Two members of Lincoln’s tech scene in early February launched a “grand experiment” they call The Big Plate, an exclusive membership community for entrepreneurs, artists and innovators.
Co-founded by Brian Ardinger (below, far left), the chief marketing officer at Nanonation, and Todd Long (below, near left), a vice president at Kidwell, The Big Plate is described by Ardinger as a project designed to leverage the duo’s experiences and entrepreneurial passions to create a platform for startups to connect and collaborate.
“Our members can help you solve two core problems: getting started and keeping going,” the co-founders say on The Big Plate’s about page. “The community gives you a seat at the table to ask questions, share stories and build connections.”
The Big Plate’s “seat at the table” concept is its initial core offering. Tonight at 5:30, the group will celebrate its launch with a party in Lincoln that’s open to the public. On Wednesday, The Big Plate will hold its first Table Talk event, a round table conversation that will eventually be limited to 10 individuals.
Thanks to our sponsor
If admitted, The Big Table members receive a newsletter, are added to an online directory – launching in March – and are given the opportunity to participate in online and offline Table Talks. Interested individuals can apply for a free membership or one of two paid options, the Full Meal ($49 per month) or the Advisor ($99 per month). The Big Plate is self-funded and has no plans to raise money, although it is looking for partners and sponsors to help cover costs.
To learn more about The Big Plate, we conducted an email interview with Ardinger on Sunday.
Silicon Prairie News: You’re launching in Lincoln, but is The Big Plate a location-specific network?
Brian Ardinger: Lincoln is convenient because that’s where both Todd and I currently call home. More importantly, there’s a ton of great people and companies right in our backyard looking to make a difference. Having said that, I’ve lived all over the world from Hong Kong to Silicon Valley, so our initial and future membership base will be global in nature. Interestingly enough we’ve already had inquires from folks in London, San Francisco and Chicago to help build Big Plate networks in those areas.
SPN: What kind of entrepreneurs and innovators should sign up for The Big Plate? Specific industries or ambitions?
BA: One of the keys to The Big Plate is the broad brush we apply to “startups.” Because no two entrepreneurial journeys are the same, we’re actively soliciting a diverse group of individuals from creatives to techies to proven ventures or people with a driving passion but who need a little help making it happen. The key ingredient is people who are willing and able to engage with the community to build something bigger for themselves and others. If you’re looking for a place to kick back and passively ingest a seminar or case study, we’re probably not a good fit.
SPN: How does a user become accepted into The Big Plate’s network?
BA: Prospective members can sign-up at our website (thebigplate.com/join). We review each application and have a basic code of conduct for membership. We don’t anticipate a lot of issues, but we think the community itself will self-police any inappropriate members.
SPN: How are you different than other entrepreneur groups or meetups?
BA: We actually see ourselves as an extension of other entrepreneurial groups with a specific focus on getting small, focused, actionable discussions and collaborations to take place. We hope to give a startup (who is often times too head down building) a reason to look up, engage, and grow faster by learning from a diverse set of talented folks doing similar things. We look to partner with fellow groups focused on the entrepreneurial ecosystem by sharing what we learn and building collaborative tools in the process.
Credits: Big Plate graphic from thebigplate.com. Photo of Brian Ardinger from twitter.com. Photo of Todd Long from linkedin.com. Beta Launch Party graphic from thebigplate.com.
