Attendees
10
This was a very good and spirited meeting with a lot of ideas being shared. I believe everyone walked away with value and some things to consider and apply. I certainly plan to attend more.
— Wayne Ottum
I enjoyed meeting everyone and getting the chance to brainstorm some ideas & solutions to some of the questions & problems members face. When I get to the point where I've got a business of my own, being able to bounce problems I'm facing off a group like this would be really helpful.
— Joel A. Robinson
Great group of people in an intimate atmosphere. There were about 10 of us there, each with a different but complementary perspective. I highly encourage you to check out these meetups!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
Reviews from
March 2010 Entrepreneurial Coffee Talk on Tuesday Apr 6, 2010

Meetup Rating
4.004

Attendees
14
I wasn't sure what to expect but totally enjoyed the meeting. I can see some great connections and mentoring within the group and look forward to more meetings. Remember Mother's Day May 9th -- send chocolate! Valencia Wolf The Chocolate Seduction Club
— Valencia Wolf
Great group of people and great conversation!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
I enjoyed the meetup. Like to see more of these. Like to see some guest speakers if you can swing it. Something like business trends, etc.
— Lionel Godolphin
Reviews from
Bellevue Entrepreuer Meetup in conjunction with the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce on Monday Jun 29, 2009

Meetup Rating
4.507

Attendees
26
I was very happy to have a place like the "Meetup" to attend. I was very happy to hear of the services offered to us from the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. I will be making use of these. It was also good to meet different people. I would have liked to have heard from everyone who attended about their business. This would have helped to know who to talk to.
— E. Cochrane
Thought it was a great venue and Wayne Ottum did a great job presenting Bellevue Entrepreneur Center's resources. Will come back to the Village and fine tune our meetup format.
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
It was very helpful. I enjoyed mingling with a diverse crowd.
— Jon Chin
Great information from Wayne and the BEC. Nice people, and I was able to find some resources our company is in need of. Thanks for organizing.
— Josh Marti
Reviews from
April Entrepreneur Meetup on Thursday Apr 23, 2009

Meetup Rating
4.504

Attendees
19
Great mix of people, all with great energy and enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to the next meetup!
— Tina Toburen
Great people, great discussions and the ideas were flowing. With regular meetings, I think the group can help each other in driving their businesses/ideas to the next level.
— Jon Sumple
The people were interesting. Experience marred by meeting place noise.
— Steve Baker
Reviews from
Entrepreneurs to the Rescue Part 2: Economic crisis-related February BEM Meetup on Saturday Feb 7, 2009

Meetup Rating
4.503

Attendees
10
A small, intimate group that shared a lot of practical advice today. How can you not be inspired and move forward with your business?
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
Small but mighty... an excellent exchange of good information... shared by all
— David P Pauling
Reviews from
Entrepreneurs to the Rescue! Economic crisis-related January BEM Meetup on Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Meetup Rating
4.006

Attendees
16
I have to say that I was disappointed in this meetup. I was expecting a bit more structure and that discussion topics would remain focused on the topic. I was also expecting to hear more from each person, not just about their business or business idea, but what is challenging them right now with respect to the economic slump. I was interested to hear what others are experiencing, then brainstorming, as a group, as to possible solutions. I expected more specifics relating directly to the economic climate. This was my first business related meetup, so maybe my expectations need an adjustment. Personal introductions were almost nonexistent, so immediately, I felt no connection to anyone, which might have contributed to the disappointment. I appreciate the effort to organize a business group. I hope my comments are constructive in shaping future meetings.
— Cindy Amos
We had about 11 people out of 16 attend, which turned out to be a pretty good number. The 16 person room in the Bellevue library is a good place to have a meetup like that. We had some spirited discussion, which was good to get people motivated. Negativity was tempered by enthusiasm, and vice versa, which created a good balance. We kind of game planned how we were going to approach this current recession with our businesses. Clearly, now was not the time for no-holds-barred growth, but it also isn't the time to hide in a cave. Collaboration and "making something out of nothing" were two themes that emerged as something we as a business community needed to improve one. Despite the downturn, we are all still and business and relatively optimistic about the future. Stay tuned for future meetups as we hash out a plan to grow our businesses, create job, and help America get on track for economic recovery.
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
My first but certainly not my last with this group... the banter was motivated by doses of euphoria tempered by reality. I gave as good as I got and hopefully we all benefited.
— David P Pauling
Reviews from
November Entrepreneur Meetup on Wednesday Nov 26, 2008

Meetup Rating
4.003

Attendees
12
a very interesting and diverse group!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
I was very happy with the meet-up. I felt people opened up and truly shared both hopes, fears, and desires. The passion shared was great! I believe bonds are being formed, and the creative juices were starting to flow. I thank all of you for you for the insight you shared with us all. Robert Griffin, Michael and Fernando " U-Bless "
— Robert Griffin
Reviews from
Bellevue Entrepreneur Meetup Rescheduled October Meetup on Thursday Oct 30, 2008

Meetup Rating
4.503

Attendees
13
We had around 14 people, all great entrepreneurs. Everybody had an interesting business which made for lively discussion, and we'll add some new things to the formula to spice things up next month!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
Reviews from
The Bellevue Entrepreneur September Meetup on Wednesday Sep 24, 2008

Meetup Rating
4.505

Attendees
26
Excellent group, lots of diversity of ideas and people, hope to see as good a group next month!
— Sean McClinton (Organizer)
It was my first experience attending and I was impressed by the group diversity. There is a problem with people not being loud enough in there talking as well as speaking clearly - this affects others who have challenges with hearing etc - especially in a large room that has echos.
— Donna Cutler

Bellevue, WA

Founded Apr 17, 2007

Read more about us…

We're about:

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Organizer:

**Update for The Bellevue Entrepreneur Network in 2010**

Hi Everyone, thank you for being patient while this group was under redesign in the last half of 2009. As you'll notice, Bellevue Entrepreneur Meetup is now Bellevue Entrepreneur Network. The new name more accurately reflects the purpose of the group. While we still meet in person, networking online through meetup, social networking sites, etc. is a big part of what we do.

Mission Statement:

1) To help local founder-owned businesses grow and become more profitable.

2) To provide a supportive environment for entrepreneurs to get together.

3) To serve as a connector to resources that will help your business grow, including other business networks, government organizations, free help and more.

4) To be a place where you can learn, be inspired, and teach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) Q: Why should I join the Bellevue Entrepreneur Network?
A: Bellevue is a hot bed of entrepreneurship. You might think that the reason behind this is because Bellevue is a wealthy community. While this is part of the story, the visionary thinking (think Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, etc.) work ethic (RABANCO, COSTCO, etc.) and drive to achieve (Boeing, Nordstrom, etc.) have been major reasons why the individuals in this area have created businesses of lasting value. What's more, Bellevue was just voted the best place to live and start a business according to CNN:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best...

2) Q: What do we do at BEN?
A: We do a combination of events and online interaction all designed to help our businesses grow. Regular in person meetups and events plus social networking are two excellent tools to use in growing your small business.

3) Q: What kind of resources does BEN provide?
A: BEN can direct you to the right organization or individual to take your business to the next level. Often times, a member of BEN may have just what you've been looking for in the form of a partner, information, or capital. Here is a list of resources to get you started:

http://www.meetup.com/bellevueentrepreneur/messages/board...

4) Q: What kinds of businesses and people belong to BEN?
A: BEN encompasses and promotes diversity of business and people. Click below to see some of our member businesses:

http://www.juststartbellevue.com

5) Q: Does BEN do social media?
A: Yes, here are links to Bellevue Entrepreneur Meetup's social networking sites:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=...

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/bventrepreneurs

6) Q: Does it cost money to be a part of BEN?
A: Right now, membership in BEN is free. Occasionally we will charge for events to cover our costs. We guarantee you will see a return in the value you receive from attending these events.

7) Q: How often does BEN meet?
A: In 2010, we will aim for monthly meetings.

Here's to business success,

Sean McClinton
Organizer, The Bellevue Entrepreneur Meetup