2027 Founders' Dinners Program - Interest

2027 Founders' Dinner Interest Form

The Founders' Dinner Program is your opportunity to engage in candid discussions, build meaningful relationships, and gain the insights needed to navigate the journey of entrepreneurship. 

At these exclusive bi-monthly dinners, you’ll join a cohort of founders for in-depth conversations on key startup topics, guided by experienced Guest Mentors. Each dinner explores themes crucial to scaling a business. 

Examples of topics: 

  • Funding Options and Considerations 
  • Sustainable Scaling Strategies
  • Concept to Commercialization 
  • Strategic Planning and Marketing Research 
  • Problem Solving and Pivoting 
  • Building a Strong Culture

Why Join? 

  • Learn from your peers in a confidential, supportive environment. 
  • Expand your network and meet potential investors. 
  • Access mentorship from industry experts. 
  • Gain actionable insights to drive your business forward. 

Event Details 

  • Format: This is a cohort-based program. Founders commit the cohort for the year. 
  • When: Every other month. 6-8 p.m. 
  • Where: Various Newport, RI locations 
  • Cost: $385 for non-chamber members, $360 for Chamber members

*Price includes 6 multi-course dinners with beer, wine and beverages at various locations, plus an end of year celebration

Questions? Contact Caroline Humphrey at Caroline@newportchamber.com

Fields marked with an * are required.

Please verify that you have checked the “I'm not a robot” checkbox.

Please provide your name, title, and contact information (cell phone and email address).

Are you a current member of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce? (You do NOT need to be a member in order to participate in this program. It would however give you a discount to the FD Program.)

Please provide the name of your company, its website, and a brief description of the company to be used in publications.

There will likely be multiple cohorts in 2026- one for founders of tech-related companies, and one for founders of non-tech-related companies. If you are a tech-related company, what best describes your technology and your industry?


If you are a founder of a non-tech-related company, what best describes your industry?

When was the company formed, and how many employees are there?

What stage is your company?
  • Seed: just beginning to develop your idea or product.
  • Startup: refining your product or service based on user feedback and market response.
  • Early Growth: you have validated the product or service and have grown a customer base. You have started to generate revenue and are looking to attract seed or venture capital funding to scale operations.
  • Expansion: you have experienced rapid growth in terms of customers, revenue, and team size. You are expanding market research and exploring new opportunities.
  • Other: please explain

What are you hoping to gain from the Founders' Dinner Program?

What topics would you like to see addressed throughout the program?

What types of Guest Mentors would you be interested in hearing from? Feel free to give suggestions for specific people.

*Not guaranteed but we will keep this in mind while building cohorts