Greater Nexus(89-14 Parsons Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432, USA) (New York)
100 attendees
CommunitiesArtificial Intelligence
Ambition is big, resources are tight, and the path rarely looks like a highlight reel. Building in 2026 means shipping through constraints, competing with legacy players, and carrying the emotional load that comes with long runways to traction. The founders who break through turn limits into lenses: they prioritize cleanly, pivot with intention, and cultivate communities that sustain the work between milestones. This conversation centers those in-between moments and turns them into a playbook.
đŻ Why You Should Attend
Turn limited resources into leverage so you can punch above your weight.
Use nimbleness as an edge with speed, focus, and tight feedback loops to outmaneuver bigger teams.
Build a resilient, consistent mindset for entering bigger markets and facing larger competitors.
Grow an accountability circle: mentors and peers who open doors, give honest feedback, and root for your success.
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đ Who Youâll Meet
Founders and creatives with bold visions operating on tight budgets
Early-stage B2B and consumer builders navigating bootstrapped or underfunded realities
Operators and C-level pros who know how to stretch scarce resources
Ecosystem enablers: angels, accelerators, community leaders, service partners, and platform allies
Coralie Saint-Louis is a journalist-turned-tech entrepreneur with over a decade of experience across broadcast, print, and digital media. She founded Enpak, a certified MWBE media and technology company focused on strengthening local communities through strategic communications, digital marketing, and technology-driven engagement. Inspired by her commitment to credible local news and underrepresented voices, Coralie launched the Enpak app, a platform connecting residents to verified local news, events, and small business resources. As CEO, she blends storytelling, data, and software to combat misinformation, boost civic engagement, strengthen local economies, and help organizations build meaningful community connections across New York State.
Kiyeon Nam is an inventor, entrepreneur, and creative strategist based in New York. She is the founder of MESH, a human-centered technology company dedicated to protecting children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals through soft, wearable safety solutions seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
Dr. Neva Helena Alexander is a TEDx Speaker, leadership development consultant, and international trainer with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is the Founder of Nevalliance, a certified MWBE leadership development company, and leads the Nevalliance Foundation, dedicated to womenâs empowerment and community engagement. Since 2017, she has hosted the International Womenâs Conference on Long Island, creating global experiences that help leaders and entrepreneurs grow with clarity, confidence, and strategy.
Miya Jones - Producer & Writer at Shades of Long Island
Miya Jones is an award-winning journalist and media producer with over a decade of experience in storytelling across digital, broadcast, and branded media. She is the senior editor, content producer and executive producer of Shades of Long Island, a production company and media platform that creates high-impact commercials, sizzle reels, and video content for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations. Through Shades of Long Island, she leads creative strategy and production while also overseeing a news platform with 44,000+ monthly views. A Temple University journalism graduate, Miya has worked with News 12, Essence, Newsday, and The Latin Times, blending sharp editorial instincts with modern production storytelling.
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đŹÂ What Weâll Talk About
Building without a safety net
How resource constraints reshape choices in product, GTM, and hiring, and the tactics that keep you moving.
Burnout, rejection, and quiet resilience
Practical ways to handle constant pitching, slow cycles, and delayed traction while staying effective.
Strategic pivots and survival-mode thinking
Adapting the vision without abandoning it: trigger signals, decision trees, and post-pivot operating plans.
Imposter syndrome and internal pressure
Tools for confidence, boundary setting, and advocating for yourself in rooms built for incumbents.
Trusting the process when progress is slow
Redefining milestones, building feedback loops with customers, and using community to lower CAC and R&D costs.
Capital-efficient growth in 2026
Scrappy distribution, partner-led plays, mini-MVPs, pricing tests, and the metrics that actually guide your next step.
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đ€ Co-Hosted With
 Enpak connects communities to trusted local news, events, civic updates, and small businessesâhelping people stay informed and engaged where they live.
GREY Journal â Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
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đ€ Venue Partner
 Greater Nexus is a community-focused coworking space in downtown Jamaica, Queens offering affordable flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and creative amenities designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in Southeast Queens.
â About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough âaha!â moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, weâve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Ugly Talk: Small Fish, Big Pond
Hosts
Thu, Jan 29, 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM (EST)
Greater Nexus(89-14 Parsons Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432, USA) (New York)
100 attendees
Ambition is big, resources are tight, and the path rarely looks like a highlight reel. Building in 2026 means shipping through constraints, competing with legacy players, and carrying the emotional load that comes with long runways to traction. The founders who break through turn limits into lenses: they prioritize cleanly, pivot with intention, and cultivate communities that sustain the work between milestones. This conversation centers those in-between moments and turns them into a playbook.
đŻ Why You Should Attend
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đ Who Youâll Meet
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đ€Â Whoâs on the Panel
Coralie Saint-Louis - Founder & CEO of Enpak
Coralie Saint-Louis is a journalist-turned-tech entrepreneur with over a decade of experience across broadcast, print, and digital media. She founded Enpak, a certified MWBE media and technology company focused on strengthening local communities through strategic communications, digital marketing, and technology-driven engagement. Inspired by her commitment to credible local news and underrepresented voices, Coralie launched the Enpak app, a platform connecting residents to verified local news, events, and small business resources. As CEO, she blends storytelling, data, and software to combat misinformation, boost civic engagement, strengthen local economies, and help organizations build meaningful community connections across New York State.
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Kiyeon Nam - CEO of B'ZT, LLC.
Kiyeon Nam is an inventor, entrepreneur, and creative strategist based in New York. She is the founder of MESH, a human-centered technology company dedicated to protecting children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals through soft, wearable safety solutions seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
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Dr. Neva Alexander - Leadership Development Consultant at Nevalliance
Dr. Neva Helena Alexander is a TEDx Speaker, leadership development consultant, and international trainer with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is the Founder of Nevalliance, a certified MWBE leadership development company, and leads the Nevalliance Foundation, dedicated to womenâs empowerment and community engagement. Since 2017, she has hosted the International Womenâs Conference on Long Island, creating global experiences that help leaders and entrepreneurs grow with clarity, confidence, and strategy.
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Dawn Kelly - CEO of The Nourish Spot
Dawn Kelly is a visionary entrepreneur, community advocate, and Founder & CEO of The Nourish Spot, a wellness café and juice bar rooted in Jamaica, Queens. A former corporate and nonprofit executive with over 30 years of experience, she transitioned from the C-suite to build a purpose-driven, family-owned business centered on health, culture, and economic empowerment. Dawn is a Howard University alumna, a trained journalist, and a multilingual storyteller. She serves on multiple civic and business boards and is widely recognized for championing small businesses, workforce development, and community-based wellness initiatives.
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Moderator:
Miya Jones - Producer & Writer at Shades of Long Island
Miya Jones is an award-winning journalist and media producer with over a decade of experience in storytelling across digital, broadcast, and branded media. She is the senior editor, content producer and executive producer of Shades of Long Island, a production company and media platform that creates high-impact commercials, sizzle reels, and video content for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations. Through Shades of Long Island, she leads creative strategy and production while also overseeing a news platform with 44,000+ monthly views. A Temple University journalism graduate, Miya has worked with News 12, Essence, Newsday, and The Latin Times, blending sharp editorial instincts with modern production storytelling.
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đŹÂ What Weâll Talk About
Â
đ€ Co-Hosted With
 Enpak connects communities to trusted local news, events, civic updates, and small businessesâhelping people stay informed and engaged where they live.
GREY Journal â Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
Â
đ€ Venue Partner
 Greater Nexus is a community-focused coworking space in downtown Jamaica, Queens offering affordable flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and creative amenities designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in Southeast Queens.
â About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough âaha!â moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, weâve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website:Â UglyTalk.com
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đ„ Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy: